Work-Family Balance: Five Tips for Entrepreneurs
Owning a company asks for incredible amounts of energy and dedication. Having a family requires the same levels of motivation. So, how on Earth should a person handle both at the same time?
There will be times when one area of your life gets overshadowed by the other, but the key is to try to maintain a balance between your professional and private life.
Here are five tips that may help you create symmetry between the two roles, and stay a sane, happy person in the process.
Delegate Responsibilities
Both business owners and parents seem to feel the need to do everything themselves. Responsibility is the base of entrepreneurship, after all, and you should be a good parent as well. However, refusing to give up any of your tasks is counterproductive.
Rely on your employees at work to tackle less significant tasks. Have your partner handle some everyday household maintenance. Let your parents babysit now and then. You’re not superhuman.
Don’t Split Focus
Multitasking is alluring. Trying to be a parent and a manager at the same time, though, causes both roles to suffer.
Instead, try to focus on one thing at the time. Listen to your children, answer emails in silence, and read documents and bedtime stories with the same amount of commitment. It will lead to better results in both fields.
Eat With Your Family
You probably eat lunch at work and pick up a quick breakfast on your way to the office. Then, you’re tempted to eat on your feet while planning tomorrow’s meeting when dinner time comes.
Don’t do that.
Family dinners are paramount for fulfilling family life. During that time, you can catch up, share anecdotes, and enjoy your family. Both your children and your partner will appreciate it.
Introduce Rules
The chances are that, if you run your own business, you don’t spend a lot of time at home. Your partner may also be employed, so your children don’t have anyone to introduce productive, reasonable rules.
Still, keeping an orderly lifestyle will have a positive impact on the success and development of your kids.
Keeping the authority may be as simple as calling them and reminding them to do their homework. However, technology has granted us with better ways to keep an eye on our children. Introducing parental control on their devices will help keep both discipline and trust.
Organize Everything
Whenever you have to balance highly-demanding tasks, the organization becomes crucial. So as not to get overwhelmed, plan one week at the time. Don’t forget that even small, seemingly trivial tasks, need to have their place on your schedule.
By entering all the projects you need to handle into your calendar, you will get a clearer picture of your available time. Then, determine which areas ask for delegation, where you can add more enjoyable activities, and how to make the most of every day.
The Bottom Line
Finally, don’t forget to take some time for yourself – even half an hour. ‘Me Time’ can be as simple as a jog or a hot shower, or you can go extravagant and organize a movie night once a week. Be careful not to put yourself last.
You need to be your best to handle all the tasks life throws at you. More importantly, you need to be capable of enjoying life.
