Put Some Life in Your Work/Life Balance
Sometimes, a word, phrase or concept can get so overused and worn-out that you cringe when you hear it, even when it’s pretty cool and even more useful. Consider, for example:
- Have a good day
- Fake news
- Mind/body connection
- Haters
- It’s all good
Useful words and phrases shouldn’t make you want to gag, but after a while, even the best turn of the English language can send you into a tither. And like the positive aspects of the mind/body connection that are saving so many people from fake news about haters and healthcare, the work/life balance teeters in that same realm: “I’ve heard it too often; if I hear it one more time, I’m gonna slap you.”
But Please…
Trends aside, it can be a daunting task to balance work, play, family, friends, culture, alone time, spirituality and physical fitness, especially for entrepreneurs. Thanks to technology and the advancements they bring, now you can work 24/7/365 if you choose. And you may end up doing just that if you can’t find that elusive work/life balance that you don’t want to hear about anymore!
Having said that, no matter how trendy and overused the phrase has become, you can never get too many work/life balance tips. Your sanity depends on it. Your health depends on it. Your relationships really depend on it. In fact, there is no “life” in the work/life balance equation if you can’t tune out sometimes and let work issues go straight to voicemail.
Side Effects and Risks Take Hold
Usually, you only see a subhead called side effects if you’re reading a medical blog. Not finding an acceptable work/life balance, however, may lead to a medical issue if you don’t do it. Since the U.S. ranks 30th out of 38 countries surveyed by Family Living Today that asked who thinks they have a healthy work/life balance, it’s appropriate to list the side effects that can happen when that sensitive balance is tipped too far in one direction. Too much work leads to:
- Poor morale
- Lack of motivation
- Fatigue
- Heart disease
- Stress
- Depression
Socially, an awkward balance leads to:
- Not being able to focus on anything but work
- Time spent with others is ruined by emails and texts
- Important events missed
- Losing touch with friends
- Anxiety
But, you may counter, if you don’t give your business sufficient time and attention, you won’t have a business to worry about. And that leads to missed bill payments, low self-esteem, feelings of failure, poverty and maybe even homelessness.
Show Me How It’s Done, Toto
Finding that elusive balance is the key to success both for your business and in your personal relationships. When you get enough sleep, eat right and exercise on a regular basis, your body is happy and supports your endeavors. And while some weeks, the pendulum simply must swing to long working days just to meet important deadlines, for the most part, it behooves you to build a work life based on balance.
How that looks varies from one person to the next. And when you’re the boss, you may have to put in extra hours each week. But instead of having to choose between making yourself sick and not being able to meet payroll, consider implementing a few balancing rods that shouldn’t be too difficult to manage. These tips allow you to still make the money you need and run a successful (and healthy) business:
- Plan blocks of time off for strictly vacation and relaxation.
- Insist on phone-free periods throughout the day, such as dinner time, for example.
- Kick time-wasters to the curb or at least limit their intrusion. Maybe say goodbye to Facebook?
- Include exercise time in your schedule at least three days a week. Make it as important as a big client meeting.
- Ask your family to help you with the everyday chores you typically do.
- Hire out those things that nobody wants to do.
- Make social commitments so that you don’t blow them off in favor of working.
- Stick to your calendar as faithfully as possible while still building in some flexibility.
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