5 effective ways you can achieve a better work-life balance

As a business owner, it can sometimes be hard to separate your home and working life. In today’s “always on” society, it can be tempting to focus on your business operations 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Indeed, a recent report by Simply Business revealed that 1 in 3 UK small business owners were working more than 46 hours a week – 10 hours more than the UK average.

Despite the pressure you may feel, it’s crucial that you make sure to take time away from your firm and create a stable work-life balance. Aside from the mental and physical advantages this can provide, your business could also benefit.

It’s National Work Life Week between 2 and 6 October. So, keep reading to identify five effective ways you can improve your work-life balance.

1. Delegate some of your tasks to trusted members of your team

If you’re becoming overwhelmed by the day-to-day responsibilities of running your business, consider delegating some of your tasks to trusted members of your team.

One of the benefits of running your own business is that you can employ experienced and talented people to help ensure the success of your firm. So make sure you’re maximising their full potential.

By delegating tasks and responsibilities, you could become more productive at work. As a result, you may work fewer hours overall, and have more time to spend with friends and loved ones after the workday has finished.

2. Create a physical distinction between work and home

While many see the daily commute as a frustrating aspect of working life, a short journey to and from work can highlight the benefits of separating work and home life.

Indeed, as reported by People Management, creating a clear boundary between your home and your workplace has been shown to have a positive impact on cognitive performance, productivity, and wellbeing.

If you primarily work from home, it could help to set aside a suitable workspace that’s away from other social areas of the property. For instance, if you have a spare bedroom or room tucked away downstairs, use that as your office rather than working in your living room or main bedroom. Otherwise, you might find it hard to keep work and home life separate.

Even if it just means stepping out of one room and into the other, taking a moment to switch from “work mode” to “home mode” could enable you to foster a stricter work-life balance.

3. Set clear definitions for the start and end of your working day

As a business owner, it’s important to stick to your working hours.

If you ask your employees to work from 9 am to 5 pm, make sure you do the same. While you may have more responsibilities than your colleagues, that doesn’t mean you need to be on call 24/7.

Giving yourself clear boundaries when it comes to the start and end of your working day may allow you to focus on other things that are important to you, like spending time with your family and friends.

It can be tricky to set boundaries by yourself, especially when you’re leading a team. Some helpful ways to put these into practice are:

Once your working day ends, be sure to switch your laptop off and put it away
Turn your work phone off and leave it in your designated work area – don’t take it with you to your living room or bedroom.

If you switch your devices off and put them away, you’ll be less inclined to keep checking them while you spend time with friends or family.

4. Practise mindfulness and self-compassion

Becoming more aware of your emotions and physical sensations can help you understand how overworking could be affecting your health. Practising mindfulness techniques, like breath awareness or meditation, will help you to pay more attention to your emotions.

By tapping into how you feel day-to-day, you may be able to listen to your body’s signals and improve your wellbeing. For example, if you’re aware that your stomach is rumbling, you might be more inclined to step away from your computer to do something about it.

Additionally, mindfulness can help you practise some self-compassion and be kinder to yourself when navigating mistakes or challenges as a business owner.

Over time, this can go a long way towards improving your work-life balance. Understanding that you’re only human might help ease any self-imposed pressure and allow you to relax a little more once your workday has finished.

5. Engage in something you love outside of work

If there’s a particular pastime or hobby that you enjoy, make it a priority to organise such an activity for after work. That could be anything from an evening cinema trip with your family to a late afternoon golfing session with friends.

Put simply, having an exciting activity planned for later in the day can make it easier for you to disconnect from work and end your day at a predetermined time.

What’s more, hobbies can often be a very effective way of boosting vitality and energy. When you return to work the next day, you could feel mentally refreshed and more focused on the tasks at hand.

Get in touch

Working with a trusted financial planner can mean one less issue to worry about, helping you to focus on what’s important to you. So, email us at [email protected] or call us on 01625 466360.

Please note

This blog is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.