Having supported numerous early-stage businesses over the years, Mark Lyttleton will recognise more than most the importance of striking a healthy work-life balance. A proponent of working ‘smart’ rather than just hard, Mark Lyttleton provides both professional and personal advice to the entrepreneurs he works with, helping them to handle the many pressures involved in founding and growing a business. This article will share five expert tips to help business owners strike the right balance between their personal and professional lives.
In terms of what a healthy work-life balance actually looks like, this varies from one individual to the next. It is not so much about a person splitting their time between work and leisure exactly 50/50. Instead, the concept hinges upon achieving the right balance to ensure the individual feels content and fulfilled in both aspects of their life. Learn the signs of business burnout by viewing the attached PDF.
Achieving a healthy work-life balance requires business owners to:
- Make time for hobbies, family and friends while still meeting work deadlines
- Make time to eat well and get a restful night’s sleep
- Learn to switch off and stop worrying about work during downtime
Mastering this can be challenging, particularly for inexperienced entrepreneurs. However, if the business owner fails to strike the right balance, this can not only impact their personal relationships and homelife but could ultimately be detrimental to their business. You can learn about popular methods of managing entrepreneurial stress by viewing the attached infographic.
Business owners often normalise working long hours and struggling with extreme amounts of stress. When the business owner is right in the thick of it, it can be impossible to recognise unhealthy patterns. Fortunately, by periodically following these five steps, entrepreneurs can ensure a healthy work-life balance.
- Pause: The business owner needs to ask themselves what is causing them unhappiness or stress, identifying how that is affecting their professional and personal life. What are they prioritising and what are they missing out on?
- Weigh Up Their Feelings: How does their current situation make them feel? Are they happy and fulfilled or angry and resentful?
- Reprioritise: What changes does the entrepreneur need to make?
- Consider Alternatives: Are there changes they can make in the workplace to help meet their new priorities?
- Make Changes: Be it making time for social activities, taking up a new hobby, or simply avoiding checking emails at the weekend, entrepreneurs can make real changes if they want to improve their work-life balance.
You can learn more about the negative impact of stress in business by viewing the attached video.