As I’ve mentioned in previous blogs, each of us has the same number of hours in a day. How we spend those hours is completely up to us. Running a business and maintaining a healthy personal life takes a lot of coordination. It can leave you feeling overwhelmed and stretched thin. But finding the right balance will ignite you with more passion for your life and career. Here are some tips that I have found helpful in creating a work + life balance that works for me. Everyone is different; the key to creating the right balance is realizing that there is no set formula, and that adaptation is paramount.

  • Learn to say no. When your 1440 minutes in each day are pressured, saying yes to a work commitment means saying no to something else. A driven person wants to do everything for everyone. That’s what makes us awesome! But we can’t be everything for everyone every day, because that just isn’t productive. If you are truly giving it your all and your to-do list is never getting shorter, and you feel yourself falling short, learn how to delegate or reevaluate that list.
  • Have boundaries. Know your limits both personally and professionally. For example, you want to be home in time for dinner with the family every night. Write it down, block off those times on the calendar. Setting boundaries helps you remain motivated and on-task in your career, versus being overwhelmed with “trying to make it work.” Have that plan and stick with it.
  • Know when to switch gears. Kids get sick, cars break down, and deadlines get moved. It just happens. Know when to call your babysitter and spend an evening working late, or ask for help from your team when something unexpected happens at home. Adapt the schedule, and switch gears. When we fail to shift our attention, things fall through the cracks, and we do not perform at our best.

We have full control over our days and how we spend them. Take charge of that, instead of falling victim to the clock. Making something a priority, either work-related or life-related, means that you have self-awareness. You know what balance is needed to keep you feeling fulfilled.