Work-life balance - is it a pipe dream for small business owners?

When I first thought about this article and having the balance between family and business my thoughts went to the clichéd phrase “work-life balance.”

So what is it, why is it important to have it and how does one go about getting it?

Here are my views:

What is work-life balance?

The balance that works for one person does not necessarily work for another.

My definition of work-life balance is the balance that you as an individual, are OK with to fit into your values and what’s important to you. I coach mums around this topic often and help them to uncover what they are OK with.

I see some mums that love working, work a 60-hour week and really make the most of the time outside of that to enjoy personal/family life. I see other mums who stay at home full time and don’t feel like they have enough quality time for themselves or the family. The balance is in your mindset.

So why is it important to have it?

With all the different hats we wear as small business owners it’s easy to get caught up in non-stop working. All work and no play (or vice versa) make mum a dull girl… or burnt out! One reason for me to take stock of where I was allocating my time was that I wanted to offer my kids the best of me at least some of the time. Psychologists say the imprinting phase for a child is up to 7 years of age. During this phase the key influences are their role models, namely parents.

For me, I want my kids to see how I can run a business, look after my health and have some fun along the way.

If I’m enjoying the journey, I am teaching them that they too can enjoy the journey.

So how do you get it?

First thing is to work out what’s important to you. Write theses values in a list and then prioritise them.

The priorities might change day to day or week to week depending on what’s happening e.g. major project at work or baby sick at home. Be prepared to go with the flow.

The important thing is that the list of what is important to you is on your radar and not off in some pipe dream. Then allocate some of your time each day to each priority.

For example, my daily list includes quality time with hubby (e.g. a meal together or simply a text message that says “hi, I’m thinking of you” if one if us is working late), fun time with kids (e.g. rolling with them on the floor or tickling them as I dry them off after their bath), exercise and eating well (e.g a walk or a 2 minute pilates exercise) and nurturing and growing my business (i.e. in priority order, a realistic list of things I can achieve in a day).

Keeping all these things on my radar allows me to be far more productive each day because I’m not ignoring things that are important to me.

I’m reducing the mind chatter that says I should have done this or I wish I had time for that.

My clearer mind allows me to be more engaged with everything I am doing from work to hubby to kids. Get really clear on what’s important to you and start living by it today!

Do you feel like you achieve work/life balance? Please share your tips below.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com

19 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 06 Nov 2021
    9:45 am
When my kids were little my husband and I ran a business that was based from home. My kids came first and I worked things around them.

- - Melissa89 said
  - 26 Jul 2016
    5:20 pm
I have definitely not found the work/life balance yet haha :/

- - ella12 said
  - 27 Jan 2016
    2:26 pm
For the most part I guess I do achieve work/life balance.

- - mom64736 said
  - 18 Jan 2016
    5:07 pm
I think work life balance is not always achievable but I do think there are some important things to do to make things a bit easier to stick too. I would agree that limiting email and choosing contact carefully can make a huge difference. As can planning and de-cluttering often.

- - rovermum said
  - 18 Jan 2016
    10:45 am
Totally agree everyone’s work/life balance is different. It’s about finding what works best for you. I work from home 3 days a week and have done since my son started Primary School. He is about to start Year 10. It has provided the perfect balance for me to work and earn money, whilst also being available to be part of the school community and to take my son to and from school. I often feel like I have the best gig in the world.

- - mom93821 said
  - 17 Jan 2016
    8:14 am
There can be work life balance and it is all about prioritising.

- - mom101628 said
  - 15 Jan 2016
    10:14 pm
Your life balance is what you make it – if you want a business from home, then it will all depend on how much you want it as to whether it will work out for you.

- - mom160421 said
  - 30 Nov 2015
    1:03 pm
It is a tough balance for a lot of people. My philosophy is to keep things as simple as possible so that the time you have is spent doing what’s most important to you.

- - mom81879 said
  - 13 Nov 2015
    6:51 pm
You would think it would be hard in this situation. A bonus though is you are probably able to work from home and spend some time with your kids

- - mom94378 said
  - 02 Nov 2015
    3:23 pm
This balace is hard to find, some can do it, others can’t. That’s the reality.

- - mom94125 said
  - 23 Oct 2015
    3:26 pm
i like the idea of the cute texts during the day, maybe even a note in the lunchbox to show that you are thinking of the partner or children.

- - mom57665 said
  - 18 Oct 2015
    2:13 am
i love being a stay at home Mum and having my business at home 🙂

- - mom113055 said
  - 15 Oct 2015
    11:39 pm
life balance we should have the life balance

- - mom113055 said
  - 12 Oct 2015
    10:34 pm
is it a pipe dream

- - 4littlemunchkins said
  - 12 Oct 2015
    9:41 pm
It can be incredibly difficult to find this balance, especially when you are trying to get a business off the ground.

- - mom74640 said
  - 12 Oct 2015
    12:43 pm
Lke re
- mom81879 replied
  
  13 Nov 2015 , 6:52 pm
  Your comments make no sense, they aren’t even words. You do know MoMs keep an eye out for people who points rack!
  - meedee replied
    
    06 Nov 2021 , 9:43 am
    
    I am so glad that someone other me has also noticed this.
- - mum4107 said
  - 12 Oct 2015
    5:33 am
I have a good work life balance and I’m very grateful