Have you ever heard that entrepreneurs are the only people who work 80 hour weeks to avoid working 40 hour weeks? Well, it is true. Most of us quit the 8- 5 schedule but the minute we open our businesses; we want to put in 18 hours a day just to see the business succeed.
However, it is very important to have a balance between work and your social life.
Here are a few things to remember when trying to balance:
Organise time at home and at work
Have things that you plan to do at home like read a book, watch a movie or make dinner from some recipe you just spotted. Have a day to clean your house, re-arrange your closet, gardening especially over the weekend. This will stop you from carrying work home. Most of us have the itch to just open our laptops and work. Have your hands full while at home and this will keep you from your laptop.
Make time for friends and family
I have been a victim of this. I never used to make time for my friends and family as they would always ask awkward questions that I did not feel comfortable answering. Like ‘how is business’ Are you sure people will buy that? These questions kept me away from friends and family until the time I needed to reach out and most of them had already labeled me a snob.
READ: QUOTES BY SUCCESSFUL WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS TO KEEP YOU GOING
As an entrepreneur, you will realize that not everyone will understand your business or even why you are doing it. However, time made to catch up with friends and family is something special, it grounds you and you get to appreciate life more.
Have a positive outlook
Sometimes as entrepreneurs, all you see is darkness. No light at the end of the tunnel. Most of us think that that is the time to put in more work and hours into your business. This is panic. Indians say that if they work for 10,000 hours for their business to soar. That’s 3 years. This is also the time span given for most small businesses to die. Be positive about your business. Be hopeful that something will happen and learn to live life outside your business.
Me time
I know you think that ‘me time’ is overrated. It is not. Go out to the salon, get pampered.
Take yourself out into the fields, some long walk or a jog. You can go to the next town with a notebook and write down your goal as you enjoy the scenery.
You will realize that you will rejuvenate and come back to work with fresh ideas to take your business forward.