Running a business is hard work and demands a lot of your time. After all, if being a business owner was as straightforward as a 9-to-5 job, everyone would have their own company. But going it alone requires you to go above and beyond to see lasting results.  

That said, your health and mental wellbeing can’t take a backseat while you put your energy into your business. If you neglect your other lifestyle needs, you’ll eventually start burning out. That’s why you must establish a healthy work/life balance.  

It’s not as simple as taking a break or even going on regular vacations. Work-life balance will be different for different people based on their priorities, responsibilities, and environment. There’s no magic formula for all. However, if you apply several universal principles, you can start defining what balance looks like through foresight, planning, and action: 

Create a to-do list 

This is like a budget for your tasks. You don't know how much you can spend unless you also know your priorities. As a business owner, you'll have many different tasks of varying priorities. A to-do list keeps you realistic about what should demand your attention. There are many different systems for to-do lists to try out. But just by maintaining a list, you get a clearer sense of what your task budget looks like. 

Practise value management 

To better manage your time, don't just think about the time you spend on a task. Think of the value of the task and if the time spent is worth it. Let's say you want to walk your dog three times a week. Can you justify spending that time? Yes – but only if you focus on the value of this activity rather than the time spent. What do you get from the walk? Exercise? A refreshed mind? That's all good value, so the time spent is worthwhile. Time management is value management – and priority management. Define the value of tasks, and you'll figure out how much time they deserve. 

Use a schedule and define work hours 

In a small business, there’s always something more to do. You need to set boundaries. Be flexible by creating a loose schedule. If a to-do list is your task budget, a schedule is your time budget. It shows how much time you really have at your disposal. Combining that with the above value mindset allows you to decide how to spend your time more effectively and create boundaries, downtime, and opportunities to focus on other things. 

Think about saying “no” 

Saying no can have real consequences, such as losing customers and opportunities. If you want to succeed, you must say “yes” often, even when you don't want to. But you might start thinking you should never say no. That's not healthy either and takes away your control. Again, think of the potential value and think about your time budget. If those don’t look good, maybe “no” is the right answer. Try to recommend an alternative plan or see if you can modify the request to be more time- and value-friendly.  

Create work area boundaries 

Your work office can give you a space to focus. But when you work from home, find a spot where your brain knows, "If we sit here, we're working!” Tell others that you need space. If pets are bothering you, send them outside. If friends want to drop by, explain politely that you must do your job first. Set boundaries that others must respect, then make sure you pay back that respect by spending some time with them – use that time budget, also known as a schedule! Also, turn off notifications, don't get distracted by social media, and check your emails only at specific times. 

Delegate 

Small business owners often feel they must do everything. But if you can trust someone with specific tasks, find a way for them to get involved. You don't have to hand over everything –maybe they can do it once or twice a week, and you can handle it for the rest of the week. These don’t even have to be work tasks but be sure to show them you appreciate their effort. Respect given grows respect earned.