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Work Life Balance of the Self Employed!
So you’re self employed, working hard to make your business a success! Work Life Balance… Honestly it’s not a joke!
It’s the small things in life that help keep your stress levels down and your love of life up!
I’m a workaholic through and through, I’m quite happy to sit at my computer and churn through the hours working, researching and continuing my professional development. Although I can be quite comfortable pulling 14 hour days for my business, it’s not healthy.
Here is my list of small things that help maintain a healthy work life balance.
- #coffeetime – I’m an avid coffee and tea drinker. I work from home, so popping into the kitchen is a simple solution. I make a point of venturing out of the office 2-3 times a week for a coffee or cup of tea. Work permitting, I sometimes take the laptop with me and make an afternoon of it. I’ve made a number of unexpected business contacts just by venturing to the local cafe.
- #jogtime – I could not honestly say that I’m fond of exercise, but working from home does mean I’m not physical enough. Going for a 45min walk or a 20min jog 3-4 times a week helps maintain my fitness and all those endorphins are fabulous for fighting the blues / depression.
- Networking – Working from home means my social interaction and new business contact potential is limited. I make a point of attending a minimum of 1 network / meetup a week. It’s as simple as signing up to MeetUp to find to local events.
- Family & Friends – I make plenty of time for family and friends every week. During this time I’m completely off the clock. No work related phonecalls, emails, social media, or THOUGHTS! I don’t let work distract me when I’m off the clock. It helps maintain my stress levels and makes my loved ones feel important
- Set Work Zones – I have a home office which is zoned as a work only area. I’ve gone to the extent of having two separate computers one for work the other for play. Having a separation of work and play zones really helps keep my mental state in the right place.
- Me Time – My favourite time of the day. It’s the time I dedicate to myself every day, and can be spent on meditation, creating artwork, getting a massage, reading a book in the park. I’ve even been known to spend it on gardening or housework (crazy I know but I love housework). It is positively orientated alone time.
There is of course no definitive right way or wrong way in achieving Work Life Balance. What works for one person may not work for another. It’s about finding out what is right for you.
I found reading Nathan Gilmore’s article “10 Tips to Achieve Worklife Balance” quite useful.
What do you do to help maintain a healthy Work and Life Balance? I’d love to hear what works for you.
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Complete 20 items on your “To Do” List Today.
Is your “To Do” List getting out of hand and increasing your stress levels? There is so much you want to do within your business but it’s seemingly impossible to find the time. As a small business owner and operator it is important to understand your strengths and weaknesses and know when to get assistance.
- If you were writing a contract you would seek the professional guidance of a Solicitor.
- If you were completing your Income Tax you would seek the professional guidance of an Accountant.
What is a Business Administration Consultant?
A Business Administration Consultant provides administrative, creative and technical services, they can be many things for your business;
- Personal Assistant
- Marketing Executive
- Office Manager
- Copywriter / Editor
- Website Developer
- Bookkeeper
- Telephone Receptionist
- Project Manager
- Event Organiser
- Proof Reader
- Transcriptionist
Your Business Administration Consultant is likely to be a combination of many professions all rolled into one efficient and professional expert.
