Running a business is time-consuming. Throw in raising children, tending to pets and managing a household, and it’s easy to see why entrepreneurs struggle to find a healthy work-life balance. There is no doubt that setting up and overseeing a business require time, effort and dedication, but you don’t have to be a slave to your desk to be successful. If you feel like you’re spinning a few too many plates, here are some handy tips and tricks. 

Establish a routine

Establishing a routine is one of the most effective ways to manage your time and to make the most of the hours available. If you get into a habit of getting up at a certain time, dedicating set hours of the day to work and scheduling downtime, this should help you plan in advance, work smarter and make time for activities that don’t involve work. Play to your strengths. Are you a morning person? If so, start early, work through priority tasks and keep your evenings free. You might have to work late some days to cater for clients with different requirements or preferences, but if you can stick to a pattern most of the time, you should reap the rewards. For more tips, take a look at this useful article https://www.forbes.com/sites/ashleystahl/2020/04/06/5-habits-for-a-morning-routine-if-you-work-from-home/#215987e0e424.

Consider outsourcing

There are multiple elements involved in managing a business. You might have a broad range of skills and a team of employees, but it may not be possible to tick every box. This is where outsourcing comes into play. If you require services or skills that you don’t have access to, you don’t have to recruit a raft of new members of staff. Outsourcing is a means of handing over elements that aren’t directly linked to the fundamental day to day running of the business to others. This may involve external agencies or firms, or freelancers, for example. If you own a restaurant, your priority might be to source the best ingredients, to hire the best chefs and to advertise your business to boost bookings. In this case, you might consider outsourcing cleaning and looking for a firm like Mneaccounting.co.uk to find an experienced accountant. If you run a shop and you want your core team to focus on selling and serving customers, you could think about outsourcing marketing and branding to drive sales and get more shoppers through the door. Think carefully about what you want to outsource and spend time comparing agencies, reading reviews and looking at results and examples of previous work.

Learn to say no

Most of us are guilty of accepting invitations when we would rather turn them down. As a business owner, there are events and occasions that you will want to attend, but you don’t have to say yes to everyone. The same rules apply for your social life. We are often worried about letting people down, but life is hectic enough without endless meetings, after-school activities and dinner parties hosted by acquaintances you haven’t seen for years. Prioritise work-related and social events and engagements that you actually want to go to, and don’t be afraid to say no if you’re short on time, you already have plans, or you want to enjoy a well-earned break from your desk.

Running a business can take over your life and make it very tricky to strike the right balance. Hopefully, these tips will help you use your time wisely and modify your schedule to allow you to combine work and pleasure.