So many small business owners and nonprofit workers struggle with work-life balance. There is always something that needs to be done, and when you believe in the cause (whether it’s working on your business or working for a charitable organization) it’s easy to justify working just a few more hours a day.
Early on in my career, I had a boss who insisted that I leave every day at 5 PM sharp, and who did the same so that he could spend time with this family. This seemed to go against the “get ahead” advice I had received in college, which was to get to work before your boss and leave shortly after. Admittedly, part of the reason he insisted that I leave right at 5 may have had more to do with the fact that we worked in a part of town where you didn’t want to be after dark, but over the years I’ve noticed that I perform much better when I give myself a mental break rather than working around the clock.
Every month the organization for which I work sends out a morale report form. It asks whether our work-life balance is satisfactory, and what our supervisor can do to help. As supervisors, we are also encouraged to ensure that our direct reports are working reasonable hours. Of course, there are some projects which require extra effort and time, but on a regular basis it’s important to make sure expectations are appropriate.
When a mountain of work is staring you in the face, it’s hard to break away. It helps to focus on the fact that some of our best ideas come when we have cleared our minds. Enjoying nature, working out, or spending time with friends and family has a way of helping to provide a different perspective. Of course, it helps to keep a small book and pen nearby (or a smart phone) to record any brilliant ideas that might come when you are not at work.
So, how do you keep the ideas flowing? Make sure you have work-life balance!
What are some of the ways that you ensure work-life balance?
Thanks for sharing! I love making my family a priority, and I keep reminding myself that to keep a balance!
You are welcome! It’s so hard to remember to stay balanced, isn’t it?
that was an inspirational writeup… dropping by UBC
I’m so glad you stopped by!
I really appreciate this blog post. So much of life is telling us to GO GO GO, but if you don’t allow rest time, you’ll get burnt out.
so true! And we are all so pressured to be on the go all the time. Thank you for stopping by.
Thanks for the focus on balance. One thing I do to keep my life balanced is setting boundaries. One of my most helpful boundaries is that I will not take work home. I also take a 24 hour retreat once each month.
that is a great idea!