The term “work-life balance” is a trendy topic these days. It refers to the time you spend working compared to the amount of time you spend with your family, friends, and doing things you enjoy. The term may be thrown around freely, but the consequences of having a good work-life balance are essential for business success.
Work-life balance offers less stress, improved mental and physical health, the ability to be present in the moment, fulfillment, happiness, increased productivity, and more.
Did you know that 60% of Americans say they have poor work-life balance, and it’s mainly due to a lack of boundary between work and home life? Time is a precious commodity, one that you can never get back.
As CEOs and business leaders, establishing a work-life balance can become an afterthought if there is work to be done. But hustling hard every day will make you less effective and more burnt out in the long run. There is no universal approach to establishing a work-life balance that fits your life. But there are a few simple steps you can take to begin implementing balance into your daily life.
Balance of Both Worlds
Follow these three simple steps to enhance your work-life balance life:
Step 1. Prioritize Your Commitments
Remember that every commitment you make is a priority, not just the work ones. Treat each commitment like a priority by scheduling it on your calendar. Whether it’s a meeting for work, a gym session, or a family BBQ, schedule it. You dictate what is important enough to commit to, and you can clearly see when you are stacking too many commitments if you schedule it all in. By prioritizing your personal and professional commitments, and sticking to your calendar, you can set yourself up for success ahead of time.
Step 2. Practice Self-Care
Self-care can oftentimes take a back seat to our commitments and priorities, especially when you are stressed and deadlines are looming. But if you don’t take the time for self-care now, you will be forced to take time when your body crashes and burns later. Simply put, the more you take care of yourself, the better your work will be and the longer you can do it. Take the time to rest, to exercise, to eat nutrient-dense foods, take a spa day, and take that vacation! Make self-care a part of your life, schedule it in, and positive results will follow.
Step 3. Set Healthy Boundaries
Get comfortable with not saying “yes” to everything. As a business leader, you will get pulled in many different directions, and it’s essential to learn when to say “no” so you can be more intentional with your time. Setting boundaries creates less stress in life and promotes your own personal leadership style. Saying “no” is respected by others when done so tactfully. Practice saying “no” to the things you don’t really want so you are free to say “yes” to the opportunities you want.
Work-life Balance Begins Today
It’s time to stop placing all of your efforts into one area of your life – work – and start integrating work-life balance. You will find that, if done correctly, establishing a healthy work-life balance will actually be more productive and bring you better success. Learn how to effectively lead as a business owner, executive, and CEO while also maintaining a thriving life outside of the office with BOAR. We provide mastermind groups, leadership development, and business solutions that fit your business strategy. Join our community today!
“Putting work in for your business is good. Your business needs you to put that work in. But don’t exhaust yourself because if you drain yourself to the point of exhaustion, then you become a liability to your business.” ― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr, CEO of Mayflower-Plymouth