If you’re running your own business, you may find that you’re struggling to tick everything off your to-do list or working late into the night.
Here at Cleanhome, we’re all about work-life balance so this month our franchisees share their tips on maintaining a productive work life and a happy home life.
Time management tools are useless
Some people swear by time management gadgets and systems but the reason most of them don’t work is because they are designed to measure clock time without taking into account external distractions or the nature of the task you’re trying to complete. Have you ever felt that time is dragging when you are filling in your tax forms or equally flying by when you’re doing something fun? Then you’ll know what we’re talking about. It’s up to you to remove any distractions and stop procrastinating. You are the only person who can create and manage time when it comes to your to-do list. Focus on what really matters and what works for your business.
Set your own working hours and stick to them
If you are your own boss you might find your working days are less structured as you don’t have a contract dictating what time you have to start or stop working. If you’re working from home, it’s just as important to have set working time as it is in an office. Make sure that you have a set start time and as set finish time just as you would in an office and make time for an hours lunch break. By putting a routine in place you’ll have a clearly defined work time and home time, so you’re not distracted by putting the washing on in working hours or working when you’re enjoying ‘home’ time.
Ask for help!
If you’re building a business, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Whether it’s with chores or tasks you need to complete to keep your personal life organised or work issues, ask for help. It might be a work issue you’re struggling with, in which case, speak to people who have been there before and find out what they did to overcome the problem. Sometimes, talking a situation through with someone can be a more effective and less time consuming way to resolve it than struggling with it alone. Don’t forget, most business owners would have been in a similar position to you at some point and are happy to help advise you on how to deal with it.
And if you’ve got a spouse or children, enlist their help in washing the car, doing the washing up or taking the dog for a work. After all, achieving good work/life balance benefits all of you!
Get moving
You might find it hard to make time for exercise when you have a busy schedule but it can help you feel more energetic and alert. Find something you enjoy doing and do it as often as you can. Apart from the obvious health benefits, having some time to yourself will help clear your head and will give you the boost you need to get through a busy day.
Find your off button
As you‘re in charge of your own work schedule you have the flexibility to arrange your workload around your personal life, so you might think that having a longer period of time away from work might not be necessary. To have a long, healthy, productive and happy life and career you need to take breaks away from work, whether that’s a weekend or a week. Regular breaks help you relax and ensure that when you’re back at work you’re enthusiastic and energised.
Cleanhome UK News 