6 Ways to Ensure Work-Life Balance When You Run a Home Business
Whether you run a side-hustle or your own company, a home business can be a great way to boost your income and confidence. Even with these perks, though, work-life balance can be a struggle for those of us who operate businesses from home.
Unlike working in an office, a home-based business is always there, reminding you of all the tasks you have yet to do. And although many people work remotely, owning a business presents a few different challenges.
In our own business, calls with clients take a lot of preparation on the front end, which can mean late-night phone calls and updates. But even when we’re caught up with clients, we’re still listing and testing products in our shop and trying to brainstorm fresh marketing ideas. Between batch-working and project planning, there’s an endless task list.
So, how do we achieve work-life balance with our own home business? We’re not perfect, but I can safely say we’re not approaching burnout because we value both work and relaxation.
Ways to ensure work-life balance with a home business:
Find a routine that works for you
Create a realistic set of goals
Outsource work when possible
Get outside every day
Take time for distractions
Enforce a cut-off time
Find a routine that works for you
My routine is fairly simple: I wake up between 7am - 8am, get ready for the day, log onto my computer, and walk my dog. After our walk, I have coffee and breakfast. (And if I’m really doing well, I’ll make myself some herbal tea so I’m not exclusively drinking coffee.)
Now, why tell you this? Well, for one thing, you can see that routines don’t have to be excruciatingly regimented. My routine is somewhat flexible, but I can still count on it. Secondly, my routine helps me get into a headspace for work. Without a schedule, I’m likely to get off-task.
Ironically, a routine can also help you plan the non-routine parts of your day. For instance, having a set plan gives me specific hours in which to schedule one-off meetings and calls. There are certain hours of my day when I know I’ll be free, and certain hours when I know I’ll be busy.
Create a realistic set of goals
When you’re excited about something, it can be easy to over-plan. For example, I find myself wanting to over-commit to marketing. After all, I can see the potential of content, email newsletters, and social media. And because of that, the idea of constantly posting new things is alluring.
But posting that much is completely unrealistic with a small team like ours. Doing too much at once is a recipe for burnout, which is often caused by work overload. Not to mention, spamming our audience isn’t exactly a good user-experience.
Could we grow all our marketing channels by posting more frequently? Of course. But our current cadence is doable and sustainable: We publish one blog post per week, a minimum of one social post per week, and a biweekly newsletter. Not only is this process sustainable, it’s consistent.
Consistency is vital for two reasons: one, consistent posting encourages trust, and two, our audience knows what to expect from us and when. Marketers also suggest consistent posting positively impacts algorithms and SEO, too.
Outsource work when possible
Outsourcing can look different depending on the type of home business you have. For instance, if you run an Airbnb (where your home is literally your business), you might outsource the administration tasks to a management company. On the other hand, if you have an eCommerce company, you might outsource the printing and shipping.
If your business is digital, you might outsource by hiring contractors or an agency to help you with campaigns. Agencies like ours help companies with rebrands, design, and copywriting, especially when teams are strapped.
While outsourcing work can cut into profits, it can also allow you to do work that may not have been possible before, attracting business you might not have had otherwise. Plus, outsourcing is a great way to reduce other costs and simplify project management.
Get outside every day
Because I have a dog, I have to venture outdoors, rain or shine. Now, I’m definitely not telling you to go outside during inclement weather, but getting fresh air is beneficial to your mental wellbeing. In fact, it can reduce symptoms of depression, expedite stress recovery, and strengthen mental capacity.
When you run a home business, it’s easier than ever to become a hermit. Fight the urge to stay in, though; instead, make the small, achievable goal to go outside at least once a day.
Ways to get outside:
Take a walk (walking has positive health impacts and can benefit the immune system)
Read a book outdoors
Meditate at the park
Go out for a coffee (especially in those colder months)
Not only do these excursions benefit your mental health, but it’s a perfect opportunity to unplug, get some sunshine, and clear your mind.
Take time for distractions
If you beat yourself up for getting distracted, don’t! Breaks are a healthy part of the workday; studies suggest that taking 5 minutes to an hour for yourself can increase productivity and focus.
In a previous post, we discussed how focus can be improved, but you also have to be able to forgive yourself for previous bouts of procrastination. While work is important, getting distracted occasionally is human.
What’s more, research suggests people can only concentrate for a maximum of 5 hours. With that in mind, break your workday into chunks for a more productive plan.
Enforce a cut-off time
By all means, work diligently for your home-based business, but don’t work around the clock. If you know you work better at night, start your day later and make the early part of your day free time. If you start your day early like me, create a cut-off time that ensures you won’t work late into the evening.
I try to cook (or order takeout) around the same time each night. This is part of my routine, and it helps me finish my work at a specific cut-off time.
This also keeps me from starting a big project just before end-of-day—because once I get into a project, I can’t stop. If you finish something important before your cut-off time, spend the rest of your workday on small tasks.
And if you don’t have small tasks, take that time for yourself. That extra window is a perfect opportunity to go outdoors or enjoy one of those “distractions” we discusses above.
Conclusion
Running a home business can be so rewarding, but it can also absorb your free time. With the right guardrails in place, however, you can have a successful home-based business and work-life balance. Prevent burnout by protecting your time and unplugging as needed.
If you’re interested in strategy or outsourcing your creative work, we’re available to help. You can contact us here for a free consultation.
