Success!
Your review has been submitted
Your review has been submitted
Family life and work life can each take up a lot of energy and time, but what happens when you feel overwhelmed with balancing BOTH? It can feel unattainable when you want the best of both worlds, but it’s not impossible. Whether you’re thinking about starting your own business or you’ve already launched, here are some ways you can better balance family life while starting a business.
Keep a Calendar
Time management is key when it comes to juggling responsibilities. Creating separate schedules for business and family can be helpful to organize important tasks, events, and reminders. One example of a platform that makes it easy to keep track of all of this is Google calendar. You can view multiple calendars at once, color-code each entry, and invite others to see or attend your events. Make sure that your partner (business or spousal) has access to your calendars so you can stay on the same page.
Keeping your business and personal calendars separate– yet in the same place– will likely make life feel less cluttered and more manageable. But, just because you have a schedule doesn’t mean it always has to be a strict one. We know that no matter how hard we try, there will always be something that doesn’t go according to plan, so it is important to remain flexible with last-minute changes.
Seek Out Assistance
Even though it may feel uncomfortable, you will probably need to lean on others to delegate responsibilities or gain a different perspective in order to run a more successful business. It’s important to remember that asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but a way to utilize the network of resources that you have to further build relationships. This is especially relevant in the business world; mentors and business partners are a great resource to seek out for those who are new entrepreneurs and may be looking for some advice. Score is a mentorship program for people who are looking to either give or gain support to help their businesses thrive.
Accelerator programs are also a good way to find extra resources for your business. Put Me On is a six-month program that aims to help entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities by providing education, networking, and assistance with product distribution. However you decide to seek assistance for your business, it is also important to do the same for your personal life. Asking family members and friends to step in and help by watching the kids may not always be the easiest thing to do, but it will benefit you and your business. It will give you more time to focus on your business and leave you less stressed about how things are going at home. You can’t possibly focus all of your attention on one or the other, so having a support system of people you can rely on is key.
Create a Work Zone
Where you work is just as important as your business itself. Are you renting an office space? Will you be working from home? Deciding which of these options is right for you, your family, and your business will depend on a few things; do you have room in your budget for renting office space, and if so, how long will your commute be? Or do you have an underutilized space in your home that can be converted into a home office? What supplies do you need to furnish these spaces?
To many entrepreneurs, your workspace is considered your second home and you need to make sure you’re comfortable in it. If you try working in one place and it doesn’t feel right, consider switching spaces to see how it feels to work somewhere else. Talk to the people you live with to get their insight on a home office so you can make the best decision for everyone. Your comfort can affect your productivity, so be mindful of how you feel in your space.
Practice Self-Care
Speaking of being mindful, taking care of yourself is one of the most important things you can do for your family and business. Self-care doesn’t have to be time-consuming or detract from your normal routine. Adding in a 10-minute yoga stretch, listening to your favorite music, and writing down things you’re grateful for are all small and easy ways to improve your mood throughout the day.
Sticking to a routine can also make a big difference in your day. If you do things routinely, they eventually stop feeling like an obligation and start to become a normal part of your day. Whether it’s a skincare, meal prep, or workout routine, you will likely feel like you’re ahead of the game by the time your day is done.
Balancing different areas of your life takes time and effort. Just like learning how to do a cartwheel, it doesn’t come naturally to anyone. By practicing, we can learn more about ourselves and put that knowledge to use at home and in our workplace.
©2020 Bump Club & Beyond, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Bump Club & Beyond® is a registered trademark of Bump Club & Beyond, Inc. and is registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.