Six work life balance nuggets

As a small business owner, I’ve realised that work life balance is essential for business success. Here are six nuggets to help you achieve it. 

Running your own business gives you the flexibility to work your own hours, but it can also mean that your personal life is placed on the backburner.

Many business owners struggle to find a balance between business and life, especially now that technological advancements allow them to be connected 24/7.

If you find yourself in the above category, here are some tips to help you achieve a healthy and productive work life balance.

Set goals and plan weekly tasks in advance

Having clear goals and setting tasks in advance makes life easier because it gives you control and a sense of direction.

In writing down your goals and tasks for the week, make sure they are: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. By making sure your goals are ‘SMART’, you are more likely to achieve them.

Undertake training in the techniques required

“ Multi-tasking may seem like the best way to get more things done, but in reality it helps us accomplish very little.  ”

Enrol in a course or research books related to maintaining and achieving a healthy work life balance. Whether it is time management, goal setting, maximising productivity or stress management, there are endless resources available to help you.

Make an exercise plan

There are many studies that prove exercise is important in anyone’s daily routine. Not only does it make you feel good about yourself, it gives you a fresh mind – meaning you’ll function more efficiently and complete tasks in less time.

Avoid multitasking

Multi-tasking may seem like the best way to get more things done, but in reality it helps us accomplish very little – instead we end up with several half completed tasks, and nothing to cross off our to-do lists. Whenever possible, focus on one task at a time.

Want more articles like this? Check out the work life balance section.

Take a break

Working non-stop throughout the day is not the most productive approach when it comes to completing your work. Take frequent, short breaks to maintain energy and focus. Make sure you get away from your desk every so often to stretch your legs too.

Get a business coach

If you feel you have all the right systems in place but are still struggling with finding the right balance between work and life, consider investing in a business coach. That way you can find out sooner rather than later how to get rid of bad habits, and can implement strategies to help you succeed.

Remember, work life balance involves all components of life, including: work, non-work activities, life responsibilities and leisure activities. Work life balance is good for you, and good for your business.


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A Simple Plan for Starting a Business

Starting a business, whether it is a 'small business' where you work out of an office or a 'home based business' you run out of a corner of your bedroom, you can drastically change your life through a very simple plan.

Starting a business is not something you jump into. 

When you are working a simple plan, starting a business is something you GROW into.

How do you make a simple plan for growth when starting a business?




1. Groundwork of your simple plan is crucial when
starting a business.

Find someone that was successful in starting a business in your industry, watch them, interview them, find out everything you can about what they did when they were starting a business. 

Then, write a simple plan outlining what they do all day.In order to have what they have, you must do what they do, so find out what percentage of their day is spent, for instance, on the telephone making calls, receiving calls and the type of calls.

2. Divide your time.

The next step in your simple plan as you are starting a business is to divide your time like your mentor. Use the same percentage of the total hours, as you will not work the same hours they do.

The 'secret to success' is not in the hours, it is how you spend them! 

 By following the simple plan outlined here, you make the most of your hours, and get the most out of everything as you are starting a business with a simple plan of success.

3. Set your Goals.

A vital piece of success when starting a business is that you have a goal in mind and work your simple plan to get there.

Without a destination (a specific income amount, a personal item like a car or boat, or simply an amount set aside in savings), how will you know you arrived?

4. Track your progress.

Divide your goal into days, weeks, months and/or years to quickly know what is required to reach your destination.

Check your progress often. You will know quickly if you are sticking to your original goal or if you are ahead or behind schedule.

Just like a road trip, as you are starting a business, you will likely come across some detours, that's OK. 

On vacation, just as in starting a business, if you find a road blocked or a path impassible, you simply find another way.  And, just as on vacation, include in your simple plan a few hours here/there for such 'emergencies'. 

If you find you have no emergencies, simply choose something else that will get you closer to your destination, or just relax and enjoy where you are.

5. Work ON your business, not only IN your business.

In starting a business, you must set aside part of your time to plan, set goals, promote and advertise your business, not simply work along in your business, doing the things you do.

When starting a business, a simple form of advertising is a website. The more people that see what you have to offer, the quicker your business will grow.

You could go door-to-door, telling everyone about your website (not a simple plan!), or maximize your time by posting articles online where many people see them.

This is overlooked by many as they are starting a business, and one of the reasons they fail...

As your business grows, you will do less advertising and begin to work your simple plan toward the 'IN your business' phase.

6. Give excellent Customer Service.

Upset customers kill more business than you can imagine. Find a way to work with them, or simply give them their money back. Losing customers is something you cannot afford when you are just starting a business!

So many people simply do not make the time to provide quality service to their customers. 

Do not let that happen to you!

With a little planning and goal setting, follow through each week and simply repeating the process, you can change your business from flat to cash in a short amount of time.

When starting a business, if you follow the simple plan we have outlined here, you are already a success!


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Six work life balance nuggets

As a small business owner, I’ve realised that work life balance is essential for business success. Here are six nuggets to help you achieve it.

Running your own business gives you the flexibility to work your own hours, but it can also mean that your personal life is placed on the backburner. 

Many business owners struggle to find a balance between business and life, especially now that technological advancements allow them to be connected 24/7.

If you find yourself in the above category, here are some tips to help you achieve a healthy and productive work life balance.

Set goals and plan weekly tasks in advance

Having clear goals and setting tasks in advance makes life easier because it gives you control and a sense of direction.

In writing down your goals and tasks for the week, make sure they are: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. By making sure your goals are ‘SMART’, you are more likely to achieve them.

Undertake training in the techniques required

Enrol in a course or research books related to maintaining and achieving a healthy work life balance. Whether it is time management, goal setting, maximising productivity or stress management, there are endless resources available to help you.

“ Multi-tasking may seem like the best way to get more things done, but in reality it helps us accomplish very little.  ”

Make an exercise plan

There are many studies that prove exercise is important in anyone’s daily routine. Not only does it make you feel good about yourself, it gives you a fresh mind – meaning you’ll function more efficiently and complete tasks in less time.

Avoid multitasking

Multi-tasking may seem like the best way to get more things done, but in reality it helps us accomplish very little – instead we end up with several half completed tasks, and nothing to cross off our to-do lists. Whenever possible, focus on one task at a time.

Want more articles like this? Check out the work life balance section.

Take a break

Working non-stop throughout the day is not the most productive approach when it comes to completing your work. Take frequent, short breaks to maintain energy and focus. Make sure you get away from your desk every so often to stretch your legs too.

Get a business coach

If you feel you have all the right systems in place but are still struggling with finding the right balance between work and life, consider investing in a business coach. That way you can find out sooner rather than later how to get rid of bad habits, and can implement strategies to help you succeed.

Remember, work life balance involves all components of life, including: work, non-work activities, life responsibilities and leisure activities. Work life balance is good for you, and good for your business.


Source: