Article Contributed by Korie Cantor
Being at the helm of a business means more than having a corner office and your name on a business card; as an entrepreneur, you have to believe in your mission and vision, and instill the same passion in your employees. And this can often mean having to put in additional working hours!
While your work can be challenging and rewarding at the same time, working after hours can take a toll on your family life. So it isn’t surprising to see a lot of women put off starting a family because they think doing so will help them concentrate on their career, or give up their career to give their family undivided attention.
If you are a woman entrepreneur contemplating which way to go, you need to know that having the best of both worlds is possible- you just need to balance them right! Here are six tips that will help you maintain a work-family life balance.
Know What You Want
A work-life balance is different for everyone- some women might find a balance in allotting family time on weekends while others may find spending a couple of hours with their family on a daily basis to be satisfying. Further, you can be just as happy noting down freebies you want to sign up for or splurging on a lavish dinner with your partner.
Knowing what works for you will help you plan your schedule appropriately so that you don’t end up checking work e-mails when spending time with your family or dream about a family vacation in the middle of an important meeting.
Set Clear Boundaries
Once you’re clear on what a work-life balance means to you, you’ll have to set clear boundaries so you don’t merge work time and family time.
Setting clear boundaries can be as simple as ensuring you leave the office at a particular time or refrain from checking e-mails after a set time. It also means not being constantly in touch with your subordinates when you’re on vacation; if you must check e-mails, do it in the morning or evening.
Setting boundaries alone won’t do the trick; you’ll also have to stay within them come what may. Make sure your subordinates know your boundaries so that your business can run without glitches. Also, work around your boundaries so that you can meet your responsibilities.
Learn to Outsource or Delegate
You can’t be there for your family and company at the same time and all the time. Accept this fact and realize that you need people to take care of certain tasks for you. If you cannot fit picking up your kids from school or activity classes into your schedule, don’t stress about it- ask a family member to do it for you or hire a driver.
When it comes to work, delegate tasks to employees who excel at completing them. Most importantly, trust your employees to get the job done so that you don’t waste your time and energy worrying about delegated tasks.
Additionally, don’t spend your family time doing things that can get on your nerves. For example, going grocery shopping with cranky kids in tow won’t do you or your kids any good. So go shopping for groceries and other essentials in your ‘work time’, get someone to do it for you, or order online!
Don’t Feel Guilty
Working mothers usually think that they are placing their career before their children and family and then feel guilty about it. Instead of doing this to yourself, do away with negative thoughts and think of how you’re positively affecting your family’s life by running your own business!
Be Open to Changes
Your family’s needs as well as those of your company will change over time. If you try to follow the same schedule for an extended amount of time, you won’t be able to maintain the work-life balance.
What’s more, your own needs are bound to change with time, so embrace all changes that come your way and tweak your schedules accordingly!
Take Care of Yourself
It’s easy to lose yourself in the daily hustle and bustle of life trying to achieve excellence both at work and at home. To keep your sanity intact, be sure to take some time out for yourself- daily, weekly, or monthly.
Above all, stay healthy by eating right and exercising regularly. If you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be able to take care of your family and business!
Conclusion
As a career-oriented woman, you needn’t choose your career or family over the other. Achieving work and family life balance is absolutely possible- you just need to ensure you’re doing the right things.
With the tips given here, you now know what you need to do to have the best of both worlds. So get started on balancing your family and professional life!
Author bio:
Korie Cantor is a blogger and writer who blogs about fashion, family, business tips and lifestyle. She possesses a great sense of style. Being a fashionista, she loves to share her thoughts about fashion and it’s latest trends. Connect on Twitter at @koriecantor