If you own a startup company, then you may already know the kind of dedication it takes to make one succeed. Watching your business grow and thrive can also be a great source of pride, especially in an era where competition is fierce and more startups than ever are surviving. However, running your business may also mean sleepless nights and little time for leisure activities. This can lead to chronic health issues, but there are a few strategies you can use to maintain a balance between your business and personal life.
1.   Learn To Say No To YourselfÂ
Putting your business before yourself can help you get it off the ground in the early days, but once it can sustain itself, it is important that you learn to say no to the voice in your head that insists you do not have time to rest and relax. For example, if you interrupt personal time to deal with a business matter that can wait until the next day or be delegated to your office manager, then you may be compromising that work-life balance that can be so important to your overall well-being.
Learning to say no, even to yourself, may take some effort and unlearning some habits you may have picked up in your freelancing days, when saying no meant losing much-needed experience and profit. Plan your personal time, protect it, and let your employees and clients know that you will not be available until it is over.
2.   Create and Claim Your IdentityÂ
How you view and think of yourself can have a considerable impact when it comes to maintaining a balance between your entrepreneurial and personal lives. While thinking of yourself as an entrepreneur may give you a lot of pride, it can also hinder other areas of your life. Over time, you may not be able to separate your business from your identity, and this could cause a serious blow to your mental health if your company should ever go under.
One of the greatest advantages to being the owner of a successful startup is getting the chance to forge your own identity. For example, if you are a woman who wants to improve the way other women gain venture capital for their own startups, you can use the face of your business to do so without having to compromise who you are as an individual. As an entrepreneur, you can wear an almost endless variety of hats and celebrate yourself at the same time.
3.   Stop MicromanagingÂ
When you build a business from the ground up, it will no doubt mean a great deal to you. However, once it becomes successful and you hire competent people to help you run it, it is important that you learn to let go and allow your employees to make some decisions on your behalf. This can help you achieve a better work/life balance and reduce stress, which can have an adverse effect on your health.
For example, if you hire a social media manager for your company yet still spend hours trying to come with content while rejecting your employee’s ideas, this type of micromanaging can cause discontent and resentment for your employee and more stress for you. Once you make the decision to delegate tasks, let your employees move forward on their own; some of them may surprise you with their talent and ability.
4.   Establish Clear Contact Guidelines
Being accessible to your clients and employees can be important, especially when there is an emergency that only you can handle. However, this does not mean you should make yourself available to everyone all the time, especially when you are enjoying a personal day. You can better balance this issue by establishing clear contact rules.
One simple way you can create contact guidelines is to set times where employees can check in with you. For example, if you are on a personal day or a vacation, have them contact you at a scheduled time so you can expect a call or a text. Let your employees know that they are expected to handle problems and what steps they can take for different situations, so they have a contingency plan to follow.
5.   Look To Other Entrepreneurs for InspirationÂ
Sometimes, emulating other successful entrepreneurs can help you understand the importance of the work/life balance. For example, Chris Sacca runs his venture capital company with his wife, including family elements in both his work and his home life. Working with his partner may help this successful entrepreneur understand the importance of multi-faceted identity that can be molded to suit current priorities.
Finding time in your life for your startup and who you are as an individual can be challenging. However, taking time to achieve that balance and understanding its importance can help you grow as both a successful entrepreneur and a human being.
