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When you open your own business (particularly if you’re running it full time as your main source of income) it really does consume your life. There’s a lot of pressure and responsibility to get it right, and in the earlier days when you don’t have huge amounts of funds to work with there’s a really fine line between success and failure. Even small mistakes can spell disaster, and for this reason so many business owners tend to throw themselves into their ventures, sacrificing everything else to make it work. But this isn’t always the best way to go, stretch yourself too thin and you won’t do your best work- and can even push yourself to burning out. Here are some of the ways you can get the balance right.
Don’t neglect your health
Burning the midnight oil sometimes has to be done, there are bound to be days that you’re hard at work all day and all night. You grab whatever is convenient to eat, and while your brain is getting a workout- your body… not so much. Over time this can take a serious toll on your health, so do what you can to look after yourself, even when you’re busy. Make it a habit to walk or cycle to the office, walk around the park at lunch, prepare healthy lunches to take with you each day. Try to set a schedule so that you’re able to fully switch off at the end of the day, rather than sitting in bed writing emails or working when you’re supposed to be eating dinner.
Spend time with loved ones
Chances are, you started your own business with the aim of having more money and flexible methods and working hours. However, these things don’t come until a little later on. In fact, for the first couple of years in most businesses, it can be a struggle financially with more work than you’ve ever done in your life. This is unfortunate, but don’t forget to take time out to spend with the people that matter. Give yourself time off in the evenings and at least one day during the week, ensuring that you’re spending enough time with the people you care about.
Keep on learning
As a business owner, you absolutely have to be adaptable. If you want your company to be successful long term, you need to be able to respond to the ever changing market, you need to know what you’re looking out for. Educating yourself and keeping on learning puts you in the best position for this, and also ensures that you’re not just letting yourself (or your company) stagnante. Sign up for some IT classes, take a marketing or leadership course online, even just read the news so you know what’s going on in the world and how it might affect what you do. Learning keeps your mind sharp and boosts mental health; it’s something proactive you can do for your business without micromanaging all of your employees.
Make time for hobbies
Finally, having interests outside of your business helps you to build skills in a different way, gives you something to look forward to when you’re off and boosts happiness levels. Take up a hobby in something you enjoy, and spend a little time each week on it.
