Small business owners know the struggle, maybe even better than most of us. Owners know how to be all the things, from marketer, to finance expert, to primary operator. It’s a job that requires loads of attention and effort. Not all for naught, but it can take a strain on the work-life balance—which is absolutely and 100% necessary, you know, the balance part. Why, you ask?

Small Business Owner Statistics

Small business owners go the distance and then some, and then, sometimes, go even further. It can be exhausting and has been known to take a toll.  This is what most small business owners are reporting about their work-life balance

• 70% of small business owners work more than 40 hours per week, according to a survey by Fundera.
• That same survey revealed 81% work nights and 89% work weekends.
• Nearly half of all small business owners (47%) report experiencing poor mental health in the last year, according to Simply Business.
• 75% of small business owners are worried about their mental health, according to Inc.com.
• Ramsey Solutions reports that 42% of small business owners have experienced burnout in the past year.
• A survey by Freshbooks reveals that 85% of owners work during their vacations.

Why You Need a Healthy Work/Life Balance

At times, it can be easy to shrug it off and think that you don’t need more balance in your life. But you do. Creating better balance is the key to setting your business up for success. These are the benefits of a better work-life balance.

• Prevents burnout
• Promotes better decision making
• Improves productivity
• Allows for better personal relationships
• Causes better mental and physical health
• Better workplace culture and employee retention
• Higher chance of business sustainability

How to Set a Healthy Work-Life Balance

If you feel like you’re struggling in this department, you are far from alone. Committing yourself to a healthy work-life balance is easy enough to do in words, and a little harder to do in action. Try these tips to follow through with setting—and keeping—a good work-life balance 

• Stick to set work hours: Establish regular work hours and stick to them as much as possible. Make sure you let staff, family, and friends know so they can provide support and help keep you honest.
• Define your workspace: Create a specific space for work that is separate from your home life, especially if working from home. This helps to establish clear boundaries.
• Hire and delegate:  If financially feasible, hire employees or outsource tasks like bookkeeping, marketing, or administrative work to free up time. Don’t feel like you have to take on everything alone. Trust employees to provide support.
• Set daily priorities: You can’t do everything. Make a list of daily things that must be completed and move to other nice-to-have completed if possible.
• Automate where possible: Technology is a wondrous thing, There are so many tools that allow you to automate tasks which can free you up.
• Evaluate your opportunities: Not every opportunity or client is worth pursuing. Determine whether each opportunity aligns with your long-term goals and if it will stretch your capacity too thin.
• Manage customer expectations:  Be clear with clients about your availability and boundaries, and don’t be afraid to turn down projects or requests that would interfere with personal or family time.
• Take vacations and time off: Schedule vacations or days off in advance and commit to unplugging from work completely during these periods to prevent burnout.
• Prioritize health and well-being: When possible, try to exercise regularly, eat healthy meals, and get plenty of sleep. If needed, reach out for mental-health support.
• Leverage work-from-home flexibility: Take advantage of hybrid work schedules to help create more balance.
• Time blocking: Block off personal time in your calendar, just as you would for important meetings. This time can be spent with family, hobbies, or simply relaxing.
• Hire help for personal chores: If your budget allows, consider outsourcing personal tasks like cleaning, meal prepping, or childcare to free up more time for relaxation and personal pursuits.
  

Every small business is unique. Finding a healthy balance will help you be a better boss, partner, and parent and will increase your own happiness.