Walking the Work-Life Tightrope

Maintaining a healthy and responsible work-life balance can be tricky business for an entrepreneur. It’s tempting to work around the clock to make your company the very best it can be, but is that really the best use of your time if you let everything else slide in the process?

Hey, whatever it takes to win, right?

Wrong.

There are times when work has to come first. Sometimes, it’s the only way to fix what’s broken or to keep things moving in a positive direction. But that’s in the short term. In the long term, this kind of behavior can damage your company, your team, and most important of all, you and your family.

But a balanced life doesn’t just happen randomly. You have to be intentional. My wife and I manage our lives by a calendar, and we intentionally make time for each other, our family and other personal things that are important to us. So many people make the mistake of not planning and find themselves having to work crazy-long hours. Before they know it, life outside the office has passed them by.

Your physical health plays an important role too. Exercise boosts your energy levels, and this helps when it comes to staying focused-at home and at work. I’m a big proponent of exercise, as are many of my team members. One of my leaders has a wife and two young kids. Finding time to take care of yourself is tough, especially when you’re an adult with numerous responsibilities. But this guy rolls out of bed at 5 a.m. every day for an hourlong workout before his family wakes up. The moral of the story? If something’s really important to you, you’ll do whatever it takes to make time for it.

To successfully juggle all of life’s demands, you’ve got to prioritize some things and let go of some things. Are there errands or jobs around the home you can hire someone to do? Can you delegate a few tasks or outsource projects at work? Even hiring an assistant who can handle some administrative work and organize your schedule may very well result in a massive boost in productivity.

There will always be days, and sometimes even weeks, which are work-heavy. At the same time, there will be periods of time when you can concentrate more on family and life outside the office. But a little planning and discipline go a long way. If you search for balance in the long run, you won’t fall-and you’ll be much happier in all areas of your life.