Balancing Act
I am sure most business owners (at one stage or another) struggle with the work/life balance. Generally you have your own business so you have the freedom to work your own hours, but in reality you work more hours than you would like.
This is one area I really struggle with. Particularly as I work from home my business is always ‘there’ and I don’t really switch off. This has very much been the case over the past 6 months as my business has grown the whole “switching off” idea just doesn’t work.
I have my laptop and my iPhone and it is too easy for me to check my emails and make sure I am not missing anything on Facebook and Twitter. Even if my laptop is off my iPhone is there. Sometimes I find myself responding to emails at 11pm on a Friday night and I have even been accused (although not proven) of checking my phone at 3am when I wake up through the night (ok ok I am obsessed!).
I am also a mother to a very energetic two year old so the balancing act between being a mother, wife and business owner is difficult. Generally my routine is all based around my son. I cram as much work in when he is asleep and once again as soon as he is asleep at night. I do this so I can get everything done. And not even that, I love my business and it was I love to do so I don’t really find it work.
But the question is “when do I get ‘me’ time? Or when can I spend sometime with my partner?”
Quite simply I dont!! And I can’t stand that. As I said I love my business and it is the reason I do what I do. But I do hate that I feel completely exhausted all the time and that I don’t have time to spend with just my husband.
So this is something I am going to work on. I am making it my mission to stop (not every night let’s not get ahead of myself here) but at least two nights during the week to ensure I get ‘me’ time and also to make time for my husband. So that means no checking emails, no social networks and no checking my iPhone at ridiculous hours of the night. It is going to be difficult but I am going to do it!
I would love to hear your thoughts at how you manage the whole work/life balance.
7 Responses to “Balancing Act”
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Oh Nicole I hear you. I have tried to do this for 2 years, but still every night I sit here at my computer! I am obsessed as well. However I do get time during the day to be a mum, do errands, have a massage, have the occasional coffee and lunch with a friend. I work at night so I can do these things. I sometimes feel guilty that I don’t spend time with my partner, but in all reality we would just be sitting on the lounge next to each other staring at the television. We do make sure we go to bed together so we have some time to talk etc each night. It is very hard to make the separation between work and home when work is so portable. In saying all that I wouldn’t swap anything … I love the way my work life is and I love working from home.
Hi Nic, great read and as you know I suffer the very same issues in trying to be a lady of all hats (hence I am responding to your post at 10:36pm on a Sunday night). The kids do get all my spare time, so hubby and I will attend our first date day/night on Valentines day and then once per month after that. Also the mandatory ‘turn off the laptop’ a couple of nights a week! Maybe we should start a support group!
It is nice to see other people have the same problem. I agree Annie that I do get my time off during the day and I can catch up with friends and have some time with my son. I always say that to my partner is that all we do is watch TV anyway so it doesn’t matter… but I am going to try so hard make time. I feel as though it is very important!
Date night is a great idea Tash! The mandatory turn off of the laptop is something I try but just never do. As soon as the laptop is off, my iPhone is in my lap.
I can totally relate. Although i dont have kids, i have a husband and 2 puppies as well as wanting to catch up with friends and the usual social commitements. I find it very hard to just watch a movie or read a book for any length of time. I keep thinking of all the things i have to do. But it doesnt feel like work as i love my business and want it to be successful so i guess you have to put in the hard yards and reap the reqards later…. (when we can pay people to do a lot of this stuff for us)
Gday Nic,
I know what you mean. As a work from home Dad of a very noisy 9 month old, I can relate. Last year, I did a REALLY poor job of balancing my work and my family life but in 2010 it’s going to be different.
I started in the second half of last year by placing set work hours on myself and the business. I don’t work weekends, you can’t call me at 8pm on a Thursday night and expect me to check something out for you and so on.
Yes I might lose a bit of business but in the end I’m not on Earth for my business – I am here for me and my family who deserve more than that.
My solid clients understand and that is the most important business thing. My wife and daughter (and the next one on the way) also appreciate being able to have me around – not just physically but with my brain switched off from work as well.
Hi Nic & fellow Coasties
As a 4-day working Mum with a toddler (and #2 on the way) who commutes to Sydney, work/life balance is certainly a topic that gets discussed a lot in this household! My husband recently changed jobs so his hours were more suited to spending time together and this has made a huge difference, despite the extra childcare juggling in the week.
My husband and I to regularly have ‘me-time’ and we jokingly accrue credits when the other’s indulging, so it’s a pretty fair system as we totally share child & house duties.
I can’t recommend enough Tim Ferrs’ 4hr work week. I’m currently reading it for the 2nd time, it makes you rethink productivity, “deferred life plans” (retirement), automation of your business etc. I’m sure you’d all get something out of it! Happy to lend out my copy when I finish it. Again!
Hope to meet some of you at a future #ccbiz event as I’ll be on mat leave shortly.
Gday Coasties.
being a single dad with five kids ( 4 in my care) and with 80% of my work done at home, this is definitely a big issue for me so i will be looking into the advise given here.
Nick you make a really big point when you said ” not just physically but with my brain switched off from work as well” –
many times i have been physically there.. but with my brain still ticking away on my business.
BillyB
BillyB Photography