What is your work life balance?

Ironically I’m on annual leave whilst writing this so bear with me! I’m in the Highlands on a week’s break at an idyllic home called Sail Mhor View with a view over Little Loch Broom, birds singing in the garden and dogs snoring on the sofa why oh why I am writing a blog?

Well, it dawned on me how many of us continue to run our businesses whilst on holiday and do we ever get downtime? In order to answer this I want to refer to a book called work-life brilliance which is a book I read many years ago and changed the way I think about work-life balance. Denise Green (author) talks about the fact we consider work-life balance as a 50/50 split but that is just unrealistic for most especially those who run their own business, in fact, it's much more about looking at it as an individual - are we able to flex our balance so we work some of the time and have down time the rest? That’s what I’m doing, I’m having my morning coffee before going exploring in search of more beaches and stunning views which will make me fall more in love with this part of the world!

This way I can be comfortable that the business wheels are still turning and I’m getting my holiday later today. Does this suit all people? of course not. This is my work-life balance, not anyone else’s. However, I’m sure if you ask other business owners or those who are in certain positions within businesses they will do something similar.

I always consider there to be a difference though between the expectations business owners put on themselves, and the need to keep their business going and those working for an organisation.  Neither is better or worse, just different.
 
Business Owners
Having the tendency to work 365 days what ways do you ensure you get your balance right? Where you are meeting the needs of yourself, your family and your friends let alone your interests and just grabbing time for sleep or 'veg on the sofa'?

For me, I plan everything in my diary, even those downtime moments! That way I can see clearly see where there is space, when I know I have commitments and even when I want to have a day doing nothing! I didn’t realise how much I did this until one Christmas when my ‘to-do list’ included reading 3 books and watching the Marvel films in the correct sequence! Both I achieved and that was only possible as that was in my diary/to-do list to achieve!

Working in a business
How do you get your downtime? With the amazing technology we have these days it's hard to not be contactable, isn’t it? Some have ‘off grid’ holidays specifically going somewhere where there is no signal or WiFi but then do they spend their time exploring/ visiting local sights trying to find WiFi? I know I did this once, I found a signal in a food shop in mid-wales and ended up spending an hour or so there - just to answer those ‘important’ emails!

France in 2017 brought in legislation to enable workers to digitally detach from work, ensuring that they wouldn’t get a call in the night or that ‘just a quick question’. For the UK it doesn’t look like this is coming in any time soon so how can we self-manage the need for downtime?

Quick Wins

• Flex your time
• Pre-plan what’s needed - I always try and work a few weeks in advance, that way I have time to meet urgent customer needs when they come in, or if they don’t I can have downtime and go for a long dog walk or watch that film
• Continually consider the needs of your family and friends - making sure that you are available for them as they need you as much as you need them for their support, love and friendship
• Live in the moment when you are doing what you are doing, this enables us to enjoy the moment, clear our thoughts and just be present!
• Journal or find your method to reflect - whether that is just in your mind, through meditation or journalling - realise just how much you achieve and how amazing that is!
• Breathe and when you need a break, take a break.

Be You Consultancy & Coaching are able to support you to find your balance through our coaching services whilst I make it sound straightforward I continually review and adjust my balance and so far it's taken me over 25 years to refine my art!

Whether you are a business owner or working within a business, we can support you with your time management, finding your balance and identifying and achieving your goals. After all, unless we enjoy spinning on a hamster wheel we want to take something from all this work and find enjoyment in what we do!

If you think we can support you, then please contact us.

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