If you’re at all like me, you probably feel like a broken record when catching up with friends and family. It pains me to hear myself saying for what seems like the millionth time, “Oh, we’re super busy as usual” or “Life has been nuts for the last couple months” or “The insanity never ends!” It can be particularly disheartening for small business owners to feel life spinning out of control, since so many entrepreneurs chose self-employment because they wanted a better life for themselves, on their own terms.
As a business consultant and author who advises students and clients on this issue, I am certainly not immune! I may even be a case study. Despite the efficient work habits and systems that I’ve developed over the decades, I now find myself struggling and sweating to keep all the balls in the air due to a major life development: having a baby eight months ago. With a bouncing baby in addition to my supercharged 4-year-old, I suddenly find myself pulling all-nighters again like a college student.
The fact is, many small business owners struggle to keep a balance in their lives. The good news is that there are simple ways to help tame a crazy, over-busy life. I’ve learned the following tips from years of personal experience, and from working with scores of business owners doing similar juggling acts. Remember, these tips help bring things back into balance, but there’s no such thing as “achieving” balance with any finality. It’s all about the cycle and learning how to control it.