The startup world is fast moving, volatile, and shifts at a moment’s notice. You have long days, sleepless nights, and weeks on end where you don’t have a moment to yourself… It’s a difficult job, it puts a strain on your mind, your body and on your relationships. If you want to come out on top, if you want to maintain a good work-life balance, there are certain things you need to keep in mind. Below are some tips on how to maintain a life outside of work, while still being as fulfilled and as efficient as possible.
Cherish your personal time
First and above all, always have time for yourself. This one is simply non-negotiable. You need to take a moment to step back, and breathe. This is vital not only for your mental health, but also for your family and for your business. Taking at least 15 minutes every day all to yourself, to reflect, to meditate, or to simply lay back and breathe is a core component of keeping your balance.
Don’t bring your work home
Keep your work at the workplace. Understand that there are some perks more important than a salary, one of these being, you know, having an actual life. Now, we understand that you made your choice that you actually crave a sixty hour work week at least. However, set clear rules and boundaries. Let people know when they are not allowed to disturb you. Have one day per week completely off. Disconnecting is vital for rest, and for productivity.
Time management is key
One of the key factors in maintaining a good balance is learning how to manage your time and energy. You only have 24 hours per day, and you need to get at least six hours of sleep if you want to maintain your health and sanity in the long run. This means your time must be spent perfectly. Trim the fat, set a schedule for every day, track your time, and see where you are wasting it needlessly.
Get out of the office
One of the greater benefits of startup offices is that they are very flexible as far as work is concerned. They are all centered on results, and it’s up to you to give them to the company. Place, time, it all doesn’t matter much, as long as you get your work done before your set deadline expires. This means you can take the work out of the office, and maybe work from home. While we’ve mentioned how bringing your work to your home is detrimental, we should point out that for some people this is a godsend. You can spend more time with your family, maybe keep an eye on the kids, multitask and cook while you do some menial, boring but easy and necessary part of your job
Always have time for your family
Spending time with your family is vital if you actually want to have a good long-term relationship with them. Furthermore, it relieves stress, it enhances your lifestyle. Trust us, you don’t want to wake up one day and realize you sacrificed your family life for your career.
Delegate
Get used to delegating your work. If you personally don’t need to do some activity at work, don’t do it. Here is a slightly dark, but heavy, example. Let’s say somebody got hurt at the workplace. This will definitely be a stressful event for everybody involved. So, don’t you dare touch a part of the paperwork except what you have to. Direct this to your expert work injury lawyers, let them handle this issue as much as you can. Don’t even water the plants if you have somebody on the job – you need to invest all you have into your work, your creativity, or into resting.
Try to keep the workplace relaxed
Don’t approach the workplace and your job like you’re going to face down a lion with nothing but a knife and grit to back you up. While this kind of mentality may be useful for high-level business deals, for every day, nine to five work, it will burn you out. Instead, try to find some joy in what you do (or try to recapture it). Try to maintain a relaxed atmosphere at the office, keep it light. You will feel much better at the end of the day, as will your employees.
Beware of burnout and stay positive
If you want to succeed, you need to keep your eyes on the prize at all times. Working for more than sixty hours per week takes a toll on anybody. With a positive mindset you can overcome this issue, but it’s going to take some effort. And if you actually have trouble stopping, and that you always have your foot on the gas pedal, know that maintaining a work-life balance is key to your success. Think of breaks as short term investments into long-term success. You are only human, and you will burn out if you don’t take care of yourself.
Try to find time to travel
Now, relaxation doesn’t mean laziness. What it does mean is recharging, recuperating, getting your energy back, and preparing it for the next challenge. So, try to take a break from time to time. For example, traveling is a great option. Understand that there are many benefits to traveling, and that sometimes, you just need to get away from it all and breathe.
Conclusion
Maintaining a work-life balance in the startup world is vital for your success and your sanity. If you figure out how to keep a healthy lifestyle outside of work (and to actually have a life outside of work), then you will definitely see the benefits not only at your job, but also in your relationships. Indeed, ambition and career are all well and good, but there is more to life than just that. And focusing on maintaining a good work and life balance is vital for success.
