Guest post from NEIS program partner Bizcover.
Operating your own small business can feel a bit like a juggle at times, balancing the everyday duties of your business, trying to keep a healthy lifestyle, looking after your family, catching up with friends and somehow making time to commit to hobbies.
As a small business owner, it’s not uncommon for your lifestyle to take the backseat as your business takes priority, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Let’s look at some of the ways you can avoid experiencing burn-out while still maintaining a thriving small business in the first part of our two-part series on how to manage your work-life balance.
Time to move
The one thing many small business owners wish they had more of is time. While we may have good intentions to get up early and go to the gym, the reality is it’s not always an option. Here are a few ways you can still keep that heart pumping without a kettlebell in sight.
- Enjoy the great outdoors – if you are located near a park go for a walk, step away from the screen and fill those lungs with fresh air. Ten minutes of walking and getting outside will do you the world of good.
- Do you commute to work? Why not get off one stop earlier and walk the rest, it’s free and you will never know what you might discover along the way.
Giving up the glow
Chances are you rely on your mobile phone for everything from phone calls to diary management, scheduling social media posts, paying bills or even ordering your lunch. It’s hard to imagine a day without it.
That’s why it’s important to switch off occasionally, not only your phone but your mind too. Try these simple tips for less screen time:
- Give yourself a cut-off time to stop reading emails, making and taking calls
- Create a routine of the same time each day to step away from the screen. During this time why not read a book, have coffee with a friend or play with your kids or pet
Spaced out
You spend hours in your workspace, it is literally your home away from home. Take the time to make it a space you want to work in by making it your own with these simple tips and tricks:
- Surround yourself with the things that inspire you. Put up photos, postcards, quotes, whatever gets that motivation going!
- Keep your space clean and clutter free. An organised desk is much more inviting then a fort of paperwork and junk. It will also help you save time knowing where everything is and not panicking about where you left that invoice!
- Make sure you have access to natural light, something which will instantly increase productivity.
Digital Assistance
Embrace the wonderful world of technology and support your business with a digital assistant. Perfect for managing those day to day tasks without the expense of hiring a staff member. These are some of the ways a digital assistant can make your life easier:
- Set reminders for meetings, bills due for payment and when your insurance policy is up for renewal!
- Help get directions to an appointment
- Schedule your day – reminders for when tasks and meetings are due
- Sync your apps – there are a variety of apps that allow you to sync and operate with your digital assistant
We hope you have enjoyed the first part of our guide to managing the work-life balance for small business owners. Stay tuned for our next article where we explore how keeping an eye on your health can make your life easier, and is an investment that could save your business for the long run.
This post was provided by Bizcover, Australia’s No.1 Small Business Insurance provider and official NEIS provider, allowing you to get multiple insurance quotes and purchase online in minutes. See more at bizcover.com.au. To get a further understanding of how insurance works; and the type of insurance you should consider, please watch the Bizcover eLearning modules for NEIS participants.
For information on FREE small business training with the NEIS program, use the postcode search tool to find your nearest NEIS provider.
