If you are an entrepreneur or a leader in your workplace, you know how difficult it is to balance your work and home life. From chores to dinner to school projects and family events – balancing your work life and home life can be the number one stressor we’re all striving to overcome. We’re not necessarily the experts on this front but we do know a thing or two about the balancing act and we’re always willing to share what we know. 

Prioritize

We know this is asking a lot of you because to prioritize is to place one thing of importance above another and there are too many times in our lives where we feel like everything is equally important. But I’m here to break it to you, that is not the case. There are things in very similar categories and levels of importance but when it comes to balance, you’re going to have to make some tough decisions about what those things are. This is a personal preference. What is a priority for someone else may not be a priority for you. Either way, make your list of priorities and include the non tangibles as well. Peace, ease, and physical health are all valid. 

Prepare

Honestly, preparation has been one of the saving graces in my journey of the balancing act. Taking just 30 minutes to prepare yourself for your next day or week can cater to your mental health as well as your schedule. It’s best to think through the events and responsibilities ahead and prepare yourself for them however you can. That could mean ordering your kids valentines cards on Amazon three weeks early or preparing lunches the night before school. These little decisions help save on time and a whole lot of stress. You can also prepare on the business side of things. Looking at your schedule and moving things around the week before or blocking off certain dates and times so you can make a major deadline will change your life. 

Rest 

This is the biggest and most important yet the item most people neglect the most. Many people will say they don’t have time to rest because if they rest, they are taking time away from all of the other things that need to get done. Rest can take on a lot of different forms depending on the person, place, and time that you have. For some, rest is literal – a nap or sleep at night. For others, rest is doing nothing while listening to music. Or coloring. Or doing that one activity that feels something like meditation for you. You have to rest your mind, body, and soul in order for you to find balance in your home and business life. With a restful mind, you can operate and live at a higher level. 

Adjust

When all else fails and the things you were doing before just aren’t working for the lifestyle you are living now, you may have to adjust your expectations, schedule, or way of doing things. You may need to hire out if the daily tasks are becoming too much. You may have to start saying no to new projects so that you can build a system to support your expansion. There are a number of things that could and should happen depending on everyone’s individual situation but the most important part is to be flexible and evaluate what’s actually happening so you can make your life easier.