Entrepreneurs & Business Owners Explain How They Maintain Balance [ANSWERS]

Thanks to Dr. Marlene Caroselli!

Three things I do to keep balanced. Keep a quiet time. I try most every morning to have a little quiet time to pause and seek direction. Work out. I feel more fresh, alert, and productive each day I workout. Turn off the phone and the computer. One day a week I go off the grid and a restart and refresh.

Thanks to John Blue Hillman, Charity Payment Solutions!

I have to manage my time effectively by planning out what I'm going to do pretty much each hour of the day. (1) Keeping a calendar is key to stay on top of things and making sure to also schedule some personal time whether it's shopping, exercise or doing something on your own to re-energize you need to think about yourself as well so you don't wear yourself down. (2)  Learn to delegate tasks to staff we can't do everything on our own and we need help and delegating some of the smaller tasks will free up time and make our other tasks seem less daunting.

Thanks to Mannie Tantawy, The Staging Fashionista!

Whenever I feel my life getting out of balance, I sit down and make a list of all the ways I spend my time during my waking hours, everything over and above a standard eight hour work day. I rank the list in order of the amount of time I spend on each. Next to that list, I write down the five things I consider the most important in my life, in order of their importance.  For me, just seeing the discrepancy between those lists is an incredibly powerful motivator for putting things back into perspective.

Thanks to Barry Maher & Associates!

As entrepreneurs, we need to prioritize the areas of our lives that make us the happiest and most fulfilled – our businesses, health and fitness, spirituality, friends, time with our spouses, “me” time, etc. For me, spending time with my husband is of the utmost importance. We've made choices and arrangements in our lives so that he now uses one of the offices in our building and works in it several days a week so that we can grab lunch together or take quick breaks and talk. My work is of course a priority. I feel totally satisfied when working, so I allow myself to work when and for however long I choose because it's what I want to do. Some may see that as sacrificing other areas of my life, but it's what makes me fulfilled. I have learned not to feel guilty about that. On the occasions when I'm visiting with friends and family, I'm focused and present with them so I don't regret the time I don't spend with them, but rather enjoy that time to its fullest. Balance is about knowing when I'm happiest and giving due time to those areas of my life, especially as a business owner. It's what keeps me inspired every day.

Thanks to Caroline Callaway, Bolt Public Relations!

I learned how to say “no”. As much as I would love to be able to do all sorts of things, time is valuable and prioritizing is of utmost importance. By doing so, I make sure that I get enough sleep so that I have the energy and clarity of mind to get what I want to accomplish done each day. Then, I optimize on the time that I do have by working smarter, not harder. It can be a really difficult thing to do, but becoming comfortable delegating work can be a life saver. Saving time can be anything from getting more employees and interns, to being more efficient online by scheduling posts, or hiring a housekeeper, every bit helps.

Thanks to Jessica M. Baker, Aligned Signs!

My biggest tip is to dedicate time each and every day for a hobby or interest not related to work. This could also be spent dedicating time to enjoy with family or friends. Whatever the time is used for, do not multi-task or dwell on work related tasks. While I can’t say I’m successful at achieving this everyday, I can say I’m happier and also more productive at work when I do.

Thanks to Jeremy Schaedler, CaliforniaContractorBonds.com!

Doing 5 interviews with incredible Entrepreneurs every week necessitates balance. My 3 tips are (1) Delegate: I have 3 VAs who work 40 hours each. Delegating tasks are so important to keep me on task. (2) Focus: Follow one course until success. Pick one task, allow no distractions, stay focused on it until you finish, and only then move on. (3) Exercise: The ultimate reset button. A must every stay.

Thanks to John Lee Dumas, Entrepreneur on Fire!

I love my business and I tend to get into workaholic mode. So I have to be strict with budgeting my time. I schedule in time for working on client projects, time to return and accept phone calls, time to pitch my business and even time for the gym. Late afternoons and early evenings are for the family. After everyone goes to bed I allow myself a couple of hours to squeeze in more work if I want or need it.

Thanks to Shelly Cone, Beach Betty Creative!

1. Rise and Shine – It seem the mornings are made for getting things done. During the twilight hours you have much more metabolic energy and focus to put towards the crucial tasks for the day. Also, clinical trials have found that the amount of time you spend on any given task decreases throughout the day. Wake Up Early. 2. Stop and Think – Many entrepreneurs want to leap and make decisions quickly, slowing down for a brief moment to evaluate all potential outcomes will increase the likely hood of a great decision. 3. Separate work and life – As an entrepreneur, work and life have a natural tendency of clashing together in a chaotic mess. Take steps to separate them, one thing I've found which works great is removing email from your smart phone.Thanks to Grant Vollmer, Original BOS!

The ways I stay balanced: (1) Set office hours and stick to them. (2) Unplug for at least 30 minutes every day. (3) Each lunch away from my desk at least once a week.

Thanks to Makasha Dorsey, Dorsey Group!

The biggest thing that will throw me off my “work-life balance” is when running company keeps me from spending quality time with my daughters. Nothing should keep you from your kids. So don't make excuses and say, “I have too much work to do.” When you run your own company, work never stops. So you have to take it upon yourself to stop working. Close the laptop, leave the office…whatever…but make sure you build in time with your children because if you don't, they'll be strangers to you when you'll need them most.

Thanks to Eric Thiegs, StageofLife.com!

1) Multitasking- Whether, I am at a friends house, in the car, or cooking, I always find a way to stay connected to my business, thanks to my smartphone. I can check emails, look up products, and buy supplies, all while enjoying family and friends. 2) Prioritize- Prioritizing is key as a business owner. With so many daily tasks, how can one remember everything to do? Just like when I was college, I use a calendar to help me plan my days. I put important dates and deadlines on my smartphone calendar and remind myself to check frequently. I also make to do lists if I feel that I have a lot of things to do in one particular day, so that way I can decide which task gets first priority.

Thanks to Adrena Martin, CreationZ From A Dove!

1) Allocate personal/family time and stick to it. If you don't smell the roses along the way, it isn't worth it. 2) Be efficient with time. Use resources effectively. Leverage technology. Delegate and lead. 3) Love what you do!

Thanks to Mike Byrnes, Byrnes Consulting, LLC!

1) Business automation – I make the business work for me, I don't work for it. I always hire someone to replace me and do my job so that I can
just count the money! 2) I remember that if I don't take care of myself first, which includes my health, I won't be any good to my business or anyone else. So I make exercise a daily priority, as well as eating healthy food. 3) I remember that the people I love and the memories I create with them matter more to me than any amount of money. I never chase money when I can be enjoying time spent with loved ones.

Thanks to Aimee Elizabeth, Author of Poverty Sucks! How to Become a Self-Made Millionaire!

I stay balanced (and keep my clients balanced) with these tips: 1) Plan for play time. Because I have official “play time” that's worked into my schedule, I plan fun activities and adventures that take me away from work. This way, I'm sure to get plenty of rest and fun in my schedule. 2) Go mobile. Going mobile and getting out of the office is good for both balance and creativity. Take your iPad to an art museum. Work from there and get inspired while surrounded by beauty and creativity. I spent several evenings writing my upcoming book at a local jazz club where my husband was playing with his band. 3) Outsource. Having a virtual assistant changed my life. I no longer spend extra hours on mundane tasks. Now I focus on the big picture, moneymaking items and my assistant handles the paperwork. That freed up a ton of time and allowed me to grow my business bigger than I ever imagined I could.

Thanks to Susan Baroncini-Moe, Business in Blue Jeans!

1) Complete separate work from home. No home office.. This will complete eliminate any cross-over of work and business. I may seem hard, but it really works. I make my car my office for listening to educational MP3's and making business calls. Also get a hand-free headset for driving.  2) Set time to forget work. Turn off the phone and the computer. Power block your day and schedule time off. This is the only way to stay sharp today.   3) Schedule one night a week for family only and one night a week for dinner out with your spouse. At first, it's really hard, but after a few weeks, you'll get used to it and it will be most productive few hours of your week.

Thanks to Andy LaPointe!

I will have to say my number one tip to stay balanced is to have an intentional calendar and to stick to it. When you include fun activities in your calendar and protect them as you would your business appointments, then you can really have a balanced life. In this calendar, you would not only include time with your loved ones, but also health aspects like exercise, and spiritual aspects like prayer and meditation.

Thanks to Elayna Fernandez, Positive Mom!