Plan the Day Before
I've always
struggled to widen this gap until I actually started scheduling
nighttime events more than six hours in advance. This may sound obvious,
but it can really help a person who is too focused on work to "draw a
line in the sand." I'm not someone who will cancel anything, so it
really helped me maintain my sanity and enjoy my free time.
-Wilson Owens, Royalty Exchange
More here
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. - Aristotle
Showing posts with label work-life balance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label work-life balance. Show all posts
Tips for a work-life balance
Be Both Professional and Personable
My rule of thumb is to make sure that anything that goes online that is tied to me personally (or the company) reflects us in a very positive light. If you're putting something online you should be OK with the entire world seeing it. When I have personal time, I try to use airplane mode on my phone to keep from constantly being distracted when winding down.
-Jeff McGregor, Dash
More here
My rule of thumb is to make sure that anything that goes online that is tied to me personally (or the company) reflects us in a very positive light. If you're putting something online you should be OK with the entire world seeing it. When I have personal time, I try to use airplane mode on my phone to keep from constantly being distracted when winding down.
-Jeff McGregor, Dash
More here
Tips for a work-life balance
Turn Off Push Notifications
Everyone carries a mobile smart phone these days. It's almost impossible to keep things separate. However, you should disconnect from your email after a certain time during the day. If you're on the golf course or out to dinner with family, turn off push email notifications. You can always get up early the next day to respond.
-Jason Grill, JGrill Media | Sock 101
More here
Everyone carries a mobile smart phone these days. It's almost impossible to keep things separate. However, you should disconnect from your email after a certain time during the day. If you're on the golf course or out to dinner with family, turn off push email notifications. You can always get up early the next day to respond.
-Jason Grill, JGrill Media | Sock 101
More here
Tips for a work life balance
Have Friends Hold You Accountable
Entrepreneurs are obsessive by nature. Sometimes we obsess over the wrong things too much and impact those around us. One of the best ways to prevent this is to ask your friends to hold you accountable. A trusted friend can hold you accountable not just to your social life but also to your family. Tell them what you want to be better at in your personal life and have them check in.
More here
Entrepreneurs are obsessive by nature. Sometimes we obsess over the wrong things too much and impact those around us. One of the best ways to prevent this is to ask your friends to hold you accountable. A trusted friend can hold you accountable not just to your social life but also to your family. Tell them what you want to be better at in your personal life and have them check in.
More here
Tips for a work-life balance
Disconnect From Technology
I truly believe that this separation no longer exists. The better question is how to disconnect. For me, turning my phone off and going for a hike, a bike ride or another activity in nature is immensely relaxing.
-Matthew Moisan, Moisan Legal, P.C.
More here
I truly believe that this separation no longer exists. The better question is how to disconnect. For me, turning my phone off and going for a hike, a bike ride or another activity in nature is immensely relaxing.
-Matthew Moisan, Moisan Legal, P.C.
More here
Tips for a work-life balance
Leave the Office
I used to get stuck at the office until all hours of the night. That's not good for your personal life and loved ones who are waiting at home for you. So I made one simple change. I booked a family function to attend every night of the week. It could be as simple as dinner or a family walk at a local park. Just thinking about standing your family up forces you to be there with them.
-Logan Lenz, Endagon
More here
I used to get stuck at the office until all hours of the night. That's not good for your personal life and loved ones who are waiting at home for you. So I made one simple change. I booked a family function to attend every night of the week. It could be as simple as dinner or a family walk at a local park. Just thinking about standing your family up forces you to be there with them.
-Logan Lenz, Endagon
More here
Tips for a work-life balance
Remember That at Work, You Are a Boss First
As an entrepreneur, you spend a lot of time with your team. They become your morning, noon and night people. It's OK to be both personal and professional friends, but you need to remember that you are their boss first. Make sure you are responsible, that they respect you, and that you are a good role model for work ethic.
-Amanda L. Barbara, Pubslush
More from here
As an entrepreneur, you spend a lot of time with your team. They become your morning, noon and night people. It's OK to be both personal and professional friends, but you need to remember that you are their boss first. Make sure you are responsible, that they respect you, and that you are a good role model for work ethic.
-Amanda L. Barbara, Pubslush
More from here
Need a work-life balance?
Set yourself deadlines
Whether you work for yourself or are employed, chances are you're sick of hearing the word 'deadlines'. But deadlines aren't all about stress and skipping your lunch break to squeeze in that client presentation; in fact, deadlines are what will help you to regain your work/life balance.
By setting yourself strict personal deadlines, you can ensure you get the 'me' time you've been dreaming about. Say you're due to finish work at 5pm, but you just know if you don't stay until at least 7pm, tomorrow will be stressful. We say, set yourself a deadline – leave your desk by 5.30pm at the latest and worry about tomorrow's work when the time comes.
Nobody's forcing you to stay until 7pm, so escape the office and do something productive, just for you. Meet friends for dinner, head to the gym for a yoga class or go for a run – the choice is yours. Stop putting things off You've probably heard the saying, “Never put off til tomorrow what you could do today.”
This is something we should all try to live by, although it's sometimes easier in practice than it is in theory. Don't put things off just because you don't feel like doing them. If you have a few spare hours in your day, use them productively. Catch up with that work that's looming over your head, or fit in a quick coffee with a friend you haven't seen for ages.
Plan your time and utilise every second and you'll find you have more available time, we promise! Learn to say no It's a fact of life that British people are often afraid to say no. We don't want to upset anyone or let them down, so we bend over backwards to please. By learning to say no, you can regain your work/life balance – here's how to do it. Next time your boss asks you to work late, but you already have plans, just be honest. If you really feel guilty, say you'll cover next time.
Of course, if there's an emergency and the whole team needs to step up, you'll just have to deal with it, but in most cases there will always be someone else willing to help out if you say no. You should never feel pressurised into rearranging your social plans (unless you work in a role where it's expected, such as the emergency services), so just politely decline and see how you feel.
We think you'll feel great – after all, you've already worked a 45 hour week, so you deserve some time off! Putting in extra hours can not only affect your social life, it can also leave you feeling exhausted, stressed and unable to sleep. Look at your life objectively Many of us aren't aware of how much time we spend at work, thinking about work, dreaming about work....By creating a visual representation of your life on paper (or on your PC), you can see just where you're going wrong. Divide your life into five sectors – work, family, friends, love and hobbies.
Now write everything you did this week into the appropriate sector. We bet you'll have more comments in the work sector than anywhere else, and it shouldn't be this way. In an ideal world, each sector should be equal. You shouldn't spend more time on your love life than your work, and family shouldn't be neglected in favour of socialising with friends. By being aware of how you divide your time, you're taking the first steps towards regaining a balance between your work and the rest of your life. Live in the moment Multi-tasking has become so commonplace nowadays that, if you're anything like me, you probably don't even realise you're doing it.
Checking your work emails in the evenings whilst watching Sleepy Hollow? Drafting an email to your boss whilst you're on the phone with family? Or the worst one, checking for work texts or emails on your night out with your partner. If you're guilty of any of the above, you need to start living in the moment. Research shows that people who live in the moment, without distractions, are happier and healthier. Your brain isn't trying to process 101 things – it's just enjoying what is happening, right now.
So next time you're watching a film on the couch with your better half, or enjoying dinner with friends, switch your phone and PC off. Let the outside world wait a little – before the days of mobile phones and emails, that was just what was expected. Remember, you're the one who has control over how much, or how little, you communicate, nobody else!
Do something you love, everyday This is your life and you only get one chance at it, so make sure you fill your days with things you love. Even the busiest professional can find time for something they love everyday. Whether that's a long hot bath with your favourite book, a workout at the gym, running in the park with your friend or dinner with your family, you'll feel more balanced and more fulfilled – and less likely to dread work the next day.
How do you find the balance between your work and personal life – do you think that you work too much? Getting the balance right can be difficult, but the Expertrain team are working hard to manage their own work/life balance, and we hope this helps you to do the same! -
See more here...go on, click the link!
Whether you work for yourself or are employed, chances are you're sick of hearing the word 'deadlines'. But deadlines aren't all about stress and skipping your lunch break to squeeze in that client presentation; in fact, deadlines are what will help you to regain your work/life balance.
By setting yourself strict personal deadlines, you can ensure you get the 'me' time you've been dreaming about. Say you're due to finish work at 5pm, but you just know if you don't stay until at least 7pm, tomorrow will be stressful. We say, set yourself a deadline – leave your desk by 5.30pm at the latest and worry about tomorrow's work when the time comes.
Nobody's forcing you to stay until 7pm, so escape the office and do something productive, just for you. Meet friends for dinner, head to the gym for a yoga class or go for a run – the choice is yours. Stop putting things off You've probably heard the saying, “Never put off til tomorrow what you could do today.”
This is something we should all try to live by, although it's sometimes easier in practice than it is in theory. Don't put things off just because you don't feel like doing them. If you have a few spare hours in your day, use them productively. Catch up with that work that's looming over your head, or fit in a quick coffee with a friend you haven't seen for ages.
Plan your time and utilise every second and you'll find you have more available time, we promise! Learn to say no It's a fact of life that British people are often afraid to say no. We don't want to upset anyone or let them down, so we bend over backwards to please. By learning to say no, you can regain your work/life balance – here's how to do it. Next time your boss asks you to work late, but you already have plans, just be honest. If you really feel guilty, say you'll cover next time.
Of course, if there's an emergency and the whole team needs to step up, you'll just have to deal with it, but in most cases there will always be someone else willing to help out if you say no. You should never feel pressurised into rearranging your social plans (unless you work in a role where it's expected, such as the emergency services), so just politely decline and see how you feel.
We think you'll feel great – after all, you've already worked a 45 hour week, so you deserve some time off! Putting in extra hours can not only affect your social life, it can also leave you feeling exhausted, stressed and unable to sleep. Look at your life objectively Many of us aren't aware of how much time we spend at work, thinking about work, dreaming about work....By creating a visual representation of your life on paper (or on your PC), you can see just where you're going wrong. Divide your life into five sectors – work, family, friends, love and hobbies.
Now write everything you did this week into the appropriate sector. We bet you'll have more comments in the work sector than anywhere else, and it shouldn't be this way. In an ideal world, each sector should be equal. You shouldn't spend more time on your love life than your work, and family shouldn't be neglected in favour of socialising with friends. By being aware of how you divide your time, you're taking the first steps towards regaining a balance between your work and the rest of your life. Live in the moment Multi-tasking has become so commonplace nowadays that, if you're anything like me, you probably don't even realise you're doing it.
Checking your work emails in the evenings whilst watching Sleepy Hollow? Drafting an email to your boss whilst you're on the phone with family? Or the worst one, checking for work texts or emails on your night out with your partner. If you're guilty of any of the above, you need to start living in the moment. Research shows that people who live in the moment, without distractions, are happier and healthier. Your brain isn't trying to process 101 things – it's just enjoying what is happening, right now.
So next time you're watching a film on the couch with your better half, or enjoying dinner with friends, switch your phone and PC off. Let the outside world wait a little – before the days of mobile phones and emails, that was just what was expected. Remember, you're the one who has control over how much, or how little, you communicate, nobody else!
Do something you love, everyday This is your life and you only get one chance at it, so make sure you fill your days with things you love. Even the busiest professional can find time for something they love everyday. Whether that's a long hot bath with your favourite book, a workout at the gym, running in the park with your friend or dinner with your family, you'll feel more balanced and more fulfilled – and less likely to dread work the next day.
How do you find the balance between your work and personal life – do you think that you work too much? Getting the balance right can be difficult, but the Expertrain team are working hard to manage their own work/life balance, and we hope this helps you to do the same! -
See more here...go on, click the link!
Working at home - balance?
I work at home - and so does this person:
"Firstly, working at home means struggling to avoid doing chores around the house when I should be editing photos or working on my brand. Secondly (and definitely something I find even more tricky), being your own boss means that you are the one defining work hours, task schedules and editorial calendars. And if you’re not setting boundaries around that, you can end up working 18 hour days and suddenly everything becomes completely dysfunctional.
Putting boundaries in place to separate work and home life is not only important, it’s kind of necessary. It means staying healthy and makes your business so much more sustainable. Boundaries mean you can maintain healthy relationships with the people you love and keeping priorities straight mean that you can work hard, stay focussed and stay sane.
Since starting We Resolve, I’ve had to think a lot about what success actually looks like for me. The obvious picture of success is earning a whopping salary, but I’m not hugely motivated by money so working hard in order to get rich doesn’t get me fired up. What I’ve come to define my own success as is being known, and more importantly, being in demand. My version of success includes having a great relationship with my husband, family and friends and getting to enjoy time outside of work.
Which means there needs to be time outside of work.
Your version of success might look completely different to mine and will require its own set of parameters, but for me taking time out has to happen in order for me to stay in love with what I do. I don’t ever want to get to a place where I’ve had to work my butt off so much that I resent the work I do. I love my job and I want to stay in love with it! Are you with me?
One thing to clarify: I’m not saying don’t work hard. I’m saying work smart.
As I’m writing this, I’m on a train for a four hour trip. I planned this in typical work hours (it’s Friday afternoon) because I knew that I could have my laptop on the train and still be productive. One of the joys of being self employed is that you can make work work for you. Use the time you have, plan out ideas when you’re stuck in traffic or take photos of a cute coffee shop for a blog post when you’re out with a friend. It sounds simple, but I definitely need reminders sometimes!
What we’ve ended up in our house are a few ‘unbreakable’ rules. We always eat dinner together at the table and focus on our food and each other by putting screens away. We have a no screens after 10pm rule that means that we always get enough sleep and have enough energy for work the next day. We try to be generous with our money so that it never becomes something we try to hold on to or make our work revolve around.
As I said earlier, success is a personal thing and will look different for different people so the boundaries you create will be in line with this and will most likely look different for you too. Think about your priorities and try to put boundaries in place to make sure that these stay top. Your business, body and friends might even thank you for it."
"Firstly, working at home means struggling to avoid doing chores around the house when I should be editing photos or working on my brand. Secondly (and definitely something I find even more tricky), being your own boss means that you are the one defining work hours, task schedules and editorial calendars. And if you’re not setting boundaries around that, you can end up working 18 hour days and suddenly everything becomes completely dysfunctional.
Putting boundaries in place to separate work and home life is not only important, it’s kind of necessary. It means staying healthy and makes your business so much more sustainable. Boundaries mean you can maintain healthy relationships with the people you love and keeping priorities straight mean that you can work hard, stay focussed and stay sane.
Since starting We Resolve, I’ve had to think a lot about what success actually looks like for me. The obvious picture of success is earning a whopping salary, but I’m not hugely motivated by money so working hard in order to get rich doesn’t get me fired up. What I’ve come to define my own success as is being known, and more importantly, being in demand. My version of success includes having a great relationship with my husband, family and friends and getting to enjoy time outside of work.
Which means there needs to be time outside of work.
Your version of success might look completely different to mine and will require its own set of parameters, but for me taking time out has to happen in order for me to stay in love with what I do. I don’t ever want to get to a place where I’ve had to work my butt off so much that I resent the work I do. I love my job and I want to stay in love with it! Are you with me?
One thing to clarify: I’m not saying don’t work hard. I’m saying work smart.
As I’m writing this, I’m on a train for a four hour trip. I planned this in typical work hours (it’s Friday afternoon) because I knew that I could have my laptop on the train and still be productive. One of the joys of being self employed is that you can make work work for you. Use the time you have, plan out ideas when you’re stuck in traffic or take photos of a cute coffee shop for a blog post when you’re out with a friend. It sounds simple, but I definitely need reminders sometimes!
What we’ve ended up in our house are a few ‘unbreakable’ rules. We always eat dinner together at the table and focus on our food and each other by putting screens away. We have a no screens after 10pm rule that means that we always get enough sleep and have enough energy for work the next day. We try to be generous with our money so that it never becomes something we try to hold on to or make our work revolve around.
As I said earlier, success is a personal thing and will look different for different people so the boundaries you create will be in line with this and will most likely look different for you too. Think about your priorities and try to put boundaries in place to make sure that these stay top. Your business, body and friends might even thank you for it."
Work-life balance is NOT the point
1. Strive for work-life effectiveness—not balance.
The term work-life balance implies that one dedicates an equal portion
of time to work and life. Catalyst, a research firm focused on women in
business, uses the phrase work-life effectiveness, and suggests striving
for a situation where work fits with other aspects of your life.
Researchers Jeffrey Greenhaus and Gary Powell expand on this concept and
recommend that work and personal life should be allies and that
participation in multiple roles, such as parent, partner, friend,
employee, can actually enhance physical and psychological well-being —
especially when all of the roles are high quality and managed together.
Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo, came under scrutiny when she returned to work soon after the birth of her son. She managed being a mom and a CEO in a way that was personally right for her. Like Mayer, one should take a holistic perspective, thinking of one’s career as an integral part of life, rather than a separate and obligatory activity. To help eliminate ‘negative spillover’ from work into home life or vice-versa, we should put everything in the same container and create a coherent narrative — doing so can reduce work-life separation. Richard Branson, CEO of Virgin Airlines, has noted that some of his best ideas have come from engaging his children in conversations about work. Even in the busiest of schedules, the most practical and effective way we can live is by aligning our personal priorities of work, family, health, and well-being. Such realignment can bring huge gains in emotional and physical energy, not to mention greater clarity and focus at work.
2. Define success in all categories of your life. Every person needs to define success on his or her own terms. Ultimately, for both men and women, the definition of success is deeply personal. At the end of each person’s life, only he or she can look back and say, “I was successful.” It is also important to realize that what constitutes success to one person may not constitute success to another. Ryan Smith, co-founder of Qualtrics, manages his success by doing the following: “Each week, I examine the categories of my life — father, husband, CEO, self — and identify the specific actions that help me feel successful and fulfilled in these capacities. This weekly ritual helps me feel like I’m doing everything in my power to address my needs and the needs of those around me. This is important because I can’t lose sight of the business agenda, and we’ve all seen or read about what it looks like when you lose sight of your family’s needs.” As Smith suggests, consider sharing your priorities and ideas of success with important stakeholders in your life. By doing so, you will gain valuable perspective and, perhaps, buy-in to your work and life goals.
3. Maintain control. Researchers suggest that people may experience high stress when they feel out of control. So, take control of your career — explore your own history, biases, motivation and preferences. As an example, many people enjoy spending a lot of time at work because they like what they do. Thus, long work hours are not necessarily burdensome to them. Each of us should take the time to find a job that ‘fits’ us. When possible, we should set our own boundaries. Many successful executives who work long hours suggest that they put parameters and limits on work. The CEO of Starwood Hotels, Frits van Paasschen, in a recent Wall Street Journal interview, noted, “It’s important not to be so immersed in your work that there isn’t anything else. Taking care of your body and your mindset, carving out time to be with your family, doing things that recharge you — these all make you more productive in the end.” We should also proactively manage the direction and meaning of our work.
As Anna Quindlen observed, “If your success is not on your own terms, if it looks good to the world but does not feel good in your heart, it is not success at all.”
Read more here
Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo, came under scrutiny when she returned to work soon after the birth of her son. She managed being a mom and a CEO in a way that was personally right for her. Like Mayer, one should take a holistic perspective, thinking of one’s career as an integral part of life, rather than a separate and obligatory activity. To help eliminate ‘negative spillover’ from work into home life or vice-versa, we should put everything in the same container and create a coherent narrative — doing so can reduce work-life separation. Richard Branson, CEO of Virgin Airlines, has noted that some of his best ideas have come from engaging his children in conversations about work. Even in the busiest of schedules, the most practical and effective way we can live is by aligning our personal priorities of work, family, health, and well-being. Such realignment can bring huge gains in emotional and physical energy, not to mention greater clarity and focus at work.
2. Define success in all categories of your life. Every person needs to define success on his or her own terms. Ultimately, for both men and women, the definition of success is deeply personal. At the end of each person’s life, only he or she can look back and say, “I was successful.” It is also important to realize that what constitutes success to one person may not constitute success to another. Ryan Smith, co-founder of Qualtrics, manages his success by doing the following: “Each week, I examine the categories of my life — father, husband, CEO, self — and identify the specific actions that help me feel successful and fulfilled in these capacities. This weekly ritual helps me feel like I’m doing everything in my power to address my needs and the needs of those around me. This is important because I can’t lose sight of the business agenda, and we’ve all seen or read about what it looks like when you lose sight of your family’s needs.” As Smith suggests, consider sharing your priorities and ideas of success with important stakeholders in your life. By doing so, you will gain valuable perspective and, perhaps, buy-in to your work and life goals.
3. Maintain control. Researchers suggest that people may experience high stress when they feel out of control. So, take control of your career — explore your own history, biases, motivation and preferences. As an example, many people enjoy spending a lot of time at work because they like what they do. Thus, long work hours are not necessarily burdensome to them. Each of us should take the time to find a job that ‘fits’ us. When possible, we should set our own boundaries. Many successful executives who work long hours suggest that they put parameters and limits on work. The CEO of Starwood Hotels, Frits van Paasschen, in a recent Wall Street Journal interview, noted, “It’s important not to be so immersed in your work that there isn’t anything else. Taking care of your body and your mindset, carving out time to be with your family, doing things that recharge you — these all make you more productive in the end.” We should also proactively manage the direction and meaning of our work.
As Anna Quindlen observed, “If your success is not on your own terms, if it looks good to the world but does not feel good in your heart, it is not success at all.”
Read more here
Tips for a work-life balance
Meditate
Meditation has allowed me to mentally disconnect from work when I get home at night. There is a great app, Headspace, that is a perfect 'starter course' for first-time users. The app eases you in by making you clear your mind for 10 minutes a day, for 10 days. Having the ability to disconnect when getting home has allowed me to be more creative and frees my mind for new ideas.
-Kim Kaupe, ZinePak
More from here
Meditation has allowed me to mentally disconnect from work when I get home at night. There is a great app, Headspace, that is a perfect 'starter course' for first-time users. The app eases you in by making you clear your mind for 10 minutes a day, for 10 days. Having the ability to disconnect when getting home has allowed me to be more creative and frees my mind for new ideas.
-Kim Kaupe, ZinePak
More from here
Tips for a work-life balance
Separate Your Email Accounts
Having a custom personalized domain is an effective way of separating your personal and professional email correspondence. Your own domain and brand can stay with you from company to company. Your company email account can then be used only to communicate with those required by your profession, and your personal email account is for those you'd communicate with outside of work.
-Mark Cenicola, BannerView.com
More from here
Having a custom personalized domain is an effective way of separating your personal and professional email correspondence. Your own domain and brand can stay with you from company to company. Your company email account can then be used only to communicate with those required by your profession, and your personal email account is for those you'd communicate with outside of work.
-Mark Cenicola, BannerView.com
More from here
Tips for a work-life balance
Choose Wisely
I work with my husband, sister and one of my best friends at my marketing firm. I have to say that it's working out really well. For about a year and a half we have worked out a system of communication and established boundaries that allow us to leave work at work, and leave our personal issues out of the office. Not everyone can handle it. You have to communicate expectations and limits.
-Maren Hogan, Red Branch Media
More here
I work with my husband, sister and one of my best friends at my marketing firm. I have to say that it's working out really well. For about a year and a half we have worked out a system of communication and established boundaries that allow us to leave work at work, and leave our personal issues out of the office. Not everyone can handle it. You have to communicate expectations and limits.
-Maren Hogan, Red Branch Media
More here
Tips for a work-life balance
Maintain a Very High Sense of Professionalism
In most ways, I prefer to integrate my personal and professional life 100 percent of the time. I love really caring for the people I work with and working with the people that I care about. That being said, I do think there is a certain responsibility that comes with leadership. I always highly recommend to people that they maintain a very high sense of professionalism in their working relationships.
-Dan Price, Gravity Payments
More from here
In most ways, I prefer to integrate my personal and professional life 100 percent of the time. I love really caring for the people I work with and working with the people that I care about. That being said, I do think there is a certain responsibility that comes with leadership. I always highly recommend to people that they maintain a very high sense of professionalism in their working relationships.
-Dan Price, Gravity Payments
More from here
Tips for a work-life balance
Pursue Multiple Passions
Have friends and activities outside of work that you are equally as passionate about as your company. Expect business matters to interrupt you and call you away, but cherish the time with your outside activities. This task is purely a mental process.
-Jon Cline, RokitSEO
More here
Have friends and activities outside of work that you are equally as passionate about as your company. Expect business matters to interrupt you and call you away, but cherish the time with your outside activities. This task is purely a mental process.
-Jon Cline, RokitSEO
More here
Tips for a work-life balance
Start and Stop on Time
I used to let my business drive all over my personal life because I didn't have any set boundaries. Plans with my girlfriend, family and friends would often get delayed or cancelled because I was busy at the office. After a while, I noticed that it took a significant toll on my most important relationships, and I made the decision to always start and end things on time. It's helped tremendously.
-Mark Krassner, Knee Walker Central
More from here
I used to let my business drive all over my personal life because I didn't have any set boundaries. Plans with my girlfriend, family and friends would often get delayed or cancelled because I was busy at the office. After a while, I noticed that it took a significant toll on my most important relationships, and I made the decision to always start and end things on time. It's helped tremendously.
-Mark Krassner, Knee Walker Central
More from here
Tips for a work-life balance
Schedule Your Life, Too
Reserve personal time in your schedule for activities that allow you to recharge and that add value, such as daily exercise, a weekly date or social night, family activities and vacation. You will not only have something to look forward to, but by reserving personal time you will have extra motivation to manage your time well so you do not have to cancel on others -- or yourself!
-Doug Bend, Bend Law Group, PC
More here...
Reserve personal time in your schedule for activities that allow you to recharge and that add value, such as daily exercise, a weekly date or social night, family activities and vacation. You will not only have something to look forward to, but by reserving personal time you will have extra motivation to manage your time well so you do not have to cancel on others -- or yourself!
-Doug Bend, Bend Law Group, PC
More here...
Tips for a work-life balance
Don't Use Your Facebook Profile for Work
Use a Facebook page to promote your business, and keep your Facebook profile for actual friends and family only. Many people make the mistake of blurring the line and they're left with the worst of both worlds: They can't promote on Facebook because they'll annoy their friends, and they can't be too personal for fear of coming across as unprofessional with prospects. Separate the two.
-Laura Roeder, LKR Social Media
More here....
Use a Facebook page to promote your business, and keep your Facebook profile for actual friends and family only. Many people make the mistake of blurring the line and they're left with the worst of both worlds: They can't promote on Facebook because they'll annoy their friends, and they can't be too personal for fear of coming across as unprofessional with prospects. Separate the two.
-Laura Roeder, LKR Social Media
More here....
More on work-life balance
Here are some of the steps I took to achieve a work-life balance.
While I don’t believe in grand, sweeping New Year’s Resolutions, a few simple changes can help to make the next few wintery months a little more bearable.This article below is from here
We’ve all somehow got used to being bound to our desks and either skipping breaks completely, or using them for yet more screen time by scrolling through Facebook. Breaking this habit, even for a few minutes, can give you a fresh perspective and renewed energy.
First, stop putting things on your list that you do without thinking. “Check emails” does not need to be written down. Take longer to consider what you can realistically get done in the day ahead; then write down only what you actually need to do – not the million other things to be done at some point in the future. The aim is to cross off everything on a list by the end of the day, or at least try to. Ever-increasing lists do nothing for your sense of balance or efficiency.
If you are so busy that you can’t do anything else, let people know and they will adjust their expectations. If they get no answer from you all day, they will push harder and make more demands. Far better to let them know straight away that you are in meetings all morning, so that they can adjust their expectations accordingly.
Imagine how much we could achieve by taking a step back from the politics and using that energy more productively, redirecting it back towards our work. The ultimate mark of success in the working world isn’t about being the person in the office everyone wants to go for a beer with, it’s about being the one that others aspire to emulate. This comes from creativity, passion, talent and delivering real results.
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There are some FREE and cheap courses at this excellent site....
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To help entrepreneurs, managers, and employees strike the right balance, here are five ways to achieve and maintain life-work balance. There is no one size fits all approach, but hopefully, these tips will lead to productive discussions for managers and employees.
Related: Forget This Work-Life Balance Blah, Blah, Blah
1. Be open about your needs. I believe that the first thing people need to do is identify what truly matters to them and communicate it. Don’t hide it and don’t expect others to guess what makes you feel balanced and fulfilled.
Do you need to leave work at 5 p.m. so you can have dinner with your family? Do you need to step away at 12 p.m. to attend a yoga class? Whatever your sweet spot is you need to find it and be transparent about it. Employees need to have an open dialogue with their managers and managers need to understand what works and what is possible. Different jobs require different approaches, but everyone can benefit from having an open and honest conversation about what balance means.
2. Respect boundaries. You cannot achieve your balance if you don’t respect the boundaries you have put in place. It will be hard in the beginning but you need to stick with it so you develop a routine and drive a culture and lifestyle of predictability. You will find that there is also something else you can do. There is always another email to reply to or a problem to work, but you need to PERSONALLY respect your boundaries. If you don’t then you can't expect others to respect them.
Related: Work, Eat, Sleep: How These Products Are Trying to Improve Your Daily Grind
3. Understand what really matters. Over the years I have seen too many people spend too much time working on things that don’t really matter. Time is the most valuable commodity in life: it is the one thing you cannot buy more of. So, don’t waste time. Focus on what really matters. What really moves the needle for the business? Are you working on priorities that drive the overall goals of the business or are you just making noise? Really scrutinize your day and max it out every hour, minute and second to focus on the most important outputs. For some this may require a high degree of planning and structure.
4. Embrace the off button. Pretty much every piece of technology has an off button, so use it. It is not easy and for many people this is the hardest thing to do. To get started, do it in phases. Don’t bring your cellphone to the dinner table. When you are on vacation, be on vacation. Don’t bring your tablet to the beach. Once you have done it a few times, it is easier to push the boundaries. When you unplug and step back you will start to experience one of life’s greatest treasures -- perspective. You will think about problems you are wrestling with greater clarity. You allow yourself the freedom to be more analytical and less emotional when you step away and think vs. just diving in and responding in the moment.
5. Pace yourself. To have a long, healthy, productive, and happy life and career you need to understand the value of pace. There are times when you need to throttle up and there are times when you can throttle down. Self-awareness is crucial. Doing so will help you enjoy the journey as much as the destination.
Related: How to Create a Healthy Startup Atmosphere
Excellent tips from entrepreneurs
- Set up a specific area for work. Even when I had my offices and showroom locations where my employees were, I worked from home often – it was important to maintain a home office. Now I work entirely from home. It is in a separate room, with a door I can close – perfect to keep quiet during phone calls or close when the day is done. Once the door is closed for the day, I don’t enter it again until the next business day.
- Set specific hours for your work day. These hours may vary according to my peak and off-peak seasons, but either way my schedule stays basically the same. I work a set schedule and I don’t deviate from it. Unless an emergency happens, I do not work outside of those hours. There is nothing that can’t be done the next day. And while I used to sneak in a few hours on the weekends, I now leave those alone too. Family time is family time, which is just as important — if not more important — than my job. That means I’m done working at 4 p.m. so I can help with homework, cook dinner, and spend time with my kids.
- Set up a separate phone line. I don’t want my personal cell or home phone called at all hours of the day and night. If you’re running a business out of your home office, set up a dedicated line that goes straight to an out-of-office response outside your normal business hours.
- Give yourself a lunch break and a coffee break. Going 8 hours straight is not good for the soul or the stomach. I spent many days eating in front of my computer and quickly choking down a bite to answer the phone. I now step away and eat – at a table, away from my computer. My mind needs the break even if it is just for 5 or 20 minutes.
- Stop thinking about work. This is probably the hardest to achieve, for me. My mind is constantly churning out new ideas, things to try, or adding items to my to-do list. During my downtime I may be reading a number of ecommerce or SEO blogs and catching up on the latest trends. Instead of letting it consume me, I allow myself the chance to catch up on my reading during the morning over coffee. In the evening, I try to turn off all work-related distractions, including my mind.
- Don’t ignore your family or your hobbies. I learned that constant work, even if it is something you’re passionate about, can be monotonous and mundane if you do it too long. I’m a workaholic. I can’t stay idle for too long. I’m not one to sit in front of the TV for hours and vegetate. I have to be doing something at all times. But when my ecommerce business consumed all of my time, it burnt me out – and made me miss out on time spent with my family and myself. After the kids are asleep, the dishes are done, and the house is quiet, I no longer go back to work. I now pursue a new hobby: writing. Even if it’s for an hour or two before bed, I’m doing something for me.
- Be flexible. Nothing is carved in stone. Kids get sick; emergencies arise. You get a really gorgeous day in the middle of winter and you want to take off and go outside. That’s the beauty of being self-employed; you can change the rules to fit your schedule if needed. Don’t be afraid to be flexible.
While I don’t believe in grand, sweeping New Year’s Resolutions, a few simple changes can help to make the next few wintery months a little more bearable.This article below is from here
Leave the office at lunchtime
This was one of the things I promised myself at the end of last year and it has worked wonders for my sanity and productivity. Sadly, taking an entire hour on a regular basis isn’t realistic, but what about pledging to leave the office every day at lunchtime, even if just for a five-minute walk around the block?We’ve all somehow got used to being bound to our desks and either skipping breaks completely, or using them for yet more screen time by scrolling through Facebook. Breaking this habit, even for a few minutes, can give you a fresh perspective and renewed energy.
Write shorter lists
Own up: how many of you write things on your daily to-do list purely so you can cross them off again? Writing lists can be a good start to the working day, but all too often they morph into an endless, intimidating nightmare that makes you stressed every time you glance down.First, stop putting things on your list that you do without thinking. “Check emails” does not need to be written down. Take longer to consider what you can realistically get done in the day ahead; then write down only what you actually need to do – not the million other things to be done at some point in the future. The aim is to cross off everything on a list by the end of the day, or at least try to. Ever-increasing lists do nothing for your sense of balance or efficiency.
Make use of your “out of office”
There are few better feelings than that rush of freedom when you turn on your “out of office” before a long holiday. The idea is that anyone emailing you will know you’re away, and therefore won’t have the same expectations they would of a normal working week. So why not make use of this more often? Stress is often caused by an influx of demands, often from different people who have no idea how busy you are already. If you’re running an event then you won’t be able to approve a draft or contribute to a presentation – but the people emailing you won’t know that.If you are so busy that you can’t do anything else, let people know and they will adjust their expectations. If they get no answer from you all day, they will push harder and make more demands. Far better to let them know straight away that you are in meetings all morning, so that they can adjust their expectations accordingly.
Get up 15 minutes earlier
This is laughable advice coming from me, as I’ve never managed to get out of bed without pressing the snooze button at least five times. However, my most successful friends have one thing in common: they all get up a bit earlier than everyone else. This might be because they’re taking the time to have breakfast, waking up with small children, or going for a 5km run – it doesn’t matter, it’s all about giving yourself a tiny extra bit of time before rushing into the madness of work. We all assume we have no time, yet we spend hours wasting it: watching mindless TV, on social media, or repeatedly set the alarm to snooze. Those few extra minutes could be the difference between arriving at work refreshed and ready to face the day, and being face down in a cup of coffee until 11am.Stop trying to be liked, concentrate on being respected
If you only make one change this month, it should be this one. We waste a huge amount of time and energy in the workplace trying to please others: not saying no when we should, not taking credit where credit is due, not asking for a well-deserved pay rise for fear of looking pushy.Imagine how much we could achieve by taking a step back from the politics and using that energy more productively, redirecting it back towards our work. The ultimate mark of success in the working world isn’t about being the person in the office everyone wants to go for a beer with, it’s about being the one that others aspire to emulate. This comes from creativity, passion, talent and delivering real results.
For more like this, sign up to the Women in Leadership weekly newsletter
There are some FREE and cheap courses at this excellent site....
For the rest of the following, go here....
To help entrepreneurs, managers, and employees strike the right balance, here are five ways to achieve and maintain life-work balance. There is no one size fits all approach, but hopefully, these tips will lead to productive discussions for managers and employees.
Related: Forget This Work-Life Balance Blah, Blah, Blah
1. Be open about your needs. I believe that the first thing people need to do is identify what truly matters to them and communicate it. Don’t hide it and don’t expect others to guess what makes you feel balanced and fulfilled.
Do you need to leave work at 5 p.m. so you can have dinner with your family? Do you need to step away at 12 p.m. to attend a yoga class? Whatever your sweet spot is you need to find it and be transparent about it. Employees need to have an open dialogue with their managers and managers need to understand what works and what is possible. Different jobs require different approaches, but everyone can benefit from having an open and honest conversation about what balance means.
2. Respect boundaries. You cannot achieve your balance if you don’t respect the boundaries you have put in place. It will be hard in the beginning but you need to stick with it so you develop a routine and drive a culture and lifestyle of predictability. You will find that there is also something else you can do. There is always another email to reply to or a problem to work, but you need to PERSONALLY respect your boundaries. If you don’t then you can't expect others to respect them.
Related: Work, Eat, Sleep: How These Products Are Trying to Improve Your Daily Grind
3. Understand what really matters. Over the years I have seen too many people spend too much time working on things that don’t really matter. Time is the most valuable commodity in life: it is the one thing you cannot buy more of. So, don’t waste time. Focus on what really matters. What really moves the needle for the business? Are you working on priorities that drive the overall goals of the business or are you just making noise? Really scrutinize your day and max it out every hour, minute and second to focus on the most important outputs. For some this may require a high degree of planning and structure.
4. Embrace the off button. Pretty much every piece of technology has an off button, so use it. It is not easy and for many people this is the hardest thing to do. To get started, do it in phases. Don’t bring your cellphone to the dinner table. When you are on vacation, be on vacation. Don’t bring your tablet to the beach. Once you have done it a few times, it is easier to push the boundaries. When you unplug and step back you will start to experience one of life’s greatest treasures -- perspective. You will think about problems you are wrestling with greater clarity. You allow yourself the freedom to be more analytical and less emotional when you step away and think vs. just diving in and responding in the moment.
5. Pace yourself. To have a long, healthy, productive, and happy life and career you need to understand the value of pace. There are times when you need to throttle up and there are times when you can throttle down. Self-awareness is crucial. Doing so will help you enjoy the journey as much as the destination.
Related: How to Create a Healthy Startup Atmosphere
Excellent tips from entrepreneurs
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