Long days with little downtime is the recipe for disaster — at least for most entrepreneurs who are trying to do it all. Work-life balance is extremely important to everyone, and if you work your own business full-time, it’s practically non-existent for most entrepreneurs, especially in the ecommerce business.
The Importance of a Work-Life Balance
Past studies have shown that nearly half of the entrepreneurs work more than 50 hours per week. Nearly 20% work more than 60 hours each week. Long workweeks over long periods of time can have a significant detrimental effect on many aspects of your life and health.
Some of the things it can bring are impatience, insomnia, forgetfulness, mood swings, restlessness, boredom, and temper outbursts. Although the point in working long hours is to be more productive, studies have shown that the symptoms that long hours bring actually decrease productivity significantly.
In addition, it takes quality time away from your family and friends and can put a strain on these personal relationships, which cause additional stress in your life.
There’s no doubt about it. You have to find a way to incorporate a work-life balance.
5 Ways to Achieve Work-Life Balance
As your ecommerce business grows, it means more to do. It’s a good thing that it’s growing. But it’s not good when you wear all of the hats needed for your business to function. Here are five ways to help you achieve work-life balance as the owner of your business:
#1. Delegate Tasks
It’s your business, but there are some tasks you can take off of your shoulders and allow for someone else to do. As the owner, you want to stay on top of revenue-generating tasks. All other tasks can be assigned to faithful team members. It’s time to hire some team members or a virtual assistant!
#2. Automate, Automate, Automate
As your business grows, you have to grow with it. It’s time to explore tools and platforms that can automate some of those tasks. There are many automated options out there. Explore what’s out there to decide what works best for your budget and for what you’re trying to achieve with your business.
#3. Designate Work Hours
Consider designating your work hours. As the owner, it’s realistic that you will have some long days, but that doesn’t have to be every day. Setting boundaries when it comes to the hours you work can be critical to your sanity and success. Designate your work hours daily, then determine how many days during the week you might have to work an extra hour or two. Be diligent when it comes time to end your workday. If there’s something you would like to do, but can wait until the next day, end your day.
#4. Take Breaks Throughout The Day
Although you have established designated hours for your workday, it’s also important to take breaks throughout the day. It’s very easy to be in “go-go-go” mode throughout the day because everything you do is so important. But you’ll find that taking a 15-minute break here and there won’t kill the business. Taking breaks multiple times a day actually helps with productivity. Be consistent with your breaks. Include an actual lunch break where you’re forced to leave the workspace for a while.
#5. Incorporate Vacations
Now that you’ve got your delegations and automation in place, you can afford to take reasonable vacation days. That may mean a long weekend here and there, or it could mean taking a week off a few times a year. However you do it, I’m sure the ones you love will appreciate that time with you. You’ll find that you appreciate it too. In fact, you’ll see how much it was needed.
Promoting a Culture of Work-Life Balance in Your Ecommerce Business
A thriving ecommerce business means incorporating a culture of work-life balance for everyone who works with you. It’s just as important for your team to experience the work-life balance as you. When this happens, the entire business is more productive. As the owner of your ecommerce business, encourage the following for your team:
- Work flexibility: If remote work possibilities are an option, allow your team an opportunity to be more flexible in their work.
- Mental health days: Encourage your team to take mental health days. Not everyone gets sick, so some of us just need to take a day here and there to maintain a healthy mental outlook.
- Reward with days off: Reward team members with days off. Give your team members options for rewards with a day off being among them, and then let them choose which reward they’d prefer. You’d be surprised how many may really need a day off.
- Take more breaks: Ensure your team has the opportunity to take a reasonable amount of breaks during the workday.
A thriving ecommerce business is great! Promoting a culture of work-life balance is a sure way to keep the success going!