Finding a work/life balance ... is it an impossible dream?

As we all spend more and more time juggling our working commitments with those of our life outside work, it is not unusual to ask yourself whether it is possible to find the right balance.  Well, not only is it possible – it is essential!

All of us who have the delights and dilemmas of a small business know that while it can be easy to close the door to the office, it is often incredibly difficult to close the mind to the demands of business. However, we all need to be able to do this and build mental boundaries around our time away from work, so that when we are at work we see things with enthusiasm and a fresh eye.  This benefits us all: business operators, employees, families and therefore society in general.

There is enormous satisfaction in running your own business, but for many of us the only way to keep up with the "in tray" is to work longer and longer hours.  Add to this the demands of family and friends and it is no wonder that many of us feel we are spiralling out of control.  Depending on your business this can potentially leave you open to making critical mistakes out of stress and tiredness.

So … is there a solution or do we just accept that the concept of having a life outside of work is not going to work for us?  The first thing to do is set some guidelines and set them in concrete!  There will be times of course when you need to be available, but it is important that staff understand that you have "fenced off" some time for you to be with family or friends or to enjoy an activity that leaves you refreshed and relaxed.  Of course, this must be reciprocal so your staff also feel that their time outside the office is their own and not to be intruded upon without prior consultation.

One of the easiest ways to feel in control is to have flexible working hours, in so far as that is practical for your business.  Perhaps a compressed working week (doing full-time hours in four days), working from home or a job-share arrangement will allow full cover for your business while giving everyone the time they need to experience a full life outside of work.

We should never forget that one of the basic truths of business is that happy and satisfied employees contribute to greater business benefits for the employer.  Equally, an employer who feels that they have some time-out – mentally and physically – from the stresses of running a business is likely to foster a happier and more productive working environment.

All businesses have seasonal times of increased workload, and most employees understand this and are happy to work longer hours.  However imagine the impact on staff morale if this extra effort is not just recognised, but rewarded? A day or two of extra leave, a trip to a day spa, or tickets to the zoo for the family … there are many ways employers can thank their staff and reset the work/life balance after busy periods.  Just don’t forget to reward yourself in a similar way!

One of the main stumbling blocks to feeling in control of this vital balance is email. Originally it was going to be our saviour, but considering that statistics show that up to a quarter of employees log into work email from home, email is no longer a saviour but rather a major cause of work stress. Employers can help here by not sending out emails that are time-coded in the wee small hours, as this sends a message to staff that you don’t believe in downtime.  If you must compose emails late at night or early in the morning, save them in drafts and then send just before the start of the workday.  This may eliminate the expectation that staff need to be "on" all the time.

Set an example to your staff by taking regular holidays to recharge and encourage them to do the same, rather than stockpile leave because they don’t believe they should take it.  It will be better for your bottom line in more ways than one!

A realistic way of taking time off while maintaining the integrity of your business is by using the "buddy system".  As Craig Davis, General Manager of TakeABreak.com.au, says "By having a 'buddy' in the business – someone who is already familiar with your role and work habits, it means you have someone to take over your responsibilities at short notice if you need to be away due to family needs, illness – or for that most important thing, a holiday!"

"The buddy system should apply to all staff, not just management, making it much less likely that you will have to sacrifice family obligations to cover for a missing staff member," he continued.  Craig finds that by ensuring work is not too intrusive he can actually build better business systems, have happier and more productive staff, and of course have a happier family!

Give yourself time to consider how you can better strike a work/life balance for you and your employees and you will come up with some answers that are unique to your business and its needs.  Yes, it is a tough subject, but it is one we all need to grapple with if we – and our staff – are to get off the treadmill and get on with life.  Remember the old saying (it might sound trite, but it has never held more importance) … Work to live - don’t live to work.

For some ideas on how to close your mind to work and open it to leisure, why not visit www.takeabreak.com.au

TakeABreak is an online accommodation portal that allows you to search for the type of break and accommodation that suits you and your needs.  You can search for a romantic escape to recharge your batteries and your love life, a family holiday where your four-footed friends can come too, an adventure holiday to get the adrenaline going – in a good way! – or go for that quiet break where the history and beauty of an area allows you to forget (just for a while) the pressures of work and reality. There is a huge range of accommodation from luxury to eco escapes to camping … and everything in between!  Check out TakeABreak now and find your perfect escape.