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[W999]Work Life Balance Companies

by Tom Mcmullen, Tom

You have achieved something others often dream about but seldom do, you have started your own home business. The passion and determination to succeed is there; so is the need to schedule your home-based business around the rest of your life. Sure, you might be thinking, "this is my life, it's what I've always wanted to do." That's true; it is your life, but only one aspect of it. Like a Swiss watch, there are many other parts to your life and all have to work in harmony with each other to make it a complete living experience.

There are two dangers present in operating your own home business. They probably weren't apparent to you when your home business idea first sparked in your head. The funny thing is you may not realize when you are doing either one of them.

The first danger is that you will work far too much.

It will be very easy to be 'always working' at your home business. Think of it, you've come up with the best possible home business idea you can think of and you want to see it fly. This means you are going to want to go beyond the call of duty to make sure it gets off the ground. The problem is, because you are always at work you will always be tempted to work. That's where the danger lies.

All work and no play makes Jack and Jill dull people. There has to be a balance in your life. The enthusiasm you have for your home business opportunity, which is dear to your heart, has to remain tempered so it doesn't overwork your heart. You cannot overextend yourself in the work arena at the expense of family, friends, and health. The result will be a gradual erosion of your overall well-being that may lead to burnout. Burnout will suck the energy to operate the home business right out of you.

The second danger is that you will work far too little.

The fact that you are at home all the time may cause you to gravitate to non-home business endeavors. There will always be the temptation to catch a few Z's; break for a cup of coffee; read the sports page; water your azalea again; walk the dog or ponder new paint ideas for the ping-pong room.

Self-discipline has to rule in these instances. When the temptation to 'go back to work later' whispers in your ear, it will be your own self-discipline which will keep your home business on track. Friends may call unannounced and you will feel obligated to entertain. That's fine; just make sure they understand the rules for the next time. You have to make it known to family and friends that certain hours of the day are set aside for the home business opportunity you've created for yourself. You have to make it known to family and friends, that this is your 'job'. This will let you work without feeling guilty that you are neglecting anyone important to you.

The key to avoiding the two extremes mentioned is having a balance in your life. Time management will allow you to work and play. A simple day-timer with certain hours blocked off for work and certain hours blocked off for everything else in your life, including leisure time, will reap benefits in your life.

You may find yourself, with a proper work/life balance, prospering because you are not stressing out from overwork. You may also find yourself prospering because you are putting in the time necessary and are not shortchanging yourself financially.

With a proper work/life balance, you may find yourself laughing all the way to the bank, with time to stop for an ice cream on the way.

Gone are the days when a work week meant Monday through Friday, eight to nine hours a day. The typical 40-hour work weeks are history now. So is the clear distinction between work and home. The world is changing inexorably today and unfortunately, the boundaries between work life and home life have blurred for many workers. As more skilled workers enter the global labor market and companies outsource or move more functions, people feel pressured to work longer and produce more to protect their jobs. In this era of globalization, work continues around the world 24 hours a day for some people. The advancement in communication technology has its downside too. You find yourself constantly checking or answering your email and your cell phone. You end up doing this even while on vacation!

As a budding entrepreneur, you will face these issues too. It isn't easy to juggle the demands of career and personal life. For most people, it's an ongoing challenge to reduce stress and maintain harmony in key areas of their life. Here are 3 simple but very effective ways by which you can achieve work-life balance:

1. Nurture yourself – In this constant whirlwind of chores to do, deadlines to meet and endless activity, it is very important that you step back and give some quality time to yourself. Set aside time each day for an activity that you enjoy, such as walking, working out, listening to music or even relaxing with a cup of coffee and the morning newspaper. If necessary, wake up half an hour before your usual time to enjoy this time for yourself. Let that time be only for you, do not let anything interrupt those special moments.
Typically, after a hectic workweek, you find that your weekends, too, are filled with things to do around the house – there many errands to run, children have to be taken to their hobby classes and things must be fixed. And so you find that even during weekends you are caught in a vicious circle of having to get things done. To avoid this, mandate one weekend day just for family time - take the phone off the hook, power down the computer and turn off the TV. Discover activities you can do with your partner, family or friends such as fishing or hiking. Making time for activities you enjoy will rejuvenate you and restore at least some of that much needed work-life balance.

2. Fight the guilt – In a frenetically paced world such as ours, it is so easy to fall into the guilt trap. If you are a woman, you might think, “I am not being a good mom” if the bed is unmade or the sink is full of dishes. Simply let go of the guilt – you don't have to be a super mom! Remember, having a family and a career is okay for both men and women. Do what needs to be done and let the rest go. Learn to relax your standards and appreciate what each new day brings you. Believe that attaining a work-life balance that keeps you going is more important than being touted as the most capable person on the planet.

3. Bolster your support system – Having a good friend in times of need is invaluable. Give yourself the gift of a trusted friend or co-worker to talk with during times of stress or hardship. If you're part of a religious community, take advantage of the support your religious circle can provide. Create a community of trusted friends and relatives who can assist you when you need to work overtime or travel on the job.

Not only will maintaining a work-life balance cut out the stress, most importantly, it will help you become more productive and enjoy what you do.

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Both Tom Mcmullen & Akhil Shahani are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Tom Mcmullen has sinced written about articles on various topics from Internet Marketing, Online Security and Home Based Business. Tom McMullen writes articles about home business. You can find more of his articles at: