Join your host, Jillian Dolberry, your “pocket online business manager,” in this episode of The Grace-Filled CEO podcast, the resource you've been waiting for to manage all the parts of your life.
As women, we wear many hats in both our work and life: mom, wife, caretaker, boss, writer, daughter, sister, friend, and CEO. If you're going to succeed at any or all of them while working from home, it's going to take intention and wisdom! And I'm here to show you exactly how, with practical strategies and a healthy dose of grace.
How To Balance Business And Personal Life
Let's be honest: the phrase “work-life balance” often feels like a myth, especially when you're juggling business responsibilities with home life. Between managing working hours and personal time, it can feel overwhelming. The pressure to spend time on everything important while maintaining excellence can be heavy. That's why I hate the word “balance” – it doesn't capture the reality of what it takes to not just check boxes, but to truly live well.
Finding Your Perfect Balance
The key to managing both work and life isn't about perfect equilibrium – it's about making intentional choices about how you spend your amount of time. Let's explore how to create a rhythm that works for you and your unique situation.
It Starts With Only Allowing the Right People to Have a Say
One thing I absolutely love about the online community is the abundance of connection opportunities with other business owners. However, these voices can become overwhelming. Everyone has their own approach, and it's easy to fall into the comparison trap. The key is being selective about who we allow to speak into our business and personal life.
Who we allow to influence us greatly impacts how we balance business and friends and family. Different people with different values will give conflicting advice about how to manage your time and energy.
Because if the Next Steps in Your Business Do Not Support Your Values You Are Constantly Going to Feel Like You're in Conflict
Your values must guide your decisions. When they don't, you'll feel constant tension between what matters most to you and what you're actually doing.
New Tips for Finding Balance
Since originally publishing this post, I've discovered some additional work life balance tips that have made a significant difference:
- Schedule time blocks specifically for personal activities
- Don't forget to protect this time like you would a client meeting
- Include time for exercise, hobbies, and connecting with loved ones
- Build in buffer time between work and personal activities
- Create clear boundaries when working from home
- Set up a dedicated workspace
- Establish specific working hours
- Communicate these boundaries to family and clients
- Use technology intentionally
- Set up automated systems for routine tasks
- Use time-tracking apps to ensure you're not overworking
- Implement communication boundaries (like turning off notifications after hours)
- Practice regular reflection
- Weekly reviews of how you're spending time
- Monthly assessments of your work-life satisfaction
- Quarterly adjustments to your schedule and boundaries
- Build in margin
- Don't schedule every minute
- Allow for unexpected situations
- Create space for spontaneity
Remember: balancing life and business isn't about perfection. It's about asking yourself, “What is right, right now?” The answer will guide you toward decisions that honor both your business and personal life.
The Grace-Filled Approach to Balance
- Trust your intuition about what feels right for your situation
- Give yourself permission to adjust as needed
- Remember that different seasons require different approaches
- Focus on progress, not perfection
Remember to schedule time for what matters most. Is it always the most profitable choice? No. But will it help you build a sustainable business that serves both you and your clients well? Absolutely.
Sometimes we think more information equals better decisions. While that can be true, when it comes to important choices about business direction and life balance, finding the right voices matters most. Choose your advisors wisely, and always ask yourself, “What is right, right now?”
Be sure to subscribe to The Grace-Filled CEO podcast wherever you listen to podcasts or at www.jilliandolberry.com/podcast. Continue the conversation with me on Instagram @jilliandolberry.
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