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Realistic Ways For Entrepreneurs To Reduce Their Hours And Avoid Overwork

If you are an entrepreneur, you have probably heard the myth that it is like a consuming love affair. It is so fulfilling, yet you have to give up the idea of a life-work balance. But who says that work-life balance is such a farfetched idea for entrepreneurs?

If you feel like you need more time to work as an entrepreneur, here are some realistic tips on how to regain control of your life. Take a look!

1. Get A Therapist

Starting, running, and building a business is a challenging feat. It comes with its fair share of challenges, such as anxiety and helplessness. You might notice signs like sweaty hands, an increased heart rate, and trouble concentrating. In an attempt to salvage the situation, you might end up overworking. That’s why it’s vital for entrepreneurs to consciously guard their mental health by seeing a therapist.

By seeing a therapist, you can get a sense of clarity. That can help you prioritize tasks better and improve your productivity. You also learn to become comfortable with uncertainties, thus letting go of the urge to work all the time to control the outcome.

Most importantly, a therapist can help you learn how to prioritize self-care. They can help you identify ways to disconnect from your business so that you can focus on your well-being.

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2. Find A Release For The Stress

Undeniably, being an entrepreneur is incredibly stressful. You constantly deal with cash flow, demanding deadlines, and other job setbacks. It can get chaotic fast, and you might find yourself overworking, chasing perfectionism. Therefore, your power lies in how well you can manage stress. That’s why it’s essential to find a healthy routine to do that.

The first step is accepting that perfectionism might not be that healthy. While putting your best foot forward as an entrepreneur is essential, things might only sometimes go your way. Other beneficial methods of staying on top of your game include working out and meditation.

3. Practice Time Blocking

Time blocking is a popular time management strategy every entrepreneur should use. It entails breaking down every part of your day. You have to schedule the time blocks on your calendar visually. It also helps to group related tasks in the same time block.

For instance, your first-time block can start at 9:00 a.m. with answering emails. Then you can create another time block for your weekly update meeting with the board and another block for lunch. By doing so, you can focus on high-impact work without neglecting smaller tasks. You also reduce the chances of getting distracted while in the middle of tasks and switching to a bigger project.

4. Delegate Tasks

Do you struggle with handing down tasks? Don’t worry. A lot of other entrepreneurs do too. Perhaps you feel like you are the only one who can match your attention to detail. However, that’s a sure way to end up overworked.

It would be best to let go of the instinctive desire to do everything yourself and learn to delegate. View it as a chance to get more time to work on bigger ideas. As long as you have experts on your team, trust them to get the job done. However, you have to create time to follow up on these tasks.

5. Take Advantage of Technology

Technology has got to be the best thing that has ever happened to humankind. You can leverage it to reduce the number of hours you spend in the office. One of the ways you can do that is by automating redundant tasks like sending thank you notes, sorting and responding to emails, and new hire screening.

Technology also makes tools like meditation and mindfulness more accessible. You can use these applications to improve your brain function and focus. That helps you get more done within less time. Besides, you can find time management tools online that help you know when you are crossing the line between working hard and overworking.

6. Set Boundaries

There is more to life than building the company of your dreams. While achieving your entrepreneurship goals is essential, you must also create room for other things that matter. That’s where work boundaries come in. They act as a framework for achieving a healthy work-life balance.

When setting boundaries, you first have to identify your priorities. Besides your career, what else matters the most to you? Is it spending time with your loved ones? Is it pursuing a new hobby? Once you have a list of priorities, you will be better positioned to distribute your time and energy.

You also need to master the subtle art of saying no. Is a conference coming up on the same day as your scheduled time off? It wouldn’t hurt to say no.

It’s important to step away from the scarcity mentality that makes you think you will never get another chance like that. The truth is that opportunities are endless, and missing out on one doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world.

7. Set Personal Goals

It’s important to understand that you can’t pour from an empty cup. If you neglect your personal development, your entrepreneurial career will soon suffer too. Therefore, no matter how much your company needs you, it would help to set personal goals to fill your cup.

It doesn’t have to be anything complicated. Some simple personal development goals you can set include getting more sleep each day, letting go of the past, nurturing your creativity, and acquiring more knowledge. Traveling works wonders—whether on a solo trip or with friends and family. It allows you to view the world differently, which could be what your career needs.

Fight the Good Fight

It takes much willpower to pursue a work-life balance as an entrepreneur. You have to push yourself to engage in activities that build you. While working longer might sound appealing at first, it might end up counterproductive.

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