Achieving A Healthy Work-Life Balance While Hustling Amid The Pandemic
The pandemic has pushed many to start a small business while still working on their day jobs. Their family time has been reduced, and they barely rest.
Small business owners are known for having hectic schedules that they barely get enough rest. But if they also work in the day and care for a family, how do they stay sane?
A lot of them may look calm and collected outside, but believe it or not, they’re struggling to manage every day. And with a pandemic upon the world, their duties have doubled yet again. Their day jobs have become home-based, forcing them to handle both housework and office tasks at the same time. What about their small business on the side? Well, that needs constant monitoring, too, so imagine how these hardworking individuals divide their time every day.
If you relate to their struggles, know that there are only so many hours in a day and so many things you can do. You don’t have to torment yourself when you don’t complete your daily goals. After all, we can’t predict how a day will go, much less control it.
That said, if 2020 is starting to take a toll on your family and personal life, here’s your chance to create a well-balanced hustle before the year ends:
1. Put Your Family First
“Happy wife, happy life” rings true for many families. If you have kids, you will find that their happiness affects all areas of your life, including your business and day job. Therefore, prioritize your family above all else, and the fulfillment, love, and security you’ll gain will get you through each day. It will motivate you to perform at your best, divide your time more wisely, and stay healthier.
2. Set Boundaries
Now that we’ve established that your family should come first, set boundaries between the three: your family, your day job, and your business. Yes, you also need to set boundaries with your family because they have to respect your work time.
Your boundaries don’t have to be rigid. Just make it clear in your schedule that certain times of the day are devoted to a specific duty. For example, if your day job takes eight hours of your day, commit to it, and dedicate the small breaks and weekends for your family. And then at five o’clock, when work usually ends, attend to your small business.
The key is to break up your time into manageable chunks. You can’t cook lunch for your family while there’s an online conference expecting your participation. But if you prepare your family’s meal way ahead of lunchtime, then you can give your full attention to that online conference.
3. Create Rules for Yourself
Your boundaries can become fragile when you’re not committed to them enough. Therefore, enumerate your expectations from yourself, then make realistic rules based on those.
List down the actions that contradict your boundaries. For example, if you dedicate nighttime for your small business, then don’t entertain late-night work calls or emails by that time. Those should have been handled during the eight hours that you worked, not after the end of office hours.
4. Take Care of Your Health
Hustling individuals tend to overdose on caffeine every day, especially iced coffee. While that can be a good kickstarter, it’s sadly not very healthy. A Starbucks venti dark berry mocha frappuccino, for one, has 561 calories, which is a good chunk of the recommended amount of calorie intake per day (2,000 to 2,500).
If you’re trying to lose weight, then iced coffee is even worse news because you have to consume only 1,000 to 1,500 calories per day. That means you either have to skip a meal or exercise intensely on the following day to burn it.
Aside from making you prone to obesity, you could also be at risk of cancer. Though we don’t want to assume the worst, it’s wise to think about the grave long-term consequences of our unhealthy diet. Instead of ice coffee, try to drink brewed coffee with less sugar. Research shows that such a healthy brew can help you live longer, avoid risks of Parkinson’s disease, and lower your chances of developing colon cancer, to name a few.
5. Cut Down Your Day Job Working Hours Gradually
If you see your small business gaining massive success soon, you have to commit more hours. The moment you start making significant investments for it, such as PPC management and other digital marketing services, then that’s the sign that you’re headed for growth.
Cut back your day job working hours gradually, freeing your afternoons first, or in any way you see convenient. Once you’re ready to resign, make your transition smooth so that you won’t heavily burden the one that will take over your position.
Note that even if you exert efforts in balancing your family, work, and business, you’d still meet obstacles that may threaten the boundaries you’ve set. But those are normal, as no hustler ever lives a life that always goes according to plan. Just keep grinding, and never get discouraged.