Many entrepreneurs struggle with this issue.  How can you do it all?  With the challenges of running a successful business and family commitments, it can be a daunting task.  But it doesn’t have to be.  Here are a few recommendations to achieve more balance.  We hope you find them beneficial.

Balance Tips for Entrepreneurs –

Utilize your calendars and to do lists daily – Your calendar and your to do list should be your best friend.  I find that by keeping everything there I feel in more control and feel more empowered when I cross things off the list.  I also realize that I actually can finish all that I have to do when I write it down.  So often when it’s in my head I’m thinking it’s a billion times worse, but by writing it down I get that control. Plus, who doesn’t love checking things off.

Be sure to add in those long term projects and break them down into daily tasks.  That’s how you can get more done.

Get organized – So simple, but so hard at the same time.  We all know most of the basic organizational tips, but try this as well. When you lose something or find you waste time needlessly, at that moment stop and figure out how you can change things so it doesn’t continue on.  For example, here is one of my recent examples.  I’m a notebook gal.  When I talk to potential new clients, I always jot down notes and I have numerous notebooks just for potential client calls.  Great, I’ve got this. However, what happens when a client calls back and it’s been a while.  I have to go through all the notebooks to find our correspondence. Bummer, but there is an easy fix.  Now on the outside of all my notebooks, I also jot down all the potential clients that are included in that notebook. Now that seems simplistic. But it so worked for me. This might not be one of your challenges, but my point is to find problem areas in your business that lack organization or need help and seek out the solutions.  And the best time to think about solutions is right after it happens. 

Create a ToubleShooting File or Document – Once again this seems so simplistic, but think back over the past year how much time you sent working on something that you had done before and had problems with, but just forgot the solution.   Have a file or notebook and then write things done.  Create a document where you outline the problem briefly, outline solutions, and then add any notes.  I can guarantee if you start this, this will become gold to you in the upcoming years.

Learn the art of saying NO! — We all know we need to say this more and believe me I’ve tried.  But somehow, it sure was easier for me to tell the next person that this is what they need to do than myself.  How did I get better at this?  Several ways.  First, before I commit, I ask if I can call them back. No more split second decisions that I regret later.  Then I review the options and put a time and money factor on things.  Today, I really value my time.  I love being able to enjoy making dinners and eating together at night.  I love not rushing through homework so I can leave the house to attend a meeting and I love making enough money so that we don’t worry so much about bills.  When I consider all that, it makes it easier to say, “Sorry I can’t do that now, but thank you so much for thinking of me.”

I hope you enjoyed my balancing tips.  I’d love to hear yours!  Please do comment below. Also, be sure to sign up for our newsletter where you can get regular PR and VA Tips. 

Until next time.  Happy Marketing  – Diana Ennen, Author: VA the Series, Become a Highly Successful Sought After VA and So You Want to be a Work-at-Home Mom