How To Make More Time for Life and Business

How to Make More Time for Life and Business

By Edward Unger

How do I make time for life and business?

This is a question you might have asked yourself when you have two calls on hold, what feels like a hundred important emails waiting to be answered, five more calls to make for the day — and the thought of your loved ones tugging at your heart.

Then there is that thought: “As soon as I finish this order and finalize this part of building the business today, I can spend all the time I need with family or socializing or enjoying my favourite hobby.” But then something else comes up and you miss that birthday celebration/ sports game/holiday party, or show up late, wondering how it happened again.

It’s no fault of your own. It’s the cost of making a living and what we have been taught to do from traditional families and culture — “work hard, stay late, do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life, right?” But after a few years, it doesn’t feel that way. Your mind, heart, and soul are drained. You need to figure out how to stop feeling exhausted.

Making time for life and business really isn’t difficult. But what it requires can challenge you at first. Once you adapt, though, you’ll find the inspiration and joy you’ve been missing.

Here are five steps to start redesigning your schedule to enjoy your best life while still nurturing your business.

KNOW WHERE YOU’RE GOING

You wouldn’t go on a road trip without a map or start building a house without blueprints. Most likely, when it comes to your business, you have a plan. But how about the plan for your life?

The foundation of your life roadmap lies in your values. There are five areas to consider when determining these values: family, relationships, career, health, and religion/spirituality (or wellness/personal growth).

Action Item: Craft your personal mission statement. Start with the end in mind. Ask yourself: Why do I exist? What are my biggest goals? Come up with three points, defining each in a sentence.

1. I exist because…

2. I exist because…

3. I exist because…

Action Item: Identify your vision, spelling out what you want to be or want to do.

1. I want...

2. I want...

3. I want...

Action Item: Now, address the values that affect how you live your life, such as work hours, non-negotiable priorities (birthdays, school activities, etc.), and relationships with employees, customers, and others in your community. Describe in a paragraph about why these things matter and how you will give them proper attention.

1. We will...

TIME TO GROW

There is nothing like getting new information in your mind to inspire a new idea, a different perspective, or a new adventure. Personal growth is vital to making time for life and business. One of my favourite authors, John Maxwell, emphasizes the importance of reading, thinking, and writing in his life. He makes time for it every day — no matter what. Some people ask him, “what about on the weekends?” His reply: “Every day, no matter what.” John Maxwell is one of the top authors in leadership who has impacted hundreds of thousands leaders across the globe. That’s because he sticks to his principle of making time for things that help him grow.

What is your personal growth plan?

At the end of every week, ask yourself, what did you learn from your experience with friends, family, and colleagues? What could you have done better? What books would help you achieve that? What can you learn to help empower your team?

Action Item: Write down your plan to grow. Possible actions include reading for 30 minutes a day, listening to an audio series, scheduling one-on-one calls with colleagues or friends to share successes and discuss obstacles you’re facing.

TIME TO RECHARGE

What makes your heart come alive? Do you remember something from your childhood that you always loved but haven’t explored in ages? Maybe it was riding horses, playing a sport or a musical instrument, writing, or travelling. For me, it was picking up hockey again. I played street hockey as a kid but never got the chance to play with a team on ice. So I got all the equipment that was at my parents’ home and started to play a couple times a month. Consequently, I was rejuvenated and so refreshed with new ideas and motivation getting back to life and work.

Reading, embracing spiritual time, and speaking affirmations are also amazing ways to rest and recharge to avoid burnout.

Action Item: Do you have a resting plan? Find out what invigorates you, what calms your soul, what helps you unplug, and sharpens your creative juices when you get back to life and business. Once you’ve identified these activities, make a point of engaging in them regularly.

REVIEW

It’s important to frequently revisit your personal mission statement, your vision, your values, your growth plan, and your resting plan. I recommend thinking about it before bedtime, on your way to work, and the night before the work week starts. This helps you see the most important things you can accomplish the next day. It will help you adjust your calendar and spread your life goals and business goals out over the week.

After scheduling priorities, review what went wrong and what went right during the previous day or week. What fires came up that stopped your progress? What challenges were you able to overcome to keep your focus? What were real emergencies — and what were just events that occurred because of lack of forethought?

This can be challenging at first but with the help of a Google calendar or even just sticky notes, you can be a master of reflection. Over time, you learn to adjust what you didn’t get to finish, prioritize the next day’s activities, and how to spread those projects, tasks, and events over the upcoming days and weeks so you don’t feel overwhelmed.

This will help you say “no” to the good opportunities and “yes” to the great opportunities in all areas of your life.

Action Item: Set dedicated times to review and reflect on your plan and habits. Plug them into your calendar.

REPEAT

Each day is a new opportunity to try a different approach, listen to a new perspective, and live a new adventure with those you care about most. It’s a time to create inspiring products and services to help your community and also take care of your family.

The goal in the marathon of life is to last the distance. Your health and mental wellbeing are your most valuable assets to your loved ones, your business colleagues, your customers and all those in between. There is only one you. You have received the challenge. Now march on like the warrior that you are. When you change, grow, rest, review, and repeat in all areas of your life, you will not burn out.

This is not something you can outsource. No one can answer these questions but you. But that is also the empowering and exciting part.

Edward Unger is a senior project manager, business and marketing strategist for StriderSEO.com. He has run a recording studio, hosted free songwriting workshops, offered in-studio training, and developed multiple e-commerce websites. He enjoys family time, making music, rollerblading, playing ice hockey, playing guitar, and singing, among other creative outlets.