MANAGING WORK-LIFE BALANCE

Although you may be able to set your own hours as a business owner or entrepreneur, finding a balance between your personal and professional obligations is still challenging. In fact, a study by University of Toronto researchers Melissa Milkie and colleagues revealed that those who choose their own schedules and put in more than 50 hours a week experience more work-life conflicts than those who don't.

If it appears that the work will never end, changing how you work can reduce your workload, free up time for non-work activities, and prevent burnout. Here are three strategies for better time management at work.

Delegate

If you're just getting started, you might not be able to delegate much of what you're doing to get your business off the ground. However, experts believe that after three years, you should not be working 70 hours per week. Hiring and training properly will keep you from having to do the work of two people.

Be Productive

I'm not talking about the obvious distractions like social media. Daily emails and phone calls can divert your attention away from your most important goals. If you're not accomplishing what you set out to do each week, examine how you spend your time at work and consider trying a different time management system.

Segment Smarter

Achieving work-life balance does not imply working traditional 9-to-5 hours Monday through Friday and not working the rest of the week. You may discover that alternating work and non-work segments throughout the week is more efficient for your schedule and workflow. Managing email in the evening, for example, when there are fewer distractions, may help you get through your inbox faster and work more efficiently the next day, freeing up time for a non-work activity.

Stress and stress-related health issues are indicators for some people that their work-life balance is off. Concentrating on how you spend your nonworking hours can help you get the most out of your time away from work.