4 Tips for Getting Control of Your Time (& Sanity)

Many of the entrepreneurs I know are workaholics.

Does this sound familiar?

You’re running a successful business, or maybe trying to launch a new product, and you only have yourself to be accountable. You get up in the morning and check your email while brewing your first cup of coffee. You progress to your home office and whip off a dozen emails before that first cup is down. The day progresses the same, you forget to eat breakfast, and sometimes lunch. You remember to pick up the kids only after a text or phone call. After spending a few rushed hours to feed your kids and say hello to your spouse, you fall asleep with you smart-phone / tablet / laptop in your hand. Wash, Rinse, Repeat. This is your life!

As someone who has worked from a home based office for years, the best advice I can give you is this: Just because you can keep working doesn’t mean you should. Although working nonstop can feel productive, becoming a workaholic is not good for you, your relationships, or your bottom line.

Here are four tips for taking back your time and energy:

Get Healthy! By being too focused on your work and not taking breaks to eat, exercise, or even stretch during your day you are harming your body. Stop and make sure to get proper nutrition, take a walk, and stretch at least once an hour while working from home. I guarantee you’ll feel better and your body will thank you!
Prioritize Your Day! Instead of jumping into email first thing in the morning, spend the first hour of your day making lists of what you need to accomplish, prioritize these and focus on the top three, once those are complete, tackle your email. Anything that doesn’t make the top three can be pushed to the next day. (For more tips on this you can sign up for my free training here)
Spend Time with Your Family! Seeing your kids and spouse for short periods of time per day isn’t enough to really connect. Schedule time for family game night, family outings, or even a movie night. Make sure to turn off all electronics and don’t be tempted to pick up your phone during family time.
Set Boundaries with Clients or Vendors! This is the hardest tip to put into action, but it is probably one of the more important. Set expectations with clients and vendors around response times and your availability. Just because someone emails you at 10 pm at night, you don’t have to email them back if you have set the expectation that emails will be returned within 24 or 48 hours. Stick to it no matter what. (I once had a client text me at midnight, they were travelling on the west coast, and I responded… guess what happened the next night? You got it, another midnight text! If you don’t stick to your own boundaries, they won’t mean anything in the long run).

These may seem like simple tips, but I promise you small changes will have a great impact on your life, goals and productivity. By clearing the clutter and scheduling your time wisely you’ll be able to get more done in less time, and you’ll be able to spend more time with the important people in your life.