I recently read this article about Twitter addicts that wake up 2-3 times a night specifically to check interaction online. The blogger admits to sleeping with her iPhone under her pillow, and then writes:

You can point your finger at me and call me weird (which I am); however, according to recent studies, lots of people do this! Whether it’s to check Twitter, send texts, wait for a midnight phone call or use their cell phone as an alarm clock in the morning, more and more people are sleeping with their phones. When I asked a few of my close Twitter friends about this, they almost all reluctantly admitted it. One friend told me she not only sleeps with her phone, but her laptop open and ready also.

This got me thinking about boundaries. What boundaries do you set for yourself? As a small business owner, sometimes it can feel like you have to be available 24/7 for any emergency that might happen, but how does this affect your personal life?

At Three Girls, we place a lot of value in work/life balance, although it isn’t always easy. When you own a small business it’s impossible to keep work at work – it will always come home with you, especially if you run your business from your living room. With that in mind, here are 5 ways to help you work personal time into your busy week:

1. Keep your weekends free. Of course there are always times you’ll have to take evening or weekend meetings, but try to arrange your schedule so you have at least two days each week in a row that aren’t consumed with your work. Having a couple of days off will actually help you work more efficiently the other five days!
2. Turn it off. Avoid the temptation of checking email one last time by physically turning your computer off after a day of work. Anything you receive in email can wait until the morning.
3. Schedule personal activities. Whether it’s spending time with a loved one or simply reading a book, add it to your calendar so you keep that time free.
4. Don’t always answer the phone. If you’re enjoying time with your family or friends, resist the urge to pick up the phone. If it’s important, whoever calls will leave a message or, depending on your relationship, you can send a text to quickly help them if it’s small or see if it can wait.
5. Sleep 8 solid hours. Your sleep is extremely important! It will keep you healthy and help you think more clearly during the day. Of course there will be nights where 8 hours isn’t practical, but make sure you get a solid chunk of sleep. If you’re tempted to wake up to check email, Facebook or Twitter, remove the distractions and keep the technology in another room.

What additional ways do you incorporate life balance into your busy work week?

Photo Credit: SMercury98

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