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The band Loverboy made a song about the beloved weekend in the ‘80s. Remember
the title, Everybody’s Working For the Weekend? You can really relate
if you’re one of those who work a traditional Monday through Friday job. But for
those of you who own small businesses and work out of your home, there
isn’t often a day that goes by without some of it devoted to business.
If you have a hard time separating your business endeavors from your personal
life, consider the following tips to finding a little relaxation and
downtime:
Limit your time commitments. If you stress about your
children’s extra-curricular activities and can’t find the time to get to the
grocery store before the weekend, reevaluate your commitments and see if you can
eliminate some of them. Perhaps you can initiate a car pool that will reduce
drive-time. Consider making more effective shopping lists that will require only
a once-a-week trip to the store.
Give yourself a break. Make sure you schedule in time for
yourself. Maybe you allow two mornings a week to sleep in, or make a certain
area of your house a no-work zone. Make sure you step away and focus on personal
time, or you’ll get burned out quickly.
Reward yourself. It’s easy to go from one project to the
next without recognizing your accomplishments. If you’ve finished up a
successful delivery or job, take time out to celebrate with a special dinner out
or a movie. Don’t let yourself continue on a never-ending journey of work.
Seek help. Keep lines of communication open with your
spouse, partner or children. If you tell them you need help in juggling work
hours and free-time, maybe they can help you find ways to be more productive.
Seek their support, and reciprocate their willingness to help by spending
one-on-one time with them without being distracted by phone calls or
work-related issues.
Balancing a small business that requires hours above and beyond a traditional
nine-to-five position can be demanding and stressful. Making sure you have a
balance will help everyone involved feel good about it. | 
