Balancing Life and Work in Family Business
Have you ever felt exhausted, tired and burnt out? Do you think that family and business is just too much sometimes? Are you longing for a vacation to relax and have fun? Would you like to have more time for yourself?
If any of these questions are answered with a YES then you need some changes in your life and at work to find the right balance.
Let’s start with you!
Women are very good at putting themselves after the family, the house, the dog and the business – basically women put themselves last on the list! Sound familiar? This has to change! You have to come first to be able to handle everything and stay strong and healthy. Plan your day with time for yourself to stay in balance. If you are an early bird, get up in the morning, meditate and go running, for example. You will be surprised how different the day starts when you are out in nature, hearing the birds sing and having the sun in your face. It is easy to be in a good mood when you kiss your husband good-bye and get the kids ready for school!
Take enough time for your shower and styling to feel great when you leave the house. Everyone in your family business will admire you for your authenticity. Taking time for yourself and the benefits that gives you will create greater success.
Organisation and delegation are two magic words that allow you to have a day expending less effort. You need to create more time. Think about hiring a housekeeper or an au-pair and a cleaning lady. Give exact orders to make sure everything runs smoothly and to your satisfaction. Don’t accept any excuses and if necessary say good-bye and look for better help. You just dont need the stress!
Maybe you should consider working only half a day when your kids are small. This way you can spend time with them without feeling guilty. If necessary or in case of emergency, take some work home and finish after the kids are asleep. Another possibility could be to work two days at home and the rest in the company.
It is very important to love your work as well as the family. Being happy with your life helps you to handle all your tasks. Some women prefer to stay at home when the children are small and join the family business later. Other women decide to concentrate only on their career. No matter how you live, listen to your heart and not to other people’s opinions.
Your happiness makes you shine and be successful. Your family will feel it too and manage their tasks and support you. Allocating tasks to the children helps them to grow into responsible adults and to search for solutions to problems and issues. They will be very proud to inform you in the evening about their successes! For harmony in the family everybody should try to help in the house enabling you all to spend more time together.
Of course, in case of emergency you will always be there for your family, attend events at school, at their sports clubs or any other hobbies in which they are engaged. They will be very proud and thankful that you make the time – and of course, it helps us feel that as mothers we are doing a good job and reduce some of that guilt that comes with motherhood!
Never forget to make some special time for the whole family. Spend some time in the evening together and go on vacation to have fun. Use your intuition and if you get a sense that there may be a problem, take the time to sit down and talk.
Now let me talk to the men involved in business. Men love to do business and take care of the family financially. But it is very important to spend some valuable time with your wife and children. Of course, you need some free time for yourself too to meet your friends and have fun outside of business and family.
If you are happy, your family is happy too. Take time to see your kids grow and move forward. Don’t let the business consume your every waking moment. You don’t want to wake up one morning and find out that they are grown up and you did not even realize it had happened!
Usually men prefer to talk to their buddies, or do not talk to anyone when they have things on their mind. But it is necessary that you talk to your family too to avoid misunderstandings. There is always a solution for any situation. The more you talk and plan, the better the outcome.
Planning and talking in your family and your business make you all happy and successful. Share and care and have fun in your family and business to stay healthy, happy and strong.
Stay in shape and exercise to avoid a nervous breakdown due to stress and overworking. You won’t help anybody if you get sick and are not being there for your family or business. Time out gives you more energy than just spending time in your business.
In case you need my inspiration, please feel free to contact me! I have been and still am in your shoes and I know what running a family business and being part of a demanding family entails!
What is your biggest work/life balance issue?
About Doris
Doris has family business in her blood. Her grandparents and parents had family businesses and for the whole of her life to the present day she has been involved in family business – currently as a key partner in her own family’s business and her own business with her clients.
She has been an entrepreneuse for over 30 years. She has encountered resistance in business as a women especially in the early days of her career. Her vision is to see thousands of women leading their family businesses with intuition, commitment, creativity and courage to aim for the stars.
She is a strong believer in – you know the truth by the way it feels – and uses intuition to reach successful conclusions to family business conflicts.
She is highly qualified both academically but also in terms of the skills and experience gained over decades in and around business, specifically family business. It is this mix of experience running a family business, learned skills and her intuitive approach that separates her from other consultants and coaches.
Whatever conflict or dissension you are experiencing in your business, Doris most certainly has the skills and experience to support you in resolving them in a heart centered way.