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Entrepreneurs: Here’s How to Stay Balanced & Thrive While Managing Your Busy Work

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Entrepreneurship: A life where you’re in control of everything from your schedule and your revenue to your team and your vacations. A life that offers so much more than the bog-standard 9-to-5 office job. A life that finally allows you to fulfill your potential and achieve your goals.

Entrepreneurship is all of these things, but it’s also a hard, hard slog. It’s working late into the night to try and finish a project. It’s waking up in the night in a cold sweat because sales are down. It’s forgoing family commitments because something just can’t wait. All told, entrepreneurship can take a real toll on your health – mentally and physically – if you don’t get the right balance. I’ve been there.

I’ve been so overwhelmed by the day-to-day running of my business that I don’t know which way to turn. I’ve let important things slide (my family) and I’ve run myself into the ground trying to juggle all aspects of my life. However, I have found balance in a few key areas, which I’ve shared with you below.

Why Do You Need Balance as an Entrepreneur?

Numerous studies highlight how entrepreneurs are more exposed to stress and mental health issues than other workers. For example, one report by the American Psychiatric Association found that 72% of entrepreneurs were directly or indirectly affected by mental health differences. They also experienced more depression (30%), bipolar disorder (11%), and substance abuse (12%) than other participants.

Unfortunately, so many entrepreneurs (myself included in the past) see downtime and time out as a failure. They see it as wasted time that they could be using more productively for their business. The truth is, when you’re working so hard and you’re not taking time out, you’re not working at your optimum level. You won’t be able to concentrate as well, you’ll get frustrated quickly, and you’ll make mistakes because you’re so tired.

Here’s how you can beat burnout and gain the right balance as an entrepreneur:

1. Enjoy Early Mornings Full of Space & Experience a Better Day

I can’t emphasize this point enough. If you wake up late and start hurrying through a pile of emails and social media posts because you’re behind, it’s going to affect your mindset in a huge way. You’re going to feel as though you’re constantly catching up and that there isn’t enough time to get things done. This will raise your stress levels (not to mention your blood pressure).

You also need to make time for yourself in the morning, too. Recently, I’d gotten into a rut of jumping into work and checking emails without taking some time out first. But now, I’m consciously taking time to breathe, meditate, and pray before I start working. And the difference I feel – all day long – is pretty amazing.

Your morning sets a precedent for the rest of the day. Make it mindful, calm, and stress-free. Don’t rush around.

2. Set Rules and Ground Limits for Family Time

Sadly, our families often take the brunt of our stresses, losing out to those last-minute deadlines or must-do projects. You have to make sure your work doesn’t take over family time. Because, if you’re anything like me, this time rejuvenates your soul, restores your mindset, and gives you focus.

I have a toddler and spending quality time with her really puts things into perspective. Your family is your priority, and while you’re building this business for your family, they shouldn’t take a backseat in the process.

So, to ensure you make this time and stick to it, set time limits for family time. Make these times so strict it’s like you’re heading to one of your meetings – you can’t be late and you can’t put minimal effort in.

“Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring, and integrity, they think of you.” – H. Jackson Brown Jr.

3. Try Mediation and Deep-Breathing Exercises for More Grounding & Deep Thinking

Before any big event, e.g. a new product going live or an event appearance, I find meditation and deep-breathing exercises help ground me and refocus my mind. They give you that space you need to recoup your thoughts and lower your stress levels. What’s more, meditating doesn’t need to be all about incense and crystals. It can be something as simple as loading up an app on your phone for ten minutes. The one I use is called Calm.

4. Focus on Personal Growth & Delegate Monkey Work

If you want to achieve those bigger revenue numbers, you need to continue to learn and develop to see a real impact. This means you need to stop doing all of the “monkey work.” These are tasks defined as tasks that anyone can do. Delegate these so you can work on your own growth. Give yourself the time and space you need to develop a higher level of mindset.

Spend hours developing the strategy that will take your empire to the next level. Read books, listen to audiobooks or download podcasts from the greats in your industry. Some timeless authors you can find inspiration from for better, smarter entrepreneurial habits include Simon Sinek, Dale Carnegie, Donald Miller, Robert Kiyosaki, Mel Robbins, and Stephen Covey.

5. Make The Small Changes for Big Results

Entrepreneurialism takes dedication, hard work, commitment, and a lot of blood, sweat, and tears. That much is inevitable. But remember, a burnout can have dire consequences on your mental and physical health. So make sure you’re putting as much effort, if not more, into your work-life balance by following the aforementioned tips.

Trust me, if you do that, you’ll not only feel better in yourself but you’ll notice the positive effects in your business too.

Share with us your tips and advice for fellow readers on how to achieve a work-life balance!

Julia McCoy is a serial content marketer, entrepreneur, and bestselling author. She founded her content agency, Express Writers, with just $75 at 19 years old. Eight years later, she has almost 90 team members on staff and has served thousands of clients. She's been listed on Forbes as a thought leader, named among the top 30 worldwide content marketers, and has a passion for sharing what she knows in her books and in her online courses. Read Julia's Write Blog.

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In workplaces around the world, there’s a growing gap between employers and employees and between superiors and their teams. It’s a common refrain: “People don’t leave companies, they leave bad bosses.”

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Why This Gap Exists

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Tools and Techniques to Bridge the Gap

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1. Practice Mutual Empathy

Both managers and employees need to recognize they are ultimately on the same team. Leaders have to balance people and performance, and often face intense pressure to hit targets. Employees who understand this reality are more likely to cooperate and problem-solve collaboratively.

2. Maintain Professional Boundaries

Superiors should separate personal issues from professional decision-making. Consistency, fairness, and integrity build trust, and trust is the foundation of a motivated team.

3. Follow the Golden Rule

Treat people how you would like to be treated. This simple principle encourages compassion and respect, two qualities every effective leader must demonstrate.

4. Avoid Micromanagement

Micromanaging stifles creativity and damages morale. Great leaders see themselves as partners, not just bosses, and treat their teams as collaborators working toward a shared goal.

5. Empower Employees to Grow

Empowerment means giving employees responsibility that matches their capacity, and then trusting them to deliver. Encourage them to take calculated risks, learn from mistakes, and problem-solve independently. If something goes wrong, turn it into a learning opportunity, not a reprimand.

6. Communicate in All Directions

Communication shouldn’t just be top-down. Invite feedback, create open channels for suggestions, and genuinely listen to what your people have to say. Healthy upward communication closes gaps before they become conflicts.

7. Overcome Insecurities

Many leaders secretly fear being outshone by younger, more tech-savvy employees. Instead of resisting, embrace the chance to learn from them. Humility earns respect and helps the team innovate faster.

8. Invest in Coaching and Mentorship

True leaders grow other leaders. Provide mentorship, career guidance, and stretch opportunities so employees can develop new skills. Leadership is learned through experience, but guided experience is even more powerful.

9. Eliminate Favoritism

Avoid cliques and office politics. Decisions should be based on facts and fairness, not gossip. Objective, transparent decision-making builds credibility.

10. Recognize Efforts Promptly

Recognition often matters more than rewards. Publicly appreciate employees’ contributions and do so consistently and fairly. A timely “thank you” can be more motivating than a quarterly bonus.

11. Conduct Thoughtful Exit Interviews

When employees leave, treat it as an opportunity to learn. Keep interviews confidential and use the insights to improve management practices and culture.

12. Provide Leadership Development

Train managers to lead, not just supervise. Leadership development programs help shift mindsets from “command and control” to “coach and empower.” This transformation has a direct impact on morale and retention.

13. Adopt Soft Leadership Principles

Today’s workforce, largely millennials and Gen Z, value collaboration over hierarchy. Soft leadership focuses on partnership, mutual respect, and shared purpose, rather than rigid top-down control.

The Bigger Picture: HR’s Role

Mercer’s global research highlights five key priorities for organizations:

  • Build diverse talent pipelines

  • Embrace flexible work models

  • Design compelling career paths

  • Simplify HR processes

  • Redefine the value HR brings

The challenge? Employers and employees often view these priorities differently. Bridging that perception gap is just as important as bridging the relational gap between leaders and staff.

Treat Employees Like Associates, Not Just Staff

When you treat employees like partners, they bring their best selves to work. HR leaders must develop strategies to keep talent engaged, empowered, and prepared for the future.

Organizational success starts with people, always. Build the relationship with your team first, and the results will follow.

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