7 Ways you can successfully balance life and work as an entrepreneur

As an entrepreneur, one of the most important things you can do for your success is establish an effective life-business balance.

When I started my business, I ate, slept and breathed work. From my career as an athlete, I knew the value of hustle and hard work. So, I set my mind to building something successful, and in turn, it became all I thought about, 24/7.

In the meantime, my health suffered. My relationships became strained. I was anxious and distracted.

When I realized I had gained an extra 30 pounds, I knew I needed to do something different. You don’t need to figure it out the hard way, like I did. Take these tips into consideration while you set up the structure of your business

I have found I am more effective and productive when I take the extra time to follow a regimen of self-care and life-business balance. It may take some tweaking for you to find the right prescription, but here are some of the things that are working for me:

1. STAY HEALTHY It’s hard to inspire and enroll others when you aren’t healthy. No matter what kinds of sales you’re bringing in, if you’re not taking care of your body, it’s not a sustainable plan.

Put self-care high up on your priority list. Exercise and eat right.

2. MEDITATE Meditation is massive. Since I started practicing this regularly again, my anxiety, focus and productivity have all improved. Plus, it’s helpful when you’re managing a lot.

Don’t worry about doing it the “right” way. There are plenty of methods, so keep trying until you find one you enjoy. It should be restorative; some people just follow their breathing, and others use guided meditation. If you have a busy and anxious mind, I recommend starting with a guided track.

3. BE CLEAR ON YOUR VISION Most of the problems people have with getting what they want comes from lack of clarity. Figure that out first, then go after it. Maybe you aren’t clear on your vision yet. If this is the case, I recommend writing down what your perfect day would look like: What is it you ultimately want to feel each day?

Remember, you don’t have to have perfection to start; just go in the direction of your dreams and take things one step at a time.

4. BE DISCERNING Know that some opportunities are just distractions in disguise. There are way too many good things to go after these days. Stay focused on your mission and say no to pretty much everything else.

5. STAY POSITIVE Replace negative self-talk with gratitude. This is a huge issue for most of us, but you have the power to free yourself from the cycle of beating yourself up.

Start practicing gratitude every time you want to criticize yourself. We waste more time worrying and complaining than it would require to just handle our problems.

6. REST AND RESTORE No matter how hard you push, you will hit a wall if you don’t take care of your mind and body. So much of what my guests and I talk about on The School of Greatness podcast is how to show up.

There’s no way around it: If you want to be great, you have to show up, make connections happen and then follow up. This is a huge part of success. But, equally important is the opposite: resting up. This includes unplugging from your phone and social media for a weekend.

Your body and soul need to recharge. Go outside and be in nature. Sleep. Read a book. Take a leisurely stroll with no destination in mind. These are the down times you need in order to stay focused when it is “go time” again.

7. FILL UP YOUR CUP Having said that, you absolutely need to make time for fun, family, friends and fulfillment. It is no good being a lone ranger. Set your office hours and do your best to adhere to them while taking regular time out to unplug.

Play your guiter that’s gathering dust or pull out the old tennis racket for a match. Take a walk on the beach. Just remember, you are a human being, not a human doing. The more balance you have in your business and life, the more successful you will be.