What do you do if your work as a motivational speaker is taking over your personal life?

Ok, ok - so the current narrative is work-life balance... however, passionate fields such as Motivational Speaking (amongst others) don't make it easy to do so... do they? Pick one hyper-successful person and listen to their story, very few will start with "I had a great work-life balance..." - the harsh reality is that there no such thing, work is a part of the person's life. The ideal scenario is the one in which you're so passionate about what you do, and you go close to full throttle for a specific period of time, after which you cool down a bit and re-prioritize as needed. “You can have it all. Just not all at once.” ― Oprah Winfrey

Identify your most recent speaking engagements. Consider how you felt before and after delivering those messages. Were they delivered to your target audience and impactful? How much of YOUR effort, energy, time, and resources were required to prepare and deliver those messages? As speakers, we are often quick to accept invitations, hopeful that it will build our brand, expand our platform, and make an impact. But we don't just "show up" and deliver a message. We prepare. Prep time and showing up result in less time with yourself, loved ones, and other projects. Time will always be one of your most treasured assets. Identify those that were worth your time and adjust where needed for the future. Then thank yourself in advance.

As a speaker, it's easy to let work take over. Learn to set firm boundaries - block off "off" hours, silence devices, and be fully present with loved ones. Have an accountability partner remind you when work encroaches too much. Your personal life fuels your work, so protect it.

If what you are doing is taking over your life, it is time to do some radical honesty about WHY you have allowed your professional life to take over the balance of your life. This means asking really good questions. What are you running from? Why are you denying yourself balance? What is out of balance in your personal life that are you finding more rewarding in your career? When you are radically honest with yourself you can then create boundaries and restructure your commitments. Listen to your heart.

If the career of a Motivational Speaker is taking on your life then it shows that you are not a great Motivational Speaker and you are ready to ruin other's life too. Before giving lectures to people, a Motivational Speaker needs to sort out his/her life and have a clear approach towards life.

The relentless schedule can quickly deplete your health. Prioritize exercise, sleep, and nutrition. Move regularly, aim for 7-8 hours of sleep, and fuel your body well. Your physical and mental well-being allow you to show up energized and passionate for audiences.

Prioritizing health in work life is essential for motivational speakers to maintain peak performance and sustain long-term success. This involves integrating healthy habits into daily routines, such as regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and sufficient rest. Additionally, managing stress through mindfulness, relaxation techniques, and seeking support from peers or mentors is crucial. Setting boundaries to balance work commitments with personal time is also important to prevent burnout and maintain overall well-being.

Be really clear about your end-goal. Analyse what you want from your speaking career - what you are willing to sacrifice or compromise on (if anything!), and what is non-negotiable for you. Once you have set these boundaries for yourself, you'll have more perspective about how your speaking career - and your life in general will look. Reverse engineer things from there and you'll be able to shape the speaking career that genuinely fits your life, your goals and aspirations. Revisit your vision often - observe what is working and what needs to be tweaked. Lives change and it is perfectly OK to adjust as you go along. Be kind to yourself - above all. Hope this helps, with love, Jayney

If your job is to be a motivational speaker, there are a lot of other "jobs" that fall into that category, especially if you are a solo-preneur. There are social media tasks, financial responsibilities, marketing, outreach, etc. When you run your own business like this, the work will never stop - so outside of putting boundaries around your work and your personal life, delegating out tasks that you might not be the best at or might not enjoy, then delegate them out! Find a contractor through Upwork, or a VA to help with the ever day tasks that can consume you.

Effectively unplugging from work life is crucial for maintaining health and well-being, especially for motivational speakers facing demanding schedules. To prioritize self-care, speakers can establish clear boundaries, create daily rituals, and schedule regular breaks. Designating tech-free zones, setting aside "me" time, and practicing mindfulness aid in relaxation and mental clarity. Disconnecting digitally before bedtime promotes better sleep. Reflecting regularly and adjusting habits as needed ensure that unplugging becomes a sustainable part of a balanced lifestyle. By prioritizing self-care, motivational speakers can maintain health, enhance performance.

Don't neglect loved ones - they're your support system. Carve out quality time, be present, and nurture connections with family, friends, colleagues. Draw strength from their love and wisdom. Investing in relationships brings greater fulfillment and balance.

A person who is a professional motivational speaker and is unable to balance out with his personal life is no more a motivational speaker. Time management and discipline is the first virtue of a motivational speaker.

Motivational Speaking that help other succeed is my life. I do manage well my life, my family. Being organized is crucial, things do get done.