What do you do if your personal and professional lives are colliding as an entrepreneur?

Establishing boundaries is an act of self-respect. A CLEAR declaration of how you value your time and energy to others and YOURSELF. One thing I suggest to coaching clients who struggle with this is first befriending your calendar by time-blocking. Allocate specific hours for non-negotiable work time and life happenings. Then, communicate this to your team, clients, and family by being clear and keeping it simple: “I’m working on giving my best during work and personal time, so these are designated hours I have for focused work. Thanks for helping me respecting my time so I can show up better during work and outside of it.”

As much as we talk nowadays not about work-life balance but work-life integration, this does not mean at all that we need to merge our professional and private lives. Rather it is about setting clear boundaries and not expecting that it is always 50-50% and perfect. I advice clients both organisations/teams as well as individuals on their wellbeing and self-care approaches. Setting boundaries is sometimes underrated in this setting. However, it is the basic for self-leadership. If we want to be in charge and lead others, we need to be in charge of our own lives. And this is strongly about boundaries. E.g. with my partner we have an agreement not looking at our phones between 7-8pm when we have dinner and prepping our son to sleep.

In the thrilling adventure of entrepreneurship, where your living room often doubles as the boardroom, setting boundaries is not just wise, it's essential, like deciding that after 7 PM, your smartphone transforms from a business tool into a mysterious artifact that can only be used for family selfies or ordering pizza. Let your team and family know your secret times off the work grid. Stick to this as you would to the last slice of pizza on game night, ensuring you're 100% there, whether sealing a deal or passing the salt. This isn't just about balance; it's about mastering the art of being present wherever you are.

The way I approach this is to remember that my boundaries need to suit me: my capacities and proclivities. Personally, thrive when I can focus on one thing at a time. It's okay for me to have multiple buckets to work on, but I personally do not do well in a situation when more than one bucket is open at the same time. I do three things: 1. I set my weekly priorities and daily priorities and do them one by one. 2. I create a "bucket" for self care, and ensure I include that in my priorities. 3. I create space for the one thing I want to focus on, so I can do it well, by switching off the others for thay duration. Work is endless, my capacity is not. If I can't be gentle with my limits, I risk burning out!

Establish clear boundaries between your personal and professional lives to maintain balance and prevent burnout. Define specific times and spaces for work-related activities, and commit to unplugging and disconnecting during personal time. Communicate these boundaries with your team, clients, and loved ones to ensure mutual respect and understanding.

Time blocking is a way to manage your time where you schedule (or block off) every part of your day. To be effective, it has to be every part. Now, at first glance, you may feel this can be overwhelming as you can't possibly know every aspect of your day. It is relatively straightforward but, when done consistently, will unlock a world of time you can reclaim so you can focus our your most goals and vision. "A 40 hour time-blocked work week I estimate, produces the same amount of output as a 60+ hour work week pursued without structure." -Cal Newport

There are only so many hours in a day/week. It's important to evaluate where your time is most valuable and effective, and then focus on those activities as much as possible. Automation, Systems, Delegating, and Outsourcing are all great tools to help us do more in less time. Start with documenting tasks and processes to help create and improve systems while creating consistency. These operating processes will help you more easily delegate or outsource and notice where automation can be used. Any time you repeat a process or task, it's a sign that something could be either automated or delegated/outsourced.

Even the most intrepid entrepreneurs can't solo their way through the jungle of business and personal life without a bit of help. Think of it as assembling your Avengers team - a business coach to strategize your next big move, a friend to call when the going gets tough, and maybe even a mentor to remind you why you started this journey. These allies offer new viewpoints, helping you dodge pitfalls and overcome obstacles. Remember, reaching out isn't a cry of defeat; it's like calling in the cavalry. After all, even superheroes work better as a team.

Reach out to mentors, peers, or professional networks for guidance and support in navigating the challenges of balancing personal and professional responsibilities. Surround yourself with a supportive community that understands the unique demands of entrepreneurship and can offer advice, encouragement, and perspective when needed.

Self-care yes, but let’s not forget community care. And that’s not just “asking for help” when things are getting though either! To me, it means cultivating healthy relationships that ground and nourish me on a continuous basis. It’s preventative, as well as essential when burn-out or other challenges arise. We need people to lean on, and as studies show get so much life satisfaction from strong reciprocal relationships ????

In our fast-paced world, it's easy to forget the importance of taking care of ourselves. We often put the needs of others before our own, and while that's admirable, it's not sustainable in the long run. self-care is crucial to our ability to show up as our best selves - for our team, our families, and ourselves. When we take time for ourselves, we're able to recharge and come back refreshed and ready to face whatever comes our way.

Make self-care a top priority to sustain your well-being and performance as an entrepreneur. Prioritize activities that promote physical, mental, and emotional health, such as exercise, meditation, hobbies, and spending time with loved ones. Recognize that investing in self-care is essential for maintaining resilience and productivity in both your personal and professional life.

Self-care needs to include deep play. You need an activity that engages both your body and mind. Your deep play recreational activity will use the same skills you apply in your work. You will experience accelerated rewards in your deep play activity. It will clear and refresh your mind. It will help you to be more present in personal relationships. And, it will help you be more creative in your professional pursuits.

Self care (IMO) encompasses many of the other elements listed here - time management, seeking support and setting boundaries. For many of us, entrepreneurship appeals because it gives us so much more control and flexibility (maybe we lost ourselves in a corporate role - the realisation of which led us to go out on our own). Setting all of your non-negotiables out as soon as you can, will make a big difference, for example: Laptop never leaves the office (no sofa work) Switch off at five Step outside daily for 30mins Respect your worth - limit your pro bono work and be brave enough to choose who you want to work with (and who you don’t) Some little things, some big but all designed to keep your head uncluttered and happy.

Flexibility is the secret sauce for entrepreneurs juggling the circus of personal and professional lives. Imagine your daily schedule as a jigsaw puzzle, where pieces constantly change shape. Some days, your family piece might demand more space; on others, your business piece insists on being the center of attention. Instead of fighting the fluidity, dance with it. Adjust your steps, pivot when needed, and remember that keeping the rhythm between work and play is the real victory. This way, you ensure that neither your startup dreams nor your personal life miss out on the spotlight. Embrace the ebb and flow; it's what keeps the adventure thrilling!

Embrace flexibility and adaptability in managing your personal and professional obligations, recognizing that unexpected challenges and opportunities may arise at any time. Be willing to adjust your plans and priorities as needed to accommodate changing circumstances, without sacrificing your overall well-being or long-term goals.

"Flexibility" for me is a combination "agility", "flow", "discernment", and "clarity"... and it applies to every layer of the work. As an entrepreneur, it has been important for me to get clear on the purpose of the work I do, and hold that very tightly. But to be open to change in HOW this purpose is accomplished. It also means being open to all kinds of people, ideas, collaborations, and learning, as well as leadership styles and business formats.

Consider how you want your life to FEEL. In an excellent Netflix documentary,' How to Get Rich,' Ramit Sethi asks all those seeking financial advice what they want their life to look like that would give them pleasure. For one person, it was to be able to participate in a hobby; for another, it was to retire his mom. For some people, they value their time. When our personal and professional lives collide, it's because we are chasing one or the other for success instead of positioning ourselves in a way where we know what we want our lives to feel like; therefore, we only focus on those activities, actions, and relationships that are consistent with our goal.

Consider implementing time management techniques, such as prioritization and delegation, to maximize productivity and minimize stress. Explore tools and resources designed to streamline workflows and automate routine tasks, freeing up time for more meaningful activities. And remember to periodically reassess your priorities and goals, making adjustments as necessary to ensure alignment with your values and aspirations. By setting boundaries, seeking support, prioritizing self-care, embracing flexibility, and considering additional strategies, you can effectively manage the intersection of your personal and professional lives as an entrepreneur, achieving success and fulfillment in both domains.

As you navigate the conflict between your personal and professional lives, consider the common ground where your values and interests intersect. Reflect on your core beliefs and aspirations, recognizing that true fulfillment lies in aligning your personal and professional pursuits with your authentic self. Embrace the journey of self-discovery with curiosity and openness, knowing that the integration of your personal and professional lives is not a destination but a continual process of growth and evolution. Explore "Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action" by Simon Sinek to uncover the power of purpose-driven entrepreneurship and lead with clarity and conviction.