As an entrepreneur, I am completely guilty of having an unhealthy work/life balance from time to time. If you’re a small business owner like me, you understand how this happens: deadlines are looming, your inbox is overflowing, and there aren’t enough hours in the day to complete your to-do list. Working longer than usual isn’t inherently bad, but doing so on a daily basis isn’t sustainable (or healthy, for that matter).

According to the OECD Better Life Index, the United States ranks pretty low for work/life balance on a global scale (Italy is ranked the highest, so this may be your sign to start working from a vineyard in the Italian countryside). The OECD also reports “evidence suggests that long work hours may impair personal health, jeopardize safety and increase stress.”

I’ve been a victim of this myself, and I think there’s a better way to do things— especially as a small business owner. Here are a few things I do to maintain a healthy work/life balance, avoid burnout, and still drive my business forward each day.

1. Create A Designated Work Area

This tip is specifically for my work from home entrepreneur friends. Depending on your housing situation, I know this isn’t possible for everyone— however, if you do have the space, it’s important to have a designated work area in your home. The area could be a home office, a desk set up somewhere, or even your kitchen table. We don’t have the same luxury to “leave work at work,” as they say, but having a designated work area gives you physical boundaries within your home. Once your office door is shut or you’ve stepped away from your desk, it’s easier to stop working when it’s time to quit for the day.

2. Delegate Tasks Where You Can

This one may be a tough pill to swallow, but you can’t do it all (and you shouldn’t have to). Figure out what tasks are eating up your time and decide if those items can be completed by someone else (ex: administrative work). Focus your time on the things only you can do, and hire out the rest.

If you need help growing your team, I have some tips for you here!

3. Take Vacations

You need rest and relaxation to drive your business forward— it’s non-negotiable. I’m not saying you need to book a two-week-long vacation in the Bahamas (unless that’s your thing, then sure) every single year. Taking time off for a long weekend getaway, exploring your own city, or visiting friends and family works just as well.

4. Be Intentional With Your Schedule

Listen: if you don’t set boundaries, you’ll never have balance. Boundaries don’t magically appear unless you intentionally set them for yourself. Set calendar reminders to take 20-minute breaks throughout your day, create time blocks for your personal life (where work cannot spillover), and be intentional with how you structure your day. There’s no shame in having a set schedule or plan; it can keep you on track and give you permission to stop working during non-working times.

Let me end with this quote from Keap. I thought it accurately summed up the pursuit of work/life balance as an entrepreneur: “Whether you’re a solopreneur or employ 25 workers, the pull of business demands is ever-present. To be successful in both arenas doesn’t mean you have equal hours at home and in the office, it means you have found a rhythm that fulfills both sides.”

If you have some Marketing items, you need to take off your plate to help you restore your work/life balance, drop me a note— helping small business owners like yourself is exactly why I love what I do.