Written by: Maleeka T. Hollaway
For those of us who have been in business for less than ten years, figuring out how to keep a grip on who you are as a person and who you are as a business professional is a daunting task. When you get a moment to relax and unwind, your mind tends to drift towards your next best move in business. And when you are engulfed in getting our daily "to-do" lists completed in business, you long for a moment of blissful relaxation. That's how we do, right?
Because I once found myself playing this balancing act between roles, I have discovered a small list of tips I used to keep my playing field leveled.
1. Delegate where you can.
It may seem tough to relinquish control of your business into someone else's hands, but every now and then, you have to learn to let go. The key to longevity in business is duplicating yourself so when it is time for you to step away, you can do so without worry because you've left your business in knowledgeable hands. Think of ways you can appoint small tasks to an intern or part-time assistant. Trust me, this small step will take you a long way.
2. Be present in the moment.
This one is huge but simple. FOCUS! When you're at work, be at work. Avoid handling personal matters while your attention should be focused on producing a profitable business and vice versa. When you're "off" and handling your personal affairs, try not to tackle your business to-do list. Avoid multitasking between business and personal. Multitasking makes you good at many things and great a very little. The goal is to be great in all areas of your life. Allow your mind and body the satisfaction of enjoying the day as it comes. This will help you appreciate your journey even more.
3. When you create your schedule, plan time just for you.
Don't make this one harder than it is. When you sit down to map out your week, make sure you set, at least, an hour a day to do something you enjoy doing. Yes, we all like making money, but this activity you choose to do cannot be something you do for pay. It needs to be something you can do "just because." Go bowling. Get a massage. Instead of reading a personal development book, read a fantasy novel. When you plan your hour, stick to it! Treat your personal hour like you would treat an appointment with a client. Would you cancel on a client for any random reason? If not, why cancel on yourself?
4. Focus on what's urgent, not important.
The problem with most of us is that we fail to prioritize. We have a hard time sticking to the "script" because everything magically becomes a big deal. Let's be clear, in business, it's important to have a schedule. In our personal lives, it's important to have structure. When you make out your to-do lists, life or death situations (literally and figuratively) come first; for example, doctor appointments and bill pay. These things are urgent as they are necessary.Next comes the things that need to be done, but don't have to be rushed; for example, meeting for a leisure lunch, organizing client files, or doing absolutely nothing. These are the things you can go without or delegate so you can get urgent tasks cleared.
At the end of the day, as people and as professionals, we only desire the best for ourselves. We must remember that being the best in multiple arenas is possible if we plan and prepare for it. If balance is what you seek, start implementing these steps one at a time until you have solidified your own balancing routine. As small business owners and entrepreneurs, we all have times we must "do all" and "be all" so let's focus on ways to make "who we be" easier and better.
See you on the playing field.
(Photo Cred: Hannah Griggs of HG Photography)
Maleeka Taliha Hollaway, a native of Atlanta, GA, is the founder and CEO of The OfficialMaleeka Group, LLC, a boutique-styled social branding hub specializing in life coaching, business consulting, writing services and public relations. Maleeka is an Internationally Certified Life Success Coach, a candid public speaker, business & branding strategist (Internationally Certified Business Success Coach) and Best-Selling author (co-Authoring "20 Beautiful Women: Volume 2"). She is devoted to mentoring and coaching people of all ages and genders in discovering how to live the life they desire, as she is blossoming into one of the most inspirational and influential millennial voices of this generation.
Maleeka holds a Bachelor's of Arts in English from Alabama A & M University and is currently studying for a Master's of Science in Communications Specialist. Maleeka's International certifications are through The Coach Training Academy and affiliated with the Certified Coaches Alliance (CCA).
Connect with Maleeka on www.officialmaleeka.com Or @OfficialMaleeka on Twitter. FB, IG, Periscope & Blab.