Joel Libava
Your work-life balance as a franchise owner can be exciting and rewarding.
But it also comes with its fair share of challenges. Ups and downs.
In my experience as a Franchise Ownership Advisor, one of the most common difficulties faced by franchisees today is finding a good balance between their work life and personal life…and the demands of their business.
In this blog post, I’ll share 10 tips you can use to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance as a franchise owner. And get some more personal time.
1. Take Breaks From Social Media
I know from experience how important it is to put my Google Pixel Pro in a drawer for a day (or two) for some peace.
I’m talking about peace from the constant 24/7 barrage of news, information, conspiracy theories and just plain garbage that all the major social media platforms and news sites bombard us with. Question is do I do it enough?
No.
But you should.
Because when I have done it, it gives my brain a rest. And I highly recommend it.
And it could help your business. How?
By bringing you fresh perspectives on how you can make your business thrive.
Because brain rest tends to do just that.
Finally, if you would like to do it with a group of other like-minded people, you can participate in “Screen-Free Week.”
But even if you don’t, clicking that link will provide you with a list of other benefits taking a break from social media and your SmartPhone offers.
2. Your Work-Life Balance: Using Technology To Your Advantage
Today’s incredible technology offers us numerous tools to make our lives easier.
From project management apps to communication tools like Slack, these resources can help you streamline your operations and save you precious time. But let’s not forget banking.
As a franchise owner, if you’re not already setup to do your business banking online, you need to put it on the top of your work-life balance list. Why?
Because it saves you from having to make numerous physical trips to the bank. And that can give you more personal time to do other things that may or may not be work-related.
That said, you need to ensure you’re not always “on call” – remember the importance of setting boundaries. Because technology doesn’t.
3. You Must Set Clear Boundaries
Setting boundaries is a critical step in maintaining a work-life balance.
That means you need to make a clear distinction between your work hours and your personal time.
This can be as simple as personally setting specific hours during which you focus solely on your franchise business and then making a commitment to not check your business emails or calls during your personal time. Easy, right?
Not.
When you’re a franchise owner, especially one who’s focused on providing top-shelf customer/client service, it can be difficult to do. Why?
Because in your mind, no one cares about your customers/clients more than you. More than the person who’s invested time and money into a franchise.
The key here is having employees in place who you can trust. Employees who care about your business. Do that, and you can begin letting go of some of your control you want to have. Or can you?
4. Work-Life Balance: Delegate and Trust Your Team
Speaking of letting go, as a franchise owner, you might feel compelled to handle every aspect of your business. And at the beginning you should.
But once you get your franchise up and running, you need to remember you’re not alone. And this is where franchise owners can sometimes run into trouble.
To that end, unless you own a one-person franchise business, you have a team you can delegate tasks to. Doing this not only reduces your workload but also helps your team members feel more engaged and valuable. And it frees up some of your valuable personal time.
In addition, you need to remember that you’re part of a franchise network.
This network of like-minded people can be called upon for suggestions, ideas and more. As can the team at franchise headquarters.
So use them! You aren’t alone.
5. Prioritize Your Time
Personal and professional time management is crucial. Especially when it comes to balancing your work and personal life.
That means you need to understand which tasks are most important and need your immediate attention. Prioritizing these tasks can help you manage your time more efficiently. Additionally, planning your day or week ahead can give you a clear idea of what needs to be done and when.
Note: my friend, Barry, once told me that “You can plan plans, but you can’t plan results.” Keep that in mind as you “plan” things that need to get done.
6. You Need To Take Care Of Your Health
As a franchise owner, balancing your business life and personal life must involve taking care of your physical and mental health.
Specifically, you need to put together a plan that includes regular exercise, a healthy diet, and getting adequate sleep. Things that are typically challenging to do when you own a small business.
Here’s why do you need a good amount of sleep.
Remember, a healthy body fosters a healthy mind, and a healthy mind leads to more productive work hours. Which can lead to more time to not work and enjoy other things in life.
7. The Importance of Carving Out Personal Time For Your Work-Life Balance
The importance of engaging in non-business activities can’t be understated.
According to UC Merced Assistant Professor/Health Psychologist, Matthew Zawadzki:
“When people engage in leisure activity, they have lower stress levels, better moods, lower heart rates and more psychological engagement — that means less boredom, which can help avoid unhealthy behaviors,” Zawadzki said. “But it’s important to immerse themselves in the activity and protect their leisure time from external stressors.”
That means turning off work emails and not answering work calls. Yes. I’m talking to you!
I know. Easier said than done.
But it’s important to do, because life’s short. So take some personal time.
8. You Need To Ask For Support
If (when) things get tough, don’t hesitate to ask for help. For support.
This could be in the form of a mentor or a fellow franchisee. Or franchise headquarters.
Remember the people you met at headquarters when you first visited?
Good. Call them. Share whatever challenges you’re having.
Because if you chose a good franchisor, they want to see you succeed.
finally, you can always seek help from healthcare professionals, such as therapists or counselors, to manage stress.
9. Maintain Work-Life Integration
Achieving as good work-life balance doesn’t necessarily mean an equal division of time between your business and personal life.
Instead, aim for work-life integration where both aspects of your life are compatible. Sometimes, personal commitments might take precedence, other times, the needs of your franchise business may demand more of your attention. Flexibility is key here. Remember to lean towards more personal time.
10. Remember WHY You Became A Franchise Owner
Amid the hustle and bustle of business, don’t lose sight of why you purchased your franchise in the first place.
Whether it was to finally be your own boss, build wealth, and/or bring value to your community, keeping your “why” in mind can be helpful. Especially when business and life doesn’t feel separate.
Look, as a franchise owner, it often feels like you’re juggling too many balls at once.
But with the right balancing strategies in place, you can maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Remember, the goal isn’t to work hard at the expense of your personal life.
Instead, it’s to work hard but work smart.
That means making a commitment to separate your franchise business obligations with your personal time obligations.
I know you can do it.
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