It wouldn't be surprising to learn that many entrepreneurs have never heard about the concept of work-life balance. Many who do know about the idea of balancing work and the rest of life probably look at it as an unattainable goal. There are so many things to do when you own your own business, that sometimes you feel lucky just to have time to sleep. 

But work-life balance is important, especially for entrepreneurs. All work and no play doesn't just make Jack a dull boy, it can make any business owner stressed, exhausted, and eventually, burnt out or sick, or both. It's all too easy to ignore your own needs or the needs of your family so that you can make your business work, but it isn't the wisest course of action to do so.

How to Find Work-Life Balance

--Set boundaries. Working all the time isn't healthy. For entrepreneurs or anyone with a never-ending to-do list, deciding which hours will be devoted to work and which will not can free you up to spend time with family or do something just for fun once in a while. Building in self-care routines like exercising or attending a support group as well as scheduling time with family or a monthly date night will give you a much-needed break from a constant work schedule and leave you feeling more refreshed when you do go to work.

--Delegate. Many entrepreneurs feel like they have to do it all - for small businesses, they may indeed be a one-man or one-woman operation. But there's only so much time in a day, and many tasks involved in running a business continue beyond the actual business activity. Delegating the tasks you feel less qualified to do, such as maintain computer equipment, payroll and accounting, or human resources record-keeping to an outside firm or other third party can relieve the constant burden many entrepreneurs feel about every task being on their shoulders.

--Hire more help. For simple tasks like waiting on customers, data entry, or cleaning the office/store, hiring part time help can be the step business owners need to free up their time for more essential tasks. Although costs may rise initially, hiring help often leads to growth of the business as the owner finds more time to innovate, streamline and market the business.

--Automate tasks. There is a software program or piece of equipment to automate nearly any business task. Figure out which tasks don't feed your fire and figure out how to automate them to save time, and often, money, while you focus your attention on the tasks you enjoy or that you feel need a personal touch.

Finding work-life balance is never easy, and it often takes an investment of time and resources to achieve a balance that benefits both the business and its owner. When budgets and time are both stretched thin, turning to a merchant cash advance may give owners the breathing room they need. With merchant cash, owners can purchase automation equipment or hire additional help even if their cash flow doesn't initially allow these moves. With time freed up to market and grow the business, it will soon be in better financial condition than ever before. 

Quikstone Capital Solutions provides merchant cash advances to qualified businesses in as little as a few days.