As a handmade business owner, it can be challenging to find a good work-life balance. You’re passionate about your business and want to put in the effort to make it successful, but it’s also important to take care of yourself and your personal life. Afterall there’s no business without you!
While it’s not always the case, when we are employed by other people or other businesses, limits are set for how we work. That might include the number of hours a day, the location, or even the type of work you do; this is usually predetermined before you even start. But when we work for ourselves, these can get blurred. It means we have to set our own boundaries.
Here are some tips for finding a good work-life balance:
- Set clear boundaries: It’s important to set clear boundaries between your work and personal life. This can mean setting specific work hours or designating certain days as “off” days. It might also mean thinking about where you do your crochet. Lots of crochet business owners work from home; and if you’re like me, then your bedroom is your office! Once I decided to turn my hobby into a business, I bought large plastic containers. One of these became my on-the-go-box! At the end of every day I pack away all of my hooks, current projects, notebooks, everything goes in this box. That way my space is clear and is my bedroom again. To me this felt similar to the process of tidying up my desk at work. There’s something in the process of putting my crochet away that marks the end of the work day. I don’t do this all the time, and when I don’t, I can feel the pressure creeping in… ” just make one more ear warmer or one more hat!” So it’s important to not only set boundaries but to stick to these boundaries as much as possible. This will prevent burnout and give you time to recharge.
- Prioritize self-care: Taking care of yourself is crucial to maintaining a good work-life balance. Make time for activities that you enjoy, such as exercising, reading, or spending time with friends and family. Carving out this time somehow feel easier when you work for other people (especially if you work for a large company!), but when you work for yourself, it is definitely harder to justify! Prioritizing self-care can help you feel refreshed and more productive when you return to your work.
Stick to these boundaries as much as possible to prevent burnout and give yourself time to recharge.
- Delegate tasks when possible: Some folks are lucky enough to have employees or helpers, if you do, delegate tasks when possible to lighten your workload. This can also mean outsourcing tasks such as bookkeeping or marketing to free up more of your time. If that’s unrealistic for you (as it is for me!) then think about other tasks that you are juggling alongside your business, such as housework, caring responsibilities, shopping, is there a way to lighten the load with the support of others? Is it worth while to check in on everyone’s schedule to see if anything needs to be changed.
- Know when to say no: It’s important to know when to say no to new opportunities or projects. While it can be tempting to take on every opportunity that comes your way, saying no can help you avoid overcommitting and maintain a healthy work-life balance. This also applies to trying to do all the things, all at once! Just because you can make that hexagon granny square cardigan doesn’t mean you should. (I may have been looking int he mirror when writing that last part!)
- Use technology to your advantage: Make technology work for you! Use calendar apps or task trackers to help you organize your business plans. List all the tasks you need to get done. This can be over a day, a week, a month or if you’re really organized, a year!! I would not be able to remember my own name if it wasn’t for Google Tasks. Every time I think of something else I need to do I just pop it on the list. Once it’s on the list, look to your calendar and plan out when you can realistically get it all done. Be generous to yourself when you’re allocating for the tasks. You’ll rarely annoyed that something took less time than you expected. Setting realistic goals can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed and stressed. Be sure that when you are planning your business activities that you are also making sure to be checking on those other things we’ve mentioned, family, friends, hobbies, and rest. Break larger goals down into smaller, achievable steps and celebrate your progress along the way.
In conclusion, finding a good work-life balance as a handmade business owner is essential to maintaining your well-being and running a successful business. By setting clear boundaries, prioritizing self-care, delegating tasks when possible, using productivity tools, knowing when to say no, and setting realistic goals, you can find the balance that works best for you and your business. Remember, taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of your business.
Jack's Yarn Crochet Designs 