Finding time for self vital

THE growing pressure of being able to be contacted at all hours of the day and night is creating unhealthy lifestyles for Cairns business owners.

The Nourish Your Soul Movement owner Tegan Rein said scheduling in holidays was a must as a survey from CGU Insurance revealed almost half of small to medium business owners across the country were sacrificing leisure time and more than a third missed out on social events.

Ms Rein said the key to longevity was to understand life and work was a “marathon not a sprint”.

“We need to find a way to give ourselves as much time as possible, scheduling in holidays where we can,” she said.

“We only bring into our lives what a priority is, so if we think it’s always going to be busy, it will. Business owners aren’t going to sustain that for a long time and that leads to health problems and why so many businesses shut down.

“At home it is important to have discipline around when you’re logging on to social media and emails.”

CGU Insurance small business spokeswoman Kate Wellard said happiness, and that of your family, “shouldn’t have to take a back seat to your business”.

The CGU research also revealed that many small business owners struggled to get the help they needed with 20 per cent saying that attracting talent and accessing skilled workers was a key challenge.

“Running a small business often means doing everything yourself, but this often isn’t conducive to a healthy business or a happy personal life,” Ms Wellard said.

“However, one of the best things about running your own business is that you are in the driver’s seat. You can make changes that will make a difference. Our advice to small business owners searching for that elusive work-life balance is to look for ways to work smarter, not harder.

“Making sure you have the right support, both in terms of staff and professional advice when you need it, can also make a huge difference.

“It can also free up more time for spending with family and friends or doing what you love.

“Our research also highlights the importance of networking with 56 per cent of small business owners saying this is the main business support resource they lean on.

“Although it may seem counter-productive when you’re already busy, finding time to network can lead to new opportunities, new solutions, or even new staff members that can help ease your workload.”

RUNNING A SMALL BUSINESS OFTEN MEANS DOING EVERYTHING YOURSELF, BUT THIS OFTEN ISN’T CONDUCIVE TO A HEALTHY BUSINESS OR A HAPPY PERSONAL LIFE.

KATE WELLARD, CGU INSURANCE