Achieving work-life balance is a challenge many entrepreneurs face. We asked industry experts to share the advice they’d give to entrepreneurs struggling with work-life balance and what tactics they’ve found helpful in managing their time and energy. Here are their tips for aligning your professional goals with your personal well-being.
- Honor Your Natural Rhythms
- Define Success Daily
- Set Clear Boundaries
- Establish a Shutdown Routine
- Leave Work at Work
- Delegate Effectively
- Automate Repetitive Tasks
- Use the Power of No
- Focus on Quality Time
- Align Tasks with Energy Levels
- Schedule Key Activities
- Shift Your Energy and Focus
- Balance Three Key Life Rings
- Live Your Highest Values
- Create a Vision Board
- Shut It Down When Needed
How to Find Work-Life Balance as An Entrepreneur
Honor Your Natural Rhythms
Work-life balance isn’t about perfectly dividing time between work and personal life—it’s about aligning your energy with what truly matters and integrating your activities. My biggest piece of advice? Honor your natural rhythms. Just like nature moves through seasons, so do we. There will be seasons of intense focus and growth, and seasons where rest and introspection are essential. Fighting against this leads to burnout; embracing it leads to sustainable success.
One tactic I’ve found helpful is building intentional pauses into my schedule—whether it’s stepping away for a walk, practicing deep reflection before making big decisions, or setting non-negotiable time for personal renewal. These pauses aren’t time wasted; they’re fuel for clarity, creativity, and better leadership. Entrepreneurs don’t just need discipline—they need discernment about where their energy is best spent. The real magic happens when you stop chasing balance and start creating harmony between your ambition and well-being.
Jenn Toro
Founder & CEO, Spark & Sage
Define Success Daily
Speaking from personal experience as a small business owner, and having coached many entrepreneurs over the past 15+ years, I would offer that what an entrepreneur is really seeking is an integration between work and life, not actually balance. Very rarely will a day be a “perfect” blend of the many roles an entrepreneur fills. It will always be a bit of a juggling act! A daily discipline I find most helpful is to define success or productivity prior to starting my work day, so I know exactly what my target is for the day. The to-do list will never end, but you can feel accomplished each day if you define your success proactively, then give yourself permission to call it a day once those priorities have been addressed.
Elisabeth Galperin
Executive Coach | Business Productivity Consultant, Peak Productivity
Set Clear Boundaries
I prefer the term “work-life harmony” to “work-life balance,” but the best advice I can give is to be clear about your boundaries and be willing to enforce them.
Here are just a few ways I do this as an entrepreneur:
- I use OoO replies on the weekends so that folks know not to expect an answer from me until I’m back in work mode.
- I turn off most notifications, email and Slack included, so they don’t intrude upon my personal time.
- I pick a “stopping time.” It doesn’t have to be the same time every day, but I’ve found that deciding, in advance, what time I’ll stop working on any given day allows me to fully apply the principle of Parkinson’s Law, which states that work expands to fill the time allotted. Picking a stopping time ensures that a) my work doesn’t bleed into all aspects of my life and b) that I’m more productive because I’ve given myself a defined period of time to get things done.
- I give myself an ample buffer when committing to deadlines or deliverables so that I’m not tempted to overwork to get things done.
No one will set boundaries for you, but most people will respect them once you communicate them, including yourself!
Alexis Haselberger
Time Management and Productivity Coach, Alexis Haselberger Coaching and Consulting, Inc
Establish a Shutdown Routine
The freedom to set your own schedule is a double-edged sword—it can lead to productivity, but it can also blur the lines between work and personal life.
If you’re struggling with work-life integration, the best piece of advice I can give is to set clear, non-negotiable boundaries. Define your work hours just as if you were in a traditional office setting. When work is always accessible, it’s easy to keep pushing yourself beyond healthy limits, which leads to burnout. Be intentional about when you work and when you rest.
Instead of simply listing tasks for the day, assign specific time slots for deep work, meetings, and breaks. I treat these blocks as appointments that cannot be moved. This ensures that my energy is managed effectively throughout the day, rather than letting tasks expand indefinitely.
At the same time, flexibility is important too. If it takes just 5 more minutes to finish a task, you can take your lunch 5 minutes later.
Working from bed or the couch makes it harder to mentally “leave” work when the day is done. Set up a specific area in your home that is strictly for work. When you step away from that space, your workday is over.
Another key strategy is to establish a clear shutdown routine. This could be as simple as closing your laptop, writing tomorrow’s top priorities, or even going for a short walk. This signals to your brain that the workday is done, making it easier to transition into personal time.
Lastly, communication is vital. If you’re an entrepreneur or remote worker, your colleagues, clients, or even family members need to understand your boundaries. Let them know your working hours and be firm about when you’re unavailable.
Ultimately, balance isn’t about doing everything perfectly every day—it’s about consistently making choices that protect your well-being and long-term success.
Mira Eszter Kőmíves
CEO, Multilingual Virtual Miracles
Leave Work at Work
My advice is to leave work AT WORK. It’s tempting to stay connected to the office 24/7, especially when notifications keep coming in and the entire world feels urgent. However, establishing boundaries is ESSENTIAL. Stop checking work emails after hours or set a specific “no work” time in the evening to unwind. Set up a separate workstation and literally step away when work is done, even if it’s a corner of your home at a desk. That mental shift of “clocking out” might help you recharge.
For example, one entrepreneur I spoke with made a personal rule to stop responding to emails after 6 PM and noticed a big difference within weeks. They used that time to have dinner with their family, read a book, or tackle a hobby. Not only did this help them feel more present at home, but their productivity during work hours actually improved. When you give yourself permission to truly unplug, you’ll notice more energy and focus in both your personal and professional life. Balance takes practice, but the payoff is worth it.
Matt Bowman
Founder, Thrive Local
Delegate Effectively
One piece of advice I would give to entrepreneurs struggling with work-life balance is to delegate effectively and trust your team. As a hands-on leader in the waste management industry, it’s easy to get pulled into every aspect of the business, but sustainable growth requires empowering others to take ownership of key responsibilities.
I’ve found that implementing a structured priority system—such as the 80/20 rule (Pareto Principle)—helps me focus my energy where it has the greatest impact.
- Identify the 20% of tasks that drive 80% of business success.
- Delegate operational details to trusted managers and supervisors while staying engaged in high-level strategy, acquisitions, and municipal partnerships.
- Block out non-negotiable personal time (such as early mornings or weekends) to reset and maintain perspective.
By strategically prioritizing and trusting my leadership team, I’ve been able to scale my business while maintaining the energy to drive innovation and long-term sustainability goals—without burning out.
John Gustafson
Founder, President & CEO, Frontier Waste Solutions
Automate Repetitive Tasks
One piece of advice I’d give to entrepreneurs struggling with work-life balance is to automate wherever you can. This was a game-changer for me. I used to think being “hands-on” with every task was a badge of honor. In reality, it was a fast track to burnout. There just aren’t enough hours in the day to do everything manually and trying to do so left me exhausted and unfocused.
For instance, I started using automation tools to handle repetitive tasks like scheduling social media posts and responding to common customer inquiries. A tool like Zapier connects apps and automates workflows in ways I never thought of before.
Instead of spending hours juggling these tasks I suddenly had blocks of time to focus on more strategic work—or just take a break. It felt like I was lifting a weight off my shoulders.
What I was most surprised by was how automation didn’t just save me time—it reduced mental clutter. I didn’t realize how much energy I was spending trying to remember small details or jumping between tasks until that burden was lifted. It allowed me to focus more on the big-picture ideas that drive the business forward.
For entrepreneurs who are hesitant to let go of control, I’d say start small. Automate one or two processes that are easy to track and see how it feels. It’s not about delegating your vision—it’s about creating space so you can execute that vision better.
In the end, it’s not about balance as an entrepreneur—it’s about building systems to thrive, and automation is my go-to tool for that.
Soubhik Chakrabarti
CEO, Canada Hustle
Use the Power of No
As a busy entrepreneur struggling with balancing work and life due to overwhelming responsibilities and multitasking, I have learned to use the power of “no.” This simple two-letter word is important in setting your boundaries to tasks and commitments that do not align with your core values.
It has taken me years to learn this as I have spread myself thin by trying to manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously and burning myself out in the process. I had to take a step back to figure out the key to a well-balanced life is highlighting the priorities that truly mattered to me and saying no with grace to anything that did not align with my goals.
Darcie Cameron
Co-Founder & Executive Director at Pharmacy Edge | Marketing Specialist | Lifelong Learner | Creative Connector, The Multi-Passionate Pathway
Focus on Quality Time
When you’re an entrepreneur, it’s easy to feel like you have to choose between work and family, but focusing on quality over quantity can make a big difference. Even if you don’t have hours to spare, spending intentional, focused time with them matters more than the amount of time.
For example, instead of half-listening to your family while looking at your emails, put your phone away and give them your full attention, even if it’s just for 20 minutes. Whether it’s having a conversation, sharing a meal, or playing with your kids, these small, intentional moments help strengthen your relationships and show your loved ones that they are also your priority.
This approach takes the pressure off trying to “do it all” and helps you stay present, which is far more impactful than spreading yourself thin. By focusing on these moments of connection, you’ll feel more grounded and supported, making it easier to face the demands of being an entrepreneur.
Bayu Prihandito
Psychology Consultant, Life Coach, Founder, Life Architekture
Align Tasks with Energy Levels
One key piece of advice for entrepreneurs struggling with work-life balance is to maximize productive hours by aligning tasks with your peak energy levels rather than simply working longer hours. Productivity isn’t about clocking more time—it’s about making the most of the hours you have.
A helpful tactic for managing time and energy effectively is time blocking based on energy rhythms. Identify when you’re naturally most focused and schedule your deep work—strategy, creative projects, or decision-making—during these peak hours. Then, reserve lower-energy periods for administrative tasks, emails, and meetings.
Another critical component is protecting non-work time with the same discipline as business priorities. Just as you schedule important work meetings, block off time for rest, exercise, and personal commitments. Taking intentional breaks prevents burnout and ultimately makes work hours more effective.
By optimizing productive hours instead of simply extending work hours, entrepreneurs can achieve greater efficiency, sustain long-term energy, and maintain a healthier work-life balance.
Tim Pelletier
Owner/SEO Consultant, Tim Pelletier Consulting, LLC
Schedule Key Activities
Use a calendar and schedule in all key activities. For example, schedule going to the gym from 5pm to 6pm and make that appointment as sacred as meeting with an investor or key client. Also, don’t let things or people interfere with your schedule. If your “appointment” at 2pm is writing a blog post, don’t let an email that comes in at 2:05 interfere with you completing that task. Effectively using a calendar allows you to be in full control of your time and make sure you maintain the proper work-life balance.
Dave Lavinsky
President, PlanPros.ai
Shift Your Energy and Focus
Balance doesn’t exist. I know that’s not the answer anyone wants to hear, but hear me out; The nature of balance is that you have equal weight on each side and the balance lives right in the middle. If you continue to search for balance, you’ll also continue to search for success. Stop searching for balance, instead work on putting your energy into what you’re doing WHEN you’re doing it.
When I’m in work mode, I’m doing everything I can to complete the mission for that project at that time. And when I’m home, I’m home. I’m putting all my energy into being home and being present with my family. Do those things overlap at times? Yes for sure. Am I able to separate those things perfectly? No, definitely not. But that’s the goal. Figure out how you can best time block to build what you need to build during that time and then shut it off when it’s family time.
From one entrepreneur to another, I know the brain doesn’t ever shut off. What I do is have EXTENSIVE notes on my phone that allow me to dump those never ending thoughts into and leave those for when I’ve blocked out time to work on them.
Balance is a myth. Shifting your energy and focus is the reality.
Kevin Bell
CEO, KBellCo
Balance Three Key Life Rings
My approach is to think of your life like a 3 ring circus. You have a work ring, a self ring, and a relationship ring. Neglecting one of those rings negatively impacts your performance in the other two rings. As you are planning your day or week, be as intentional about scheduling some activities for your self ring and relationship ring as you do your work ring. They don’t have to be major things, but do need to be activities that renew your physical, mental, and emotional energy—so you can be your best in your work ring. When I find that performance is off in my work, I stop and ask myself, “What ring have I been neglecting, and what is an activity I could schedule in the next 24 hours for that ring?”
Jones Loflin
Keynote Speaker and Author, Helping Others Prepare for Excellence
Live Your Highest Values
Work-life balance is a myth; it will remain elusive as long as we chase it.
In today’s technological age, we are continually connected to work at home and in the workplace. Although this convenience has created greater efficiency and the hybrid work model, technology has also blurred the lines between work and our personal lives.
Work-life balance can only be achieved when our highest values are front and center. Work should not be the center of our lives. Living our values is the real wheel hub connecting us to the suspension system (varying terrain and seasons) of our lives. They create harmony, ease, and balance.
Balance will look very different to an entrepreneur running three businesses and fueled by a life mission (value) than to a person treating their business like a hobby. If their value is a stress-free life filled with travel, their choices need to represent it. Otherwise, happiness is fleeting.
The one thing that will empower everyone is keeping their values front and center. For every decision and investment of time and energy, ask: “Does this decision (or action) support and align with my highest values?”
Ask every day. Then, chart your day, your weeks, your 5-year plan!
Jennifer Williams
Executive Coach & Eq Leadership Trainer, Heartmanity
Create a Vision Board
I suggest entrepreneurs struggling with work-life balance create a vision board. They can design it on a whiteboard digitally or physically. The vision board can contain all of their goals for their work and personal life. They can update it regularly or after one week or a month. They can place the vision board on their desk at work so they can see it often. They can prioritize their tasks and manage their time accordingly.
By keeping up with their goals, entrepreneurs can manage their responsibilities seamlessly. They can stay focused and never let any tasks become delayed. The vision board can become a source of motivation, pushing them to do better. However, entrepreneurs should be careful about one thing while creating it. They should not set idealistic goals, as it will harm the purpose.
Rahul Kumar
CEO, RankSoldier
Shut It Down When Needed
One of my favorite things to do is to “shut it down” when the quality of your work begins to diminish and take a break whenever it is necessary.
It’s not a fancy app or a time-management guru’s latest system. It’s something far simpler, yet profoundly effective: I just learned to recognize when the quality of my work starts to decline, and I shut it down.
In contrast, it actually increased my productivity and the quality of my work. The refreshed perspective and renewed energy I gain from these breaks far outweigh the time “lost.”
What is being refreshed outweighs the time lost, similar to the rest and recovery needed in physical training.
Some people might find it counterintuitive.
After all, we’re taught to hustle, to grind, to push through exhaustion. But in real life, which I discovered in my mid-career later: a marathon runner doesn’t sprint the entire race.
They pace themselves, incorporating rest and recovery into their training plan. Why? Because pushing too hard leads to injury and burnout. The same principle applies to entrepreneurship.
Also, to counter some narratives of resting, my “shut it down” strategy isn’t about laziness; it’s about strategic efficiency which is a management principle.
In conclusion, I figured it really isn’t about achieving a perfect “balance”—which I found to be a myth, but to create a sustainable rhythm that allows for both professional success and a fulfilling personal life.
Elton Kuah
CEO, Enrich Social Media
