Maybe you are like me, and often struggle with keeping that whole work-life balance thing in check…Seriously, I can’t blame you. When you just rock at what you do it is SO easy to get into a great flow and be pumping out the greatest work that ever came to mankind. Amiright?

But, y’all, we have to keep things burning in all of the important areas of life, so let’s talk a little about doing just that.

9 Habits to Create Work-Life Balance NOW for Every #GirlBoss

Every woman I know who is killing it in their work life has to also learn to wisely practice the habits we are going to discuss. By no means is this the be all and end all of lists. Think of it as a launching point to help keep your life in check.

We all know work is awesome, and life is beautiful, so let’s keep tabs on our work-life balance and keep both humming along in perfect harmony.

With no further adieu…The List.

#1 PLAN AHEAD

If there is one thing I recommend that every woman in business do it is plan your day ahead. Develop the habit of every night sitting down and making a list of the goals and plans you have for the next day. Try not to get too over the top with this list. Be realistic to what kind of time you have available.

And, of course, get to work on the plan as soon as your day gets started!

#2 Take Care of Yourself

I swear, self-care is in crisis mode! It is just not happening. And I don’t want that to continue with you. Now, I am not perfect at this by any stretch, but I know for sure how crappy it feels to not take care of yourself. Seriously, a little bit of love goes a long way.

Start where you are and make small, reasonable changes one at a time. Maybe first start with eating more vegetables, or reducing how much sugar you eat. Or, add in 15 minutes a day of some kind of exercise. And, for sure, get PLENTY of rest! Anyone else struggling with that little four-letter word? :::raising hand:::

#3 Connect With Loved Ones

If you are married and have kids, this is definitely a necessity, but even if you are single, relationships matter. Set aside time and energy to connect with your loved ones and friends who bring joy and laughter into your life. If you are too burned out to do this, that is a red flag that you do not have enough balance in your life.

Be intentional, and make space for connecting with people who bring laughter and joy into your life. You need this (we all do)…especially if you want to keep rocking you work. Trust me.

#4 Get to Know Like-minded Women in Business

Not only are personal relationships and friendships critical, but so are professional ones. We need others around us to encourage us when things are hard and business feels like a bust. Most of us in the fempreneur world have to navigate these same work-life balance issues. You are not alone.

It is absolutely essential to have a network of business-minded people who get it, because not everyone does! Whether online, in our amazing Facebook Group of serious go-getter ladies, in Meetups, etc., it does not matter. Just start connecting with others who are rocking the #GirlBoss life, too.

#5 Make Goals (and Work Them)

There is not a soul I know who does not want more from their life. But, the sad reality is that just about everyone may want, but they will never achieve. The way to break that cycle is to set goals, and then GO FOR THEM (find out how to take MASSIVE action here).

Take some time to jot down your goals for this year! It’s still early, so you have plenty of time. What do you want to do with these 365 days? Do you have goals and plans to achieve? Write them down.

Then, put together your plan to achieve them. It is great to have goals, but if you don’t have a plan to make them happen, then really, you’re just having a daydream. This year is the year to make your dreams come true. But, that takes having goals, making a plan, and then doing plenty of work!

#6 Review Your Goals Daily

Don’t think for one moment that you can simply write down your goals and plans, and then tuck them in some notebook somewhere for safe keeping. Get those goldmines in plain view every. single. day. and remind yourself what you are going to achieve!

Science is on your side! The more you review your goals, and your plan to achieve them, the higher the likelihood that you will succeed (check it out!)

Every day go over your goals. Look over your work and see whether or not you are following your plan. Then, adjust where needed to keep the fuels firing.

Plan. Work. Succeed. Repeat.

#7 Budget Wisely (and stick with it)

I know how tempting it is to want to have everything, and have it now, but money is simply a tool we get to use. We can either master it, or be mastered by it.

A budget is one way you learn to master this tool and make it do what you tell it. There are TONS of great resources available today on budgeting, so find what you like, make a budget, and stick with it.

It is better to know what you are doing with your money than to get to the end of the month and have no idea where it all went.

#8 De-Stress Regularly

There are a ton of ways to de-stress, but no matter which one you prefer, do it. Stress is simply a reality in today’s world, so learning how to manage and stay in control of it is critical, especially as a #GirlBoss. If you want to be able to keep making the impossible happen, you have to have the emotional faculties to deal with the work.

Meditation, prayer, quiet time, walks, hikes in nature, etc. Pick one or all, but make sure you include time for reflection and solitude in your life. Work-life balance is not just about making sure you stop working, but also that you add in the things that feed the whole person; body, mind, and soul. The most successful people in the world are diligent to ensure that this habit is built into their lives. Make sure you do the same.

#9 Live with Boundaries

While some people might think that boundaries are all about controlling others, the reality is that boundaries are all about controlling yourself. A proper boundary establishes what we will and will not do with our lives, our time, and our relationships. It determines what is and is not okay in our lives, and what we will and will not put up with.

As a woman in business, especially real estate investing, my personal boundaries include treating my tenants and potential sellers with respect. It includes not being on my phone or computer to do work-related activities over the weekends. That way I can hit it hard on Monday morning, refreshed and ready to go.

Other boundaries you might consider could be to turn off my phone when with you family, or set a nighttime phone block after a certain time of the night.

All of these are examples of boundaries. But, you have to determine what is the most important to you. Ask yourself what specific things are stealing your joy and overstepping into your life in ways you do not want. Then, determine what boundary needs to be established to restore order and peace so you can continue to rock it!

Work-Life Balance Brings a Little Slice of Heaven to Earth

We do not live in a vacuum. Much as I would LOVE to be able to tune out the distractions and just get down to business, the fact is that life is a series of responsibilities and delights that have to be respected.

I know you LOVE what you do, but I also know you do not want to do it at the expense of the rest of you life. Right? Of course right.

We want it ALL. So, take the time to start building the habits that will help you to really succeed in this life, both at work and everywhere else. Then, you can really look back over your life and be deeply proud of all that you’ve done. You got this.