Have you ever found yourself overwhelmed by work commitments, squeezing precious family time into the leftover spaces of your calendar?
You’re definitely not alone. As we wrap up another year and look forward to the fresh opportunities of the next, I want to share with you a transformational approach to planning—a method I’ve been honing that prioritises life first, then business.
This isn’t just a shift from chaotic busyness to purpose and intention; it’s about creating a sustainable business that complements your life rather than competes with it.
So, if you’ve ever felt like your calendar is dictating your life, let’s look at some practical ways you can create a business and life by design.
The Life-First Approach
The first step in designing a business around your life is to flip the traditional planning strategy on its head. Rather than squeezing life into the gaps left by work, start by mapping out the moments that matter. Clear your calendar and begin by locking in family birthdays, public holidays, and those cherished personal milestones. Imagine how liberating it would be to know that your calendar serves your life goals rather than the other way around.
Anchoring Self-Care
Once you’ve secured those crucial moments, it’s time to prioritise self-care. I don’t mean just the occasional spa day (though those are delightful), but instead, schedule regular self-maintenance. This means workouts, quarterly reflection periods for planning and recharging, and even appointments that have been too easy to push off, like haircuts or dentist visits. Remember, you’re the engine of your business and deserve the same kind of care.
Structuring Work to Support Life
With personal priorities in place, focus on structuring your work commitments. I’d advise treating meetings and tasks with the same scrutiny. Allow for transition times and workload buffers, reducing the inevitable exhaustion from packed schedules. This doesn’t mean you’ll accomplish less; on the contrary, creating breathing room can boost your productivity and enthusiasm, giving you the energy to meet your goals.
A Profitable, Life-Supporting Business
Building a business around your life isn’t just about managing time but ensuring profitability. It’s about creating a sustainable venture by setting clear financial targets. Use your available working days to determine a target day rate that aligns with your financial goals, allowing you to say yes to work that fuels your business and personal goals and no to those that don’t.
Your Life, Your Choices
Imagine starting next year knowing exactly how your business will support your life. No more fitting joy into the spaces between responsibilities, but integrating it into every aspect of your routine. What might your life look like if you could choose to structure it as you wish? Start today by designing your life first, allowing your business to serve you and not the other way around.
As you begin to map out your future, remember: your business should enhance your life, not be in competition with it. If you’re ready to take it further, I’m here to support you with tailored strategies through my speaking engagements, team training, or one-on-one sessions. Reach out, and let’s build that life-first business together.
Submit your Question: Spotify – click the button below. All other platforms – send me a DM on Instagram or email: [email protected]
Connect with Janine:
Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube
Mentioned in this episode:
Apply to our Elevate Mastermind