Of all people, entrepreneurs are most likely to blur the lines between business and personal life. And if your spouse also happens to be your business partner? Pshhh! The lines blur into oblivion. My husband and I, along with many other entrepreneurial couples, grappled with this challenge head on.
We talked about work at breakfast. We talked about work at work. We talked about work at night. And on the weekends…you guessed it. We talked about work! It was exhausting. But eventually we figured out how to create healthy boundaries between our business and personal lives. Today I want to share four of our favorite strategies we used to achieve that elusive work-life balance as an entrepreneurial couple.
(One unexpected benefit of adopting these strategies was the renewed enthusiasm we felt for not only our business, but also our marriage and family.)
Four Strategies for Entrepreneurial Couples to Separate Work from Personal Life
1. Open Door, Closed Door Policy
One of the first strategies we adopted was the open door, closed door policy. (We both work from home.) This policy is simple. When work hours are over, we close and lock our office doors. My phone, a perpetual beacon of work, stays in the office. This physical separation is crucial for me to resist the temptation of “just one more email.”
2. Designated Date Nights
Pick one night a week. (Ours is Wednesday night.) Make it sacred. This night is for you two to spend together, maybe attending a fitness class, going for a walk, or preparing a special dinner. There’s only one rule: no talking about work. My husband and I opt for doing activities outside of the house, like bowling and bike rides so we are less tempted to veer into a work conversation. This time allows us to connect on a personal level and discover new things about each other beyond the confines of work.
3. Family Fridays
Friday nights are for our family. We want to create memories with our children and be fully present with them. These moments are precious, serving as a reminder of why we strive for success in the first place. The best part is that our kids hold us accountable! They will interrupt us if we start talking about work.
4. Strategic Planning Meetings
Perhaps the most transformative strategy we’ve implemented is our weekly, three-hour strategic meeting. (Yes, weekly. And yes, it’s three hours.) We designate this time to discuss everything business-related, from operations to employee management. Importantly, these meetings occur outside the home and office, often during a hike. The change of scenery helps us focus and puts our problems into perspective.
The Importance of Discipline and Commitment
These strategies are simple, but that doesn’t mean they’re easy to implement. They took tremendous amounts of commitment and discipline to maintain. And I can tell you this from the bottom of my heart: the commitment and discipline were worth it. It took us over a decade to find our rhythm, but the journey has taught us invaluable lessons about love, partnership, and entrepreneurship. Not only has our business grown, but our marriage has flourished as well.
You don’t have to hate working with your spouse. With the right strategies, working together can be one of the most rewarding experiences there is. If you’re struggling to find that balance, consider scheduling a Free Brand Call with Brand Builders Group. We understand the unique challenges entrepreneurial couples face and can help you build not just a successful business, but a strong, resilient relationship with your spouse as well.
