How to Create the Perfect Balance Between Business and Leisure

If you’re a small business owner, chances are you’ve been chasing that elusive work-life balance. Maybe you started your business for more freedom but found yourself working harder than ever. Sound familiar? If so, this blog is for you. Today, we’ll explore how you can build more Bleisure into your business life and find that sweet spot between work and leisure.

In this step-by-step guide, we’ll break down how you can balance your professional success with personal enjoyment, using some of the insights from my recent conversation with Bleisure coach Emma Lovell.

Let’s dive into it!

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Step 1: Understand the Bleisure Principle

The first step to balancing business and leisure is understanding that Bleisure isn’t just about fun vacations or luxurious downtime. Pleasure is about creating a life that feels good every day—whether you’re working or relaxing.

As Emma Lovell, author of The Art of Bleisure, puts it: “Bleisure is about the harmony between your work and your leisure.” So, instead of thinking about work and play as two separate things, try seeing them as part of the same cycle.

To get started, ask yourself: What does a life I love look like?

Write down the answer. This will help you visualise what balancing work and leisure can look like for you.

Step 2: Build in Small Breaks

You don’t have to overhaul your whole routine to find more balance. Sometimes, the simplest changes can make the biggest difference. Emma and I both agree that taking small breaks throughout the day can rejuvenate your energy and focus.

Here are a few quick break ideas:

• Go for a 10-minute walk.
• Sit outside and enjoy a cup of tea.
• Listen to a short podcast episode (hint, hint!).

These short breaks can do wonders for your productivity and mental well-being. Make them part of your daily routine!

Step 3: Incorporate Self-Care into Your Workweek

Self-care isn’t just a buzzword—it’s an essential part of keeping yourself balanced and avoiding burnout. But self-care doesn’t have to be complicated. Emma talked about how even sitting in the garden with a book can be a form of self-care.

Here’s a simple plan to work more self-care into your week:

• Monday: Take 15 minutes to meditate or stretch before diving into your work.
• Wednesday: Set aside time for a hobby you love, even if it’s just for 30 minutes.
• Friday: Close out your week by rewarding yourself with something special—a nice dinner, a bath, or a night of relaxing TV.

Remember, self-care doesn’t have to be elaborate. It just needs to be something that replenishes your energy and makes you feel good.

Step 4: Combine Work with Leisure

One of the best tips Emma shared was about combining work with leisure. As a business owner, you might have flexibility that others don’t. So why not use it to your advantage? Emma calls this the “Bleisure principle”—combining business trips with leisure time to recharge while still getting things done.

If you’re travelling for a conference or work event, why not extend the trip by a few days and enjoy a little holiday? Or take an afternoon off to explore a new city if you’re already on a business trip.

This blending of work and play helps you recharge without stepping away from your business entirely.

Step 5: Prioritise What Matters Most

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by endless to-do lists, but not everything is urgent or important. A key to balancing work and leisure is figuring out your priorities and cutting out tasks that don’t serve your bigger goals.

Try this:

• Write down your top three business priorities for the week.
• List your top three personal or leisure priorities.

Then, each day, focus on just one thing from each list. By the end of the week, you’ll have made real progress in both your business and personal life!

Step 6: Set Boundaries

Running a business can sometimes feel like working 24/7. But without boundaries, you’ll burn out. Emma shared that she used to work weekends but has since learned to say no to non-essential work during her personal time.

Here’s how to start setting boundaries:

• Define your “off” hours. For example, commit to not checking emails after 6 pm or not working on weekends.
• Communicate your boundaries. Let clients and employees know when you’re available and when you’re not.
• Stick to it. It can be tough at first, but maintaining these boundaries will help you find more time for leisure and self-care.

Final Thoughts

Finding balance between business and leisure is about making small, intentional changes. By incorporating breaks, self-care, and boundaries into your routine, you can create a life that’s both productive and enjoyable.

Want more tips on simplifying your business and making life easier as a small business owner? Listen to episode 314 of the Small Business Made Simple podcast, where I chat with Emma Lovell about how to make business and Bleisure work together.

Tune in now! You can find the episode wherever you listen to your podcasts, or visit socialmediaandmarketing.com.au/podcast

Author Bio:

Jenn Donovan is a marketing strategist, speaker, and founder of Social Media and Marketing Australia. She’s the host of the Small Business Made Simple podcast, which is ranked in the top 1.5% globally. Jenn is passionate about helping small business owners, particularly in rural and regional areas, simplify their marketing and build strong communities. When she’s not working, Jenn can be found enjoying her own work-life balance in her hometown of Yarrawonga, Victoria.