November and December are a blur – long days spent preparing and fulfilling holiday orders, finding solutions for unforeseen circumstances and keeping employee morale up, all while trying to find time to enjoy the holidays with loved ones. And, in a blink of an eye, it’s suddenly January. Sound familiar?
There are 1.3 million small businesses in Canada. As the owners of those businesses, you employ approximately one-quarter of our population. You are the backbone of our economy, which is why I would like to take this time to thank you for all that you do for our communities. In my conversations with entrepreneurs and their families, lack of time and the struggle to balance work and life are often brought up. There are so many demands placed on you as business owners that sometimes you may feel like there is no choice but to keep hustling. In academia this is known as the recovery paradox; those that need to rest and restore their resources most are often the ones who aren’t able to.
Depending on the situation, January can be a quiet time for small business owners. While it might be tempting to maintain the grind, my advice is to spend some time investing and replenishing yourself in the following ways:
- Rest. Take time to disconnect from work, connect with others and do things that you love. This might involve spending time with friends and family, enjoying some time in nature (even if it’s cold out), or listening to a few mindfulness podcasts.
- Reappraise. Adopt a growth mindset approach and appraise difficult situations as challenges that can be overcome. Don’t fall into the hustle trap – we all need time to recharge our batteries.
- Routine. Develop routines that make time for your personal and business life. Research shows that getting sufficient sleep, exercise and mental breaks are crucial to the entrepreneurial process.
By investing in yourself, you are investing in your business. This New Year, I wish you and your families health, happiness and harmony.
Sarah Burrows
Assistant professor of entrepreneurship, Queen’s University, Smith School of Business
Dr. Sarah Burrows is a professor of entrepreneurship at Smith School of Business at Queen’s University. Her research interests are in the area of entrepreneurship and family business. She focuses on leveraging her background in psychology to understand how family dynamics influence the management of the firm and entrepreneurship across generations. She is also passionate about raising awareness about entrepreneurial ill-being, while finding ways to foster greater well-being outcomes among entrepreneurs and their families.
