As someone running a gym and living a life outside of work, you have a lot on your plate. You need to strike your own work-life balance if you want to avoid burning out, but that’s tough if it feels like your to-do list goes on…
And on…
And on…
So how can you unplug from work if it feels like running your gym is consuming all of your time?
Unplugging Is Hard – Let’s Make It Easier
What’s happening, who’s handling it, and what problem is going to pop up next? These questions constantly run through your head if you’re a gym owner, and they don’t magically go away when you leave work.
You might not be able to stop worrying about those questions entirely, but there are some steps you can take during the workday to reduce that anxiety.
Try some of these tips before you head home:
1. Build a Team You Trust
It’s hard to fully leave work at the end of the day if you’re responsible for every aspect of it. Build a team of people you trust and share those responsibilities to lighten the load.
Start with the team you have and get help from an outside team if you need to. Do you have any coaches that want more managerial experience? Do your team members have skills you’re not using? Shift some of your responsibilities to those ready for a challenge and you can be confident everything’s being handled while you’re at home.
H3: 2. Develop a Culture That Respects Unplugging
Let’s face it, not every business respects their team’s work-life balance. If you want to unplug without feeling unproductive or guilty, your work culture needs to reflect that.
You can improve your culture by:
- Emphasizing the importance of breaks
- Not demanding too much of your team
- Having open, honest conversations with your team
- Encouraging everyone to ask for help if they need it
This isn’t a quick fix. Shifting your work culture takes time, but if you put in the work each day you’ll see it move in the right direction.
3. Time Block Your Week
If you don’t feel like you have enough time to get all of your tasks done, they’ll follow you home. Time blocking your week can break up that endless stream of tasks into manageable daily lists.
At the beginning of the week, plan out what each day will look like. If a task isn’t on today’s list, you can put it out of your mind until tomorrow.
Breakout Quote: “Having your week planned on what tasks you want to accomplish each day is important. For example, only pay bills on Thursdays, work on marketing on Fridays. Basically, timeblock the week to focus on key areas of the business each day that are outside of day-to-day activities. Then, you can truly unplug each night instead of worrying about getting everything done.” - Mike Wuest, Founder of CrossFit COMO
4. Automate Your To-Do List
There are only so many hours in your workday, and you don’t have enough time to put 100% of your effort into everything. If your day-to-day tasks take up too much of your workday, you’ll be stuck worrying about your big picture projects at home.
Reduce those repetitive tasks and take back your time with automated software. Look for software that’ll give you more time to focus on:
- Boosting your revenue
- Developing new projects
- Connecting with members and leads
With more time in your day, you’ll be able to focus on what really matters: growing your gym.
Now It’s Time to Sit Back and Relax
If you’ve:
- Build a team you trust
- Developed a culture that respects unplugging
- Time blocked your week
- Automated your to-do list
It’s time to enjoy your life at home. Here are some ways you can unplug after you leave work.
1. Nourish Your Body
Your physical health can affect your mental health. Find ways to nourish and restore your body so you can go to work tomorrow at the top of your game.
Try:
- Meditating
- Going on a walk
- Cooking a nutritious meal
- Taking a warm shower or bath
- Playing sports with your friends
- Working out (away from your gym!)
Breakout quote: “It is very hard to unplug sometimes. Keeping physically fit and mentally healthy is important to me. I found golf and Jiujitsu helped me. I was able to stay physically and mentally challenged, but in something completely different than work.” - Tom Hill, Gym Owner of CrossFit ATR
2. Be Creative
Unwind and stretch your creative muscles with a hobby. A fun hobby can help you clear your mind and lower your stress. You can paint, read, pick up an instrument – there are a ton of great hobbies to choose from!
Pay special attention to offline hobbies. The farther you are from your devices, the easier it’ll be to unplug from work.
3. Process Your Day
Owning a gym can be overwhelming. If you’re feeling stressed when you come home, it can help to talk about it. Seeing a therapist can help you process your stress in a healthy way, and your support network of family and friends will be there for you when you’ve had a hard day at work.
Journaling is also a great option if you want to process your day on your own. When you get home, try writing a stream of consciousness outline of your day. Writing about your worries can give you perspective and help you work through that stress quicker.
Breakout quote: “As business owners, we have so many hats to wear and tasks to complete. At the end of a long day or week it’s great to be able to decompress and unplug…I have found it’s healthy to talk about my day with someone regardless if it’s the same as the previous days. It allows me to give a quick recap of it. For me, it means that part of my day is officially over and I can enjoy the other parts of my life in addition to my gym.” - Justin Weeks, Owner of ClarityFit
Unplugging from work can be hard, but it’s not impossible. With a bit of prep during the workday and a set of restorative habits at your call, you can unplug from work and enjoy your time at home.
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