Today’s business environment is challenging, and many of us have to deal with the stress of being parent entrepreneurs. We face the pressure of juggling our careers while still caring for our family’s needs. While this can be difficult and stressful, it doesn’t mean that we have to sacrifice one part if it means having more balance in another area. 

Remember that work is not your life 

In the startup world, this adage is often repeated with a sense of irony and sarcasm. “Workaholic” has become an ironic badge of honor. But it’s important to remember the basics: Work is a part of life, but it isn’t the only part. It’s not your entire existence and identity, or even the most important one—and if you let it crowd out other parts of your life too much, you’ll end up miserable and unhealthy (physically or otherwise). 
That said, if you want to be able to do all these things well—work well (and get paid), spend time with family/friends/other loved ones without guilt or resentment for not being “there enough”, improve yourself through hobbies/exercise/mental health activities so that when those four hours are over at 5 pm each day you feel like getting back into bed because there’s nothing left in your tank after another 12 hours on top of all those other responsibilities—you have to build some boundaries around what work means in the context of everything else in life. 

Weigh the cost of saying no to opportunities 

No matter how busy you are, saying yes to every opportunity can be detrimental. It’s important to remember that the more things you commit yourself to, the less time and energy you will have for your family and personal life. 
If you’re not careful about how much time and energy you devote to the business, it could cost more than just money—it could cost credibility with clients as well as opportunities for growth in your business. You might even lose out on opportunities because clients don’t know where they can reach you when they need help or advice! 

Don’t feel guilty about taking a vacation 

This is a big one! As a parent entrepreneur, you probably feel guilty about taking time off because there are never enough hours in the day to get all your work done. However, it’s important to remember that vacations can be beneficial for your mental health and help you recharge so that you can get back to doing what needs doing when it needs doing. 
If you’re having trouble leaving work behind while on vacation, consider finding ways to bring some of it with you or plan some activities around travelling as a family (like road trips). 
Recognize that you can’t possibly complete everything 
It’s essential to recognize that you can’t possibly complete everything. It’s a burden on your business, your family, and yourself. It’s okay to say no sometimes! 
If you’re working from home, try not to let your work intrude too much on your family time. It can be hard to balance the two—we get it! But make sure you have time set aside for yourself and your spouse so that everyone is happy and healthy in the long run (and short-term). 
Many marriages have gone through a crisis due to business problems. There were many divorces, precisely because of the imbalance between work and private life. If you are in such a situation, it is best to consult with experienced family lawyers in Sydney, so that what you have built is not threatened. 

Don’t let your work intrude on your family time. 

Distractions are inevitable, but they don’t need to be as much of a problem.  

• Don’t bring work home. At the end of the day, it’s okay if your work follows you home—just don’t bring it inside. Leave your work bag or briefcase in the car and let yourself relax when you walk through your door. 
• Don’t work on weekends or holidays. This may sound obvious, but many people still do this without realizing how much resentment will build up in their families if they make too many weekend plans around their jobs instead of spending time together as a family unit during those precious few days off per week! Plus, nothing is worse than having just come back from a trip only to find out that. 
• Don’t work in bed! Not only does this mean that mommy won’t get any quality shut eye because she’s worried about completing her latest project before Monday morning rolls around again but also that daddy won’t get any quality cuddling either. After all, he has his laptop cradled close while typing away furiously at some new idea he thinks might take off like wildfire across social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter (and maybe even YouTube). An additional benefit here is that no one gets distracted by notifications coming through on their smartphones either, which can often lead us into dangerous territory when trying to find a balance between life responsibilities versus personal desires/dreams. 

We hope these tips have helped you to prioritize your family and work life. You don’t need to choose between the two—it’s possible to do both! But remember that your family is the most important thing, so don’t forget about them when planning how much time you spend working every day. Lastly, we want to remind everyone out there that taking care of yourself is just as important. 
Author bio: 

Alison Pearson is an interior design student. She is a writer and designer, and her ultimate passion is art and architecture. She is also a bibliophile, and her favorite book is “The Sound and the Fury” by William Faulkner. Follow her on Twitter.