10 ways to... Improve your work-life balance

1. List your personal commitments in order of importance. These could include partner, children, extended family, friends, relaxation, hobbies or leisure activities.
2. Now break your working day down into categories such as business development, internal meetings, client liaison, credit control, staff management, suppliers, admin and so on. Make the list all-encompassing.
3. Write down how much time you devote to each in an average week (include weekends). Accuracy is vital, so, in advance, maintain a daily diary if it helps.
4. Look at the big picture. Regardless of whether you think you have any choice, are you devoting too much time to work at the expense of your personal life? If you are and this is causing you anxiety, it's time to act. Think about what your ideal work-life balance would be.
5. Set realistic goals. If you work 12-hour days, it's unlikely you'll be able to change to eight-hour days straightaway. However, improved time-management might enable you to finish work an hour or two earlier or have the odd weekend or afternoon off here and there.
6. Look at the breakdown of your working week. You need to be selfish with every second. Stop doing things that are a complete waste of your time, for example, speaking to salespeople from whom you'll never buy or answering phone enquiries someone else could deal with. Rationalise your time and use it to the maximum benefit of the business.
7. Improve your habits. For example, stop checking for emails every half hour if three times a day is sufficient. Go home on time more regularly. It's easy to get into the routine of working late because that's what you've become used to.
8. Write a "to-do" list for each day. This will ensure you get through everything and stop you getting sidetracked. As well as listing tasks in order of priority, set time limits for each and stick to them. If you don't get something done, put it on top of your list for the following day.
9. Delegate tasks to others, but make sure they're up to the job (otherwise you'll just be making more work for yourself). You might need to learn to let go. If you work alone, consider outsourcing some of your management activities (eg book-keeping, recruitment or marketing) to external suppliers - providing it's cost-efficient.
10. Remember to take regular breaks. Removing yourself from the location in which you work for a quick cuppa or some fresh air will make you less stressed, more focused and productive.