You have heard me emphasize the importance of separating your personal transactions from your business transactions. However, there is more to separating personal from business than just the financials. When you are good at separating the two it can make a huge difference in both worlds.

Just think about it. As business owners we are often on social media a lot. Between scheduling posts, making sure to catch every comment, running giveaways, and tracking engagement we spend a lot of time working in that area. I know many people who will friend anyone to get them in front of their product and their personal page reads more like their business page. But, is this the healthy thing to do? Don’t we deserve a personal space on social media as well? I personally do not friend anyone I don’t know personally and use my personal page to build relationships with the people I love. I am a pretty private person and don’t flaunt my kids across my business channels, but my personal page is a different story. This is where family can watch the kids grow and we can all celebrate their accomplishments. It has been huge for me having these two separate worlds on social media. I have a place to relax and turn off when needed. Work doesn’t pop up in my face and I can truly take a break. Plus, I know my kids are safe because I have a private account.

            It isn’t just social media either. Can you imagine if you had a separate email account? I get letters from friends, exciting coupons from my favorite retailers, and inspirational quotes from my family in my personal email. Those things wouldn’t be nearly as exciting if they were surrounded by work tasks or bills. Keeping my email separate has helped with my stress level since I can sit back and enjoy the excitement without worrying about a special project or unpaid invoice. I can also choose not to check my business email after work hours which keeps my break time a break and I don’t end up worrying about a weird email from a client.

            Of course, this applies to your phone line as well. Have a separate phone number for business. You can do this through google or your service provider, there are lots of options out there. Do your research and find out what works best for you. Don’t panic if you get a voicemail, that is what it is there for and will still be there when you come back in the morning. Better yet, get a different phone in general. That way you can literally turn it off and won’t be distracted during your break or family time. Your brain will thank you and so will your family and friends!

            The most important (in my humble opinion) thing to keep separate is your time! If you take nothing else away from this post, take this one thing. Set office hours! We are open from 9:00am – 5:00pm Monday through Friday, I don’t check work email, social media, or take phone calls after that. 5:00pm is family time, we have a nice dinner together, play a family game, and get the kiddos ready for bed so we can have some alone time. The mental break from work has been a gift from God. I come back stronger, rested, and ready to take on any challenges that come my way. I am actually able to get more work done because I am in the right frame of mind.

            The entire point is to give your clients or customers some boundaries, and stick to them. They will respect you more and you will have a better relationship. Not to mention you won’t want to pull your hair out every day. You can enjoy your business the way it was meant to be enjoyed. Not to mention you can enjoy your family time again as well!

            Even if your business is young, you can still set these boundaries and create a good life/work balance by separating your personal things from your business things. It is a great habit to get into when you are first starting out. It will stick with you when your business is full grown and you will be ready to take on the world. So, no matter how small or big you are, take the time to put in these separations and your business will grow faster and stronger!