As a business owner, you’ve likely put your heart and soul into ensuring your business is successful. However, such motivation often manifests in ridiculous and unsociable working hours – which often work to your detriment in the long run. After all, overworking ultimately leads to burnout, low productivity rates, and more frequent workplace mistakes. 

 

 

Why is working too much bad for your business? 

 

There are many reasons why overworking yourself is bad for business. For example: 

• It sets a bad precedent for working relationships. If you find yourself replying to customer enquiries any time of day or night, you’re setting an unrealistic precedent moving forward – that suggests they contact you whenever they want and expect an immediate reply. 

• It leads to false productivity. Time behind your desk does not always equate to time well spent. After all, our mind is only wired to focus for so long at a time, and trying to force yourself through this lull will only lead to making mistakes or completing tasks to a much lower standard than your clients expect. 

• It impacts your mental health. By now, you’re probably well aware of the importance of learning to unwind amidst a busy career. And while practicing self-care at work, working extended hours on a regular basis is often associated with elevated levels of stress and anxiety which can take their toll on your mental health. 

 

How can I start spending less time at work? 

 

Thankfully, there are various steps you can take to spend less time at work, without this working to the detriment of your company.  For example, you can: 

• Streamline critical processes. Using software, such as sap business one to streamline critical processes is one of the most effective methods you can employ when it comes to reducing your workload. As such, you’ll have better control over your day, and will be able to spend your time on the tasks that truly matter. Furthermore, this software can provide you with increased control over critical processes that influence business, so that you can figure out what your next step should be moving forward.

• Expand your workforce. Most small businesses begin as a solo venture – but they should not stay that way, especially as your consumer base grows. As such, expanding your workforce and seeking out new talent is a great way to ensure you do not face burnout. Furthemore, by hiring specialists to take on certain roles, you’re elevating the quality of the services you offer – which is a great way to impress your customers and grow your brand. 

• Outsourcing. If you’re trying to keep your expenses low, outsourcing can provide you with access to the staffing support you need without the additional costs of a full-time employee. For example, you could hire a virtual assistant to respond to emails, so that you no longer have to spend several hours a day responding to customer inquiries alongside the rest of your workload. This means you can spend less time at your desk and clock out at a reasonable hour.