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Here's how these entrepreneurs draw the line between work and personal life
Working from home has its pros and cons. While we are able to work comfortably in our pjs, working from home can also result in us prioritising work over everything else, blurring the line between work and personal time.
Having a work-life balance is an important aspect of a healthy work environment. That said, balancing between a demanding career and a vital personal life can be hard. This is so regardless of the industry you are in, even for entrepreneurs.
Without the constraints of a typical 9-to-5 job, many entrepreneurs find themselves spending more time on work, and less time on family and personal hobbies. Despite this, entrepreneurs see the importance of creating a harmonious work-life balance, constantly striving to maintain clear boundaries between the two.
Below, we reach out to seven entrepreneurs as they share their tips on juggling between work and personal life.
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1. Justin Banon, co-founder, Boson Protocol
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Justin Banon
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“I prioritise spending time with my family by doing fun things with them. This is the point of it all, so sometimes I just need to remind myself of that. As a founder, it is easy to work all the time. It requires discipline and focus to switch off.”
2. Aerin Lauder, founder, Aerin
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Aerin Lauder
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“Staying connected is part of our reality, but I try to disconnect when I am able to. Whether it’s during a morning walk in Central Park or a Pilates class, those are my times to switch off and just think. When I am with my family, I am completely focused on my two boys and my husband. They will always be my biggest priority. And vice-versa, when I am at work, I try to stay completely focused on my job.”
Read more: Beauty talk: Aerin Lauder on fragrance, fashion and family
3. Michelle Chow, founder, Pass It On
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Michelle Chow
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“I start work at 9 am and end around 7 pm. I’m usually quite serious at work and will be hyper-focused, so once I’m off work, I switch off completely. Well, at least 95 per cent of the time, with five per cent left for urgent matters. My evenings are always kept for time with family, friends, pets, plants and of course, myself.”
4. Jason Lee, founder and CEO, Scent by Six
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Jason Lee
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“Work-life balance must be adapted to your context and current situation. It cannot be rigid. I prioritise my family, so I will take into account their timetable and align mine with theirs as much as possible. When they are busy, that’s when I can dedicate more time to work and volunteering. I can tilt the scale back during school holidays to spend more time with my wife and children.”
5. Sharon Wong, founder and CEO, Motherswork
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“It’s all about time management and energy management. I kept a strong tab on my Apple calendar and all three kids’ schedules (when they were younger). My calendar was a rainbow in the past. It had a colour designated for each of my children. Every recital, every class, every parent teacher conference was marked out. I learnt to lean in and balance according to the different seasons of our lives and to prioritise what is important in each season.”
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6. David Brunier, CEO, Flash Coffee
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David Brunier
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“As an entrepreneur, my mind is always switched on, and that comes with the job of building up a company. Saying “I don’t care” or “I’m leaving my work phone off over the weekend” is not part of my vocabulary.
Of course, it is not possible for anyone to do it all. For me, what is most important is to prioritise well and to understand how urgent or important certain tasks are that have to be executed within a certain time frame, and what can be left off til later in order to still allow for personal time with the family.”
7. Hari Krishnan, CEO and managing director, PropertyGuru
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Hari Krishnan
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“As a technology company it’s very easy to lose sight of the boundaries and work 24/7. It’s important to me that we invest in a culture of respecting boundaries and empowering our employees to manage their time in ways that work for them. I draw a line of “WhatsApp for emergencies only” and my email signature advises that “My working hours may not match yours. Please respond when convenient.”.”
Amanda Goh was the former senior writer for Tatler Singapore.
