7 Work-Life Balance Tips for Pilates Studio Owners
Balance for Pilates studio owners is of vital importance as life can get overwhelming owning an entire business. Having so many things to manage and keep track of is exhausting, so it’s essential to take some “me-time” and prioritize. We’re here to help you achieve a proper work-life balance that will leave you feeling refreshed and ready to maximize everyday!
There are several different responsibilities and tasks that you play an indispensable part in as a Pilates studio owner. This includes everything from hiring new staff and making sure that they are upholding your studio’s standards, to meeting with marketing and promotional teams to help advertise your business. Because many things can’t go ahead without your approval, you may find yourself feeling stressed and burned out.
This is another reason that balance for Pilates studio owners is so crucial, because if you begin to lose steam, then your business will likely follow. Losing a sense of productivity will slowly affect every aspect of your facility since everything is linked. You must uphold the standard and be a strong pillar that your staff and clients can look to and rely on for assistance and guidance.
How to Achieve Balance for Pilates Studio Owners
Learn how to attain balance both inside and outside the classroom with our exclusive tips. We’ll have you feeling ready for anything in no time!
1. Maximize your time
We don’t have to tell you that your time is precious, so start maximizing the valuable time you have everyday so you can get more done and achieve a better work-life balance!
Create an agenda of things that must be completed every day. Though this might sound obvious (and you might already do this!), take a closer look at the tasks you’ve written down. Do you find yourself being sucked into unproductive meetings or managing duties that can easily be done by another member of your staff? Start to differentiate between tasks that are conducive to propelling your business forward and those that may be holding you back.
Establish what your priorities are and plan your calendar accordingly. Write down a list of goals that you’d like to achieve this year and start planning your agenda to accomplish these targets. Look at the bigger picture and try to avoid wasting your time on things that are not in line with your goals and may be taking away from your productivity.
Create a to-do list of three to five tasks every day, and try to avoid including more as this may overwhelm you and cause you to lose motivation if things are left unfinished. With focused and specific goals, you’ll have more productive and efficient days. This will leave you feeling not only accomplished but inspired to tackle another day!
2. Delegate duties
Another great way to achieve balance as a Pilates studio owner, is to delegate duties. Many fall into the trap of thinking they have to do it all, but this isn’t necessarily true.
So many different elements go into running a successful business. Staying on top of everything all the time is virtually impossible, which is why you need to hire reliable and experienced staff members to maintain these different moving parts. You are a team, so give your employees the chance to handle various parts of the business, so you can put your time and energy towards bigger tasks.
For instance, instead of trying to promote your business on your own through Instagram and Facebook, why not hire a social media community manager or partner with a marketing company? Though it may be more cost effective to post everything yourself, it would be a worthy investment to have experienced professionals in the industry boost your studio’s popularity.
Since we’re living in an extremely advanced world, you can also rely on software systems to take care of everyday tasks! Here’s where WellnessLiving can be of service to your business. WellnessLiving’s all-in-one Pilates studio software can help you manage staff schedules, receive payments, analyze data and more. Say goodbye to time lost on menial tasks, and hello to a future of possibilities!
3. Take time off
Taking time off is so important when trying to create balance as a Pilates studio owner. Many CEOs and managers can’t tear themselves away from their work, but it’s essential if you want to sustain a successful business.
Having work on your brain all the time can often do more harm than good. It can take away from your creativity and leave you with nothing to give! So, take time off during the weekends (whichever days that may be for you) and give yourself at least two weeks off during the year. Take a trip to that island you’ve been dreaming of or find time to drive cross country to your favorite camping spot. Whatever it may be, go to a place where you’ll feel relaxed and tranquil.
Don’t forget to also dedicate some time for yourself every day! With all the various responsibilities resting on your shoulders, it may be hard to break away from it all and take some me-time, but this is essential if you want to avoid burning out. Take at least one hour a day for yourself, where you can simply relax and do an activity that brings you joy.
4. Practice what you preach
As a Pilates studio owner, don’t forget to practice what you preach and exercise. Unlike most people, you have the advantage of having your own studio and access to various equipment at any time!
Exercise is a great method to release stress as it encourages the body to produce endorphins that elevate your mood. After a stressful workday, take an hour to work on your core and strengthen your muscles by joining a class at your studio or working on your own routine. We don’t have to tell you that taking care of your body can make all the difference!
As you know, Pilates enhances the connection between the body and mind. Being an expert, use your practice to reignite this valuable bond to be more in tune with your body and its needs. Take advantage of the deep breathing techniques used during the workouts to check in with your body to see how it’s doing. After all, you’re human too!
By taking some time to blow off some steam in the studio, you’ll emerge refreshed and ready to tackle anything!
5. Avoid electronics at home
With technology taking over most aspects of our lives, it’s hard to completely unplug. A sense of guilt emerges if we don’t check our emails or respond to all messages immediately, but this has to stop!
Achieving balance as a Pilates studio owner starts by simply turning off your phone. We know this is easier said than done, but according to Robert Brooks, a psychology professor at Harvard Medical School: being bombarded by emails and messages will create an underlying layer of stress in your body. We all know the feeling. Your phone buzzes and you receive an email or message that you feel you instantly need to respond to. Avoid this at all costs during your time off!
It may be hard to resist at first, but building your sense of resilience is the key. Brooks states the more you build this habit, the more control you’ll have over your life. Though technology has been a blessing making our lives much easier and convenient, it can also be a curse by expecting you to be available 24/7. Get your life back and regain control by shutting off your computer and phone as soon as you get home!
6. Spend quality time with family and friends
Now that you’ve turned your phone off, it’s time to spend some quality time with your loved ones. Many business owners find it quite difficult to stay away from their work, but we’re here to remind you that there are certain people that should always come before your business.
As a Pilates studio owner, work can easily take over your life, leaving little to no time to spend with those who matter most to you. This puts a strain on your relationships and can leave you feeling lonely and unsatisfied. Connections that were once meaningful can be lost because all your time has been dedicated to your work. Balance for Pilates studio owners means avoiding this trap and doing the following.
Surround yourself often with people who make you feel good and who inspire you. When you come home at the end of the day, put your phone away and enjoy your time with your friends and family. A healthy social life is important to help you relax your mind and plays a crucial part in your life.
By all means, have fun! Go out and do things that bring you joy to boost your energy and sense of motivation. Whether this is having lunch with a friend or watching a movie with your family, take the time to do so.
7. Just say no
Last, but certainly not least, one of the most important ways to achieve balance as a Pilates studio owner is to not be afraid to just say no. Prioritize what is most important to you and only dedicate your time to things you deem conducive to your business.
You may find yourself being pulled in various directions when it comes to running your studio, but you must make things clear from the very beginning. By eliminating the things that are not important, you can start to focus on the things that are.
If you stretch yourself too thin, you’ll only be hurting your business, as you’ll be preoccupied with so many different areas that it’ll become hard to focus on the important things at hand.
It’s Never Too Late to Core-ect This Behavior…
Balance for Pilates studio owners is achievable! By prioritizing what’s important and taking time for yourself, you’ll feel a whole new sense of drive.
WellnessLiving can also help reduce stress in your life by taking care of certain tasks for you! With the help of our all-in-one Pilates studio software, we can give you more time to relax and unwind. From online booking systems to a virtual store that lets you make money in your sleep, book your free demo today to learn about all the things WellnessLiving can do for you.