How to maintain a work/life balance as a tradesperson

While many workers are happy to log flexible hours and enjoy the challenge of meeting strict deadlines, others may find themselves stretched too thin in order to achieve the seemingly impossible.

People who feel overworked are more likely to experience feelings of anxiety, lose sleep and miss out on spending valuable time with their families.

If you're prone to saying yes when you really want to say no, follow these tips to help achieve a more healthy work/life balance.

Use the right tools and products

The more prepared you are for a job, the quicker you'll get through it. If you're painting a large area you'll probably want to use paint rollers in order to cover the walls more quickly, so make sure you have everything you need in your work vehicle ready to go each day.

Choose the right paint products to get the best quality finish in the shortest time possible, allowing you to get home to your loved ones early. Choose a quick drying undercoat like Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat for a smooth, free-flowing and quick drying first coat to help provide long-term flexibility and durability for paint on a range of surfaces.

Using high-quality products and applying them with precision will save you time in the long run, as you're less likely to need to do touch ups. Don't try to speed through the process too quickly, however, as this can lead to spills and splatters that may mean more time cleaning up.

Use technology sparingly

Tradespeople often advertise and market their brand via technology, but you should be careful not to let it infiltrate into your regular work day. Mobile phones buzzing all day can be distracting and take time away from the job at hand.

It can also lead to a blurring of lines between work and leisure time. If you're guilty of interacting on social media and checking your favourite websites while you're on the clock, or answering work emails from your living room, your work-/life balance may be suffering.

Set your phone on silent when you're getting into the nitty-gritty of a task, and only allow yourself the time to check emails, take calls and surf the internet on your work breaks.

Hire a helper

Many tradespeople are self-employed and therefore act as their own boss. If this is you, it's likely you manage your own marketing, set up new clients, balance the books, do all the grunt work and follow up on feedback all on your own. This can be a stretch even for the most organised and multi-talented person, so consider whether it might be time to hire a part-time helper to allow you to take more breaks.

February 11, 2014