1 in 3 Business Owners Say A Better Work/Life Balance Is Their Top Priority For 2024

Jan 18, 2024

A new study has revealed that 32% of small business owners wish they placed more focus on their work/life balance during 2023

Managing stress, branding and getting a handle on admin and finances also feature as the things business owners want to get better at in 2024

Business consultant Jon Barnes has offered his advice on how business owners can improve their wellbeing, as well as their business this year

New research by has revealed the new year’s resolutions small business owners are making for 2024, with a mix of managing their own wellbeing, as well as finances, topping the charts.

As January marks the opportunity for a fresh start but also to reflect on the year that’s just been, 51Ʒ��asked small business owners what they wish they prioritised more during 2023. One in three small business owners said they wished they’d ensured a better work/life balance and advised anyone running a business to make this a priority for the new year. Difficult in many lines of work, let alone when you run your own business, previous 51Ʒ��research that highlighted how three-quarters (75%) find it hard to set boundaries with their clients, hints at just one reason gaining a happy work/life balance can be so troublesome for so many.

In a similar vein, prioritising personal stress levels ranked as the second most common business resolution for 2024, with 27% stating that they wish they’d managed this better through 2023.

The Top 10 Resolutions Business Owners Should Be Making In 2024

Rank	Resolution	% of small business owners who agree
1	Better work/life balance	32%
2	Prioritise my personal stress levels	27%
3	Expanding into new markets	26%
4	Cutting costs	22%
5	Developing new products or offerings	20%
6	Spending more on social media presence	18%
7	Spending more on website	17%
8	Further training for themselves	14%
9	Branding	14%
10	Getting admin in order	12%

Outside of personal wellbeing, admin and finance related tasks are also high on the list of 2024 priorities for business owners, with cutting costs and getting on top of admin both making it into the top ten resolutions for 2024.

With the tax return deadline looming on the 31st January, a further 1 in 10 business owners also admitted to wishing they had completed their tax return sooner and may currently be paying the price for leaving it as a problem for their 2024 selves.

How can business owners manage their finances better in 2024?

Being well prepared and investing in an accountant can be two easy ways to reduce the stress that comes with this time of year. Naz from explains: “Some business owners possibly don’t understand the importance of tax returns and leave it until last minute, and a lot of businesses tend to think doing tax returns is straightforward. Though it can be for some, a lot don’t know what they can and can’t claim for. Though it can be tempting to do tax returns yourself, as business costs can increase when using a professional, paying an accountant can actually save you money and stress in the long run.”

“The three best pieces of advice that I can give would be to keep all of your receipts, differentiate between your personal and business expenses, and invest in software so that you can understand where you are with your finances.

There are a handful of small business owners that know exactly what they’re doing with their finances, but there are a lot of businesses that may not understand what their finances are like throughout the year, so starting to learn more about this is always a good thing.”

What steps can business owners take to improve their own work/life balance and stress levels?

In addition to discussing better finances with Naz, 51Ʒ��also enlisted the help of business consultant , who focuses on helping businesses become more autonomous and efficient, to tackle the two biggest business resolutions for 2024, and help owners to make this the year to improve their work/life balance and reduce stress levels, all while bettering their business:

1. Plan in a ‘recovery’ day - If you’re working on your business every day of the week, you’re likely to be pushing yourself towards burnout. Recovery in sport is when we often make the most gains, as muscles repair themselves, and it’s the same for business. Taking a break from work will let your brain recover and allow you to to work with greater motivation and a clear head. Jon says: “Owning a business is a marathon, not a sprint. As such, it requires thinking like an athlete. I actively schedule recovery time into my days and weeks, such as a daily workout and meditation, and even going to the sauna once per month.”

2. Prioritise sleep - If your quality of sleep is poor, you run the risk of trying to run a business with a half-empty tank. Jon says: “Not only is it harder to operate effectively when struggling with tiredness, but any problems are also likely to seem much worse. Getting good sleep will strengthen your decision-making skills, enhance your cognitive function and support your innovative thinking, so try and take steps like leaving your phone outside the bedroom and having screen-free time before bed to give yourself the best chance at a restful night”.

3. Try to reduce screen time - It’s easy to get wrapped up in screens while working, as your laptop and phone give you access to others (and them to you!) at the click of a button. However, this isn’t always a good thing. Taking time away from screens has been shown to help reduce stress levels, create better focus, increase productivity and improve your sleep among other benefits, all of which will help you to be more effective as a business owner. Jon comments: “I’m very disciplined about avoiding my phone - taking longer lunch breaks away from all screens is just one way you can work this into your routine.” Not to mention, taking time away from screens and work will help you reconnect and spend valuable time with your loved ones, and on other enjoyable hobbies too!

4. Empower your team - As a business owner, it can be easy to think that all the responsibility falls onto you, but as they say, a problem shared is a problem halved, and leaning on your team can quickly make your life much easier. Jon explains: “This isn't just delegating, but actively treating team members like adults who we want to see take ownership over areas of the business. This is incredibly motivating for team members and liberating for owners. I recently had a CEO I've been coaching, take a whole month off in the summer. When they came back, they said: "The team did so well. They didn't even need me!", which is exactly how any business should be able to run.”

How can business owners get more digitally savvy in 2024?

While wellbeing, admin and finances were all high on the list of business priorities for 2024, the resolution rankings also revealed that many business owners have also identified 2024 as the year to get more digitally savvy. In fact, approximately 1 in 5 business owners wish they’d spent more time improving their social media presence and website last year.

Having transitioned to being a fully digital business five years ago, 51Ʒ��know a thing or two about prioritising search, social and your businesses online storefront, with Sarah O’Rafferty at 51Ʒ��commenting:

“Having an online presence is critical for businesses in our digital age. Most of the consumer journey now takes place online, so if you’re not easily available, you’re missing out on a huge number of potential customers. However, with so many businesses competing in the online space, just having a website or social media platform isn’t enough – you need to go even further to show exactly why customers should be choosing your product or service.

Effectively utilising the platforms available to you will help to take your business to the next level. Strengthening your profiles with reviews, testimonials and regular behind-the-scenes content – plus helpful tips or product examples – will give customers confidence, and keep you front of mind for when they may next need your help. Keep an eye on newer platforms too – TikTok has quickly become a must-have social channel for many businesses, allowing them to reach a new audience, and for their services to quickly go viral, giving them a massive boost!”

To find out more and for tips on how to improve your businesses digital presence, visit:

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Expert Reveals How to Create a Wimbledon-Worthy Lawn at Home

01 Jul, 2024

Wimbledon kicks off on July 1st and is expecting around 54.3 million people to be watching the matches this year. With that many eyes on the revered courts, it is understandable why Brits will be attempting to replicate their own Wimbledon-worthy lawn at home this summer. In the run-up to the biggest tennis event of the year, search demand for “how to make your lawn green” has increased by 85% over the last 14 days. With this in mind, gardening experts at 51Ʒ�� have spoken to gardener and landscaper Simon Akeroyd to find out how to achieve a Wimbledon-worthy lawn at home this season. The most popular lawns in the world Wimbledon is a quintessentially British event known for its lush green courts that have been meticulously groomed for 15 months before the championships. The Wimbledon Centre Court is one of the most famous lawns in the world thanks to its nine tonnes of grass seeds being planted every year with precision, and daily maintenance that helps create the Perennial Ryegrass courts we see today. The most popular lawn in the world when looking at search demand is The Old Trafford Cricket Ground, with a monthly search demand of 8,000. Kensington Palace Gardens comes in second for the most popular lawn in the world, with a monthly search demand of 3,300. Taking third place is the Wimbledon Centre Court, which sees a monthly search demand in the UK of 2,200.

Data Reveals UK Cities That Are Paying the Most to Visit a Hairdresser in 2024

07 Jun, 2024

Research by 51Ʒ��has found that Londoners are paying the highest rates to visit a hairdresser in the UK. The average price in the city is 42% above the UK national average of £130. Data reveals that the average cost across the UK to get a wash, cut and blow dry in 2024 is £48, whilst the average cost of the same treatment plus a colour service now sits at £130. Rising energy and business costs in 2024 have seen hairdressers' costs increase by over 20%. As salons try to recoup these costs, it’s been reported that over 64% will increase their prices over the next 3 months. In the third quarter of 2023 alone, Brits spent around £1.7 billion in the industry which had a value of £4.3 billion by the end of the year. With this in mind, looking at the most popular hairdressing services across the UK, hairdressing experts at 51Ʒ�� have identified the UK regions that are paying the most to visit a hairdresser in 2024. The Cost of Hairdressing Services by UK Region As Brits head off on their summer holidays, search demand for hairdressing services is on the rise. Besides December, the summer months between June and August see the biggest spike in searches for “haircuts near me” across the UK. Searches go from an average of 4,600 searches to 6,181 per month through the summer months. Searches for “hair colouring near me” also see an annual spike between June and August, jumping to 1,000 per month compared to 800, on average, at any other time of year. The team at 51Ʒ��have looked into the most commonly asked-for hair services, taking into account the costs of a wash, cut and blow dry service, as well as the costs of a colour service. By combining the average costs of both of these services, they have revealed the highest and lowest-paying cities for both the combined service and the stand-alone services. Data reveals that the UK's average cost to wash, cut and blow dry in 2024 is £48, whilst the average cost of the same treatment plus a colour service now sits at £130. London was revealed to be the highest paying region for a wash, cut and blow dry plus a colour service. The average price in London is £184 which is 42% higher than the UK national average cost of £130. Coming in second was Glasgow, paying an average of £159 for a wash, cut and blow dry plus a colour service, which is 22% above the national average. Coming in third highest is Brighton, paying £155 which is 19% above the national average for a wash, cut and blow dry plus a colour service. The joint lowest-paying regions are Manchester and Nottingham, costing an average of £101, which is 22% below the national average.

Experts at 51Ʒ��Share Their Favourite Tiktok Tips and Tricks to Spring Clean Your Home

20 Mar, 2024

Each March search demand for “Spring Cleaning” peaks in the UK as Brits look to start the new spring season with a deep clean or clear-out of their home. Searches for “How to spring clean” have risen 49% over the last week as the first day of spring approaches compared to the same period last year. While there is nothing more satisfying than having an annual spring clean once the warmer season hits - it’s often hard to know where to start and the sheer amount of clutter you may be clearing out can be overwhelming. TikTok is a great place to find tips and tricks you may not have thought of and with over 18,700 posts with the hashtags “#Springclean” and seeing over 322.5 million views, there are plenty of tips to be found. With this in mind, the experts at 51Ʒ�� have trawled through Tiktok’s most popular tips to compile a list of their top hacks on how best to spring clean your home in 2024. As we reach the end of the winter months, getting organised and transforming your space into a freshly cleaned and less cluttered environment boosts your mood and gets you ready for the next season. 1. Start Small Before the deep spring cleaning can commence, it is a great time to clear out any clutter. Clearing out the clutter can be incredibly overwhelming - especially when you accumulated a lot over a long period. A key tip is to start small. Starting small allows you to make small steps towards a big, long-term goal, and a little progress every day will have a far bigger impact over time. If you start small you will feel a sense of achievement quickly. This will motivate you to continue. A great principle to stick to was created by online creator Becoming Minimalist , called the 12-12-12 Challenge. The idea is that you locate only a select number of items at a time dedicated to the clearing out of your home. First, you need to locate 12 items that you are going to donate, then 12 to throw away or recycle, and 12 to return to their proper home in your house. Repeat as often as you like, and you’ll start to see the clutter disappear. 2. The 20/20 Rule The need to hold onto too many items, otherwise known as the “just in case” items, can really impact your spring cleaning and make the venture that much more difficult. When struggling to make decluttering decisions so you can easily deep clean your home, the 20/20 rule comes into play. The 20/20 rule is designed to help you get rid of those items that are cluttering up your home, that you’ve held onto “just in case” but have instead remained unused, taking up space in your home. When coming across these times you need to ask two questions - can this be replaced for under £20 or less? Can I replace this item in 20 minutes or less? If the answer is yes to both of these questions - it’s time to get rid. If the answer is yes to one of these, then take more time to consider if it’s easily replaceable and if you have the space to keep it in the meantime. 3. Learn How to Spot Clutter Learn how to spot clutter when it comes to spring cleaning your home to ensure a quicker and more efficient cleaning process. This can apply to any item that you might not actually need. Anything you are keeping ‘just because’ or through obligation, it may be time to show it the door. Clutter can grow exponentially through bad habits or even guilt, and result in a build-up of dust and dirt in difficult-to-reach places due to excessive amounts of clutter. If you take the time to identify the usefulness of said clutter regularly and discard things that way, you can easily release any of it from your home before it creates an irritating build-up and makes your spring cleaning journey more difficult. 4. Create a Spring Cleaning Checklist Lists are always a great place to start when it comes to spring cleaning your home. This way, you can plan and map out as much as you want to get done within certain time frames. When we step into a dirty or cluttered room, our brains are immediately overstimulated which makes it difficult to focus. It’s easy it is to get distracted while clearing out and cleaning when you start doing 5 things at once. A key tip is to make a list of every room in your house. When you enter the room make a list of everything that needs to be both cleaned and decluttered. Take on one room at a time and tick off each section of the room as you clean. With a checklist handy, you can focus on one thing at a time, taking you through a more structured approach to your spring clean. It not only keeps you as organised as possible but gives a great sense of achievement as you tick off each item on your list. 5. Let Go of Stuff That Doesn’t Fit Your Current Lifestyle Take an inventory of everything that you own, from the spare chair you have cluttering up your hallway to the winter jacket that you haven’t worn in 5 years. Assess each of them individually and ask yourself if they align with your current lifestyle. Does it bring you joy and does it serve a purpose? If it’s not seasonal and you haven’t used it in the last 6 months, it may be time to consider getting rid of it. This also applies to keeping things just because they were expensive - sorry to break it to you, but that money has been and gone. If you don’t use it anymore, consider donating it or if you want to make back that expense consider selling it on a re-sale site. 6. Start With What You Can See When it comes to knowing where to start, it’s recommended to begin cleaning and clearing out the parts of your home that most need it. Start decluttering the stuff that you can see (the stuff that's taking up visible space all over the house rather than items stuffed in a wardrobe or a cabinet) and do a deep clean on, around, and underneath those items. The rooms that are generally used the most are usually the ones to accumulate the most dust, clutter and dirt and therefore are likely to need more immediate attention. The kitchen and living rooms are great places to start your spring cleaning venture. As hubs of the home, if the rooms are messy, cluttered or dirty, they can feel stressful and frustrating. 7. Tackle the Entryway/Space by the Front Door There is nothing more stressful than staring straight at a bunch of dust, general clutter or dirt as soon as you walk through the front door. The hallway or entryway is usually the place that has to handle the most dirt, dust, and clutter, due to the level of footfall every single day. Clear and wipe down any surfaces, put away any out-of-season coats or shoes, and give the space a real deep clean. From mud on the floor from shoes to dust bunnies that have accumulated over time, giving your entryway a real deep clean will make the rest of your home feel easier to tackle. If you are looking at throwing away a significant amount of clutter, be it from your entryway or the house in general, hiring a skip is a great way to remove large amounts of clutter that allows you to really clean every spot thoroughly. 8. Get Organised Cleaning your house in preparation for spring is far easier when your home is organised. Although moving items from one place to another seems slightly redundant, utilising storage spaces is a great way to organise and sort things out that don’t necessarily need to be in your house, but you want to keep. Ideal for anything from furniture to boxes of books and children's toys, storage units are available in various sizes depending on what you need to store away. This way, your home can only have things in it that are needed, making it easier to keep on top of your regular cleaning activities. By staying on top of your organisation, cleaning your home will feel less stressful and can be done quickly and easily. This way, you can have a clear and organised home that’s the peaceful and calming space it should be. Checking Off Your Spring Cleaning Checklist Spring cleaning your home doesn't have to be the daunting task you are putting off on your to-do list. By following this expert-approved checklist, you can avoid any unnecessary stress and stay on top of your home environment by organising and cleaning quickly and easily - ready to help you start the new spring/summer season afresh.