Why “Work-Life Balance” Doesn’t Exist for Solopreneurs — And What to Do Instead

Notes from a person who builds products and services

Everyone needs to determine how to prioritize and channel their energy. But like the saying goes, anything worth doing, requires almost everything. In my experience, it is unhelpful to try to strive for a “work-life balance” when doing something really hard – like starting a solo business. Instead, I think it’s best to prioritize your energy and time with intention and arrive at fraction that makes sense to you. For solopreneurs, freelancers, and solo professionals building something from scratch, the traditional idea of work-life balance often feels like a myth. When you’re creating a business on your own, the work is personal — your time, your energy, your reputation, your income. Instead of chasing balance, a more realistic and sustainable approach is to intentionally manage your energy, focus, and priorities. After interviewing solo-professionals, using with frameworks like OKRs and V2MOM, and applying these systems in my own businesses and life, I’ve distilled a set of principles that consistently help solopreneurs stay grounded, focused, and somewhat sane.

These aren’t rigid rules — they’re lenses to help you build a life and business that make sense together, not in competition.

• Reflect on, set, and constantly re-prioritize – To me, this is the most important skill to be employed when embarking on anything big – this is how you define “balance” and keep forward momentum. If solopreneurs had one “super skill,” it would be intentional prioritization. It’s the foundation of nearly every execution framework — the “O” in OKRs, the first “V” in V2MOM — and it’s how you create your version of alignment or “balance.” This is the most important work anyone can do – whether they are starting a business or just living – setting what you want to be true at the end helps you focus and ensures you are building towards something you care about. 

Start with outcomes

Ask yourself:
“What do I want to be true at the end of this year?”
“What does success look like?”

Clear outcomes anchor your decisions, your schedule, and your energy.

I personally do a yearly vision review, but you can do it quarterly or even monthly — whatever keeps you in conversation with your goals.

Then define the “how”

Once you know where you’re going, map the methods:

• • What actions matter most?

  • What should be measured?

  • What needs to happen first?

  • What can wait?

Review these quarterly to stay honest about new information or changing realities.

A practical example

Let’s say your main goal is:
“Reach 100 clients by year-end.”

Your quarterly goals, lead-generation channels, content strategy, and weekly tasks should all connect to that outcome. If you discover — through data or conversation — that social media isn’t driving leads but referral partnerships are, you reprioritize.

This is how solopreneurs avoid busywork and stay in forward motion.

• Set Boundaries for Your Work Hours (With Built-In Flexibility) – This is key as it time boxes the energy you’ll dedicate to different aspects of your work.

  Boundaries don’t restrict you — they protect your focus and energy. They help you decide intentionally instead of reactively.

  For solopreneurs, boundaries are rarely rigid. Instead, think of them as time-boxed zones of focus.

Example

If your goal is 100 clients, you could work nonstop. But you likely have other meaningful goals, like being present for your family.

Try time-boxing:

• • Work: 8am–3pm

  • Family: 3pm–8pm

This doesn’t make life perfect (it never is), but it gives you a default structure so that when exceptions arise, you’re aware of the tradeoff.

• Schedule personal time & practice self-care – Including time for you ensures that you are more effective when you are focused on your work. Burnout is the silent killer of solopreneur momentum.

  The truth:
  You are the engine of your business. If the engine fails, everything stops.

  This is why self-care isn’t indulgent — it’s operational strategy.

  Personal time strengthens your:

  • Creativity

  • Courage

  • Emotional resilience

  • Ability to make decisions

  • Willingness to keep going

  This can be as small as a daily walk, unstructured creative time, therapy, workouts, or even guilt-free downtime with mind-numbing TV. Solopreneurs aren’t machines — and the more you recognize that, the better your business performs.

  Learn to say no – Using Your Priorities as a Compass – Always easier to say than to practice. 

This is the hardest habit for solopreneurs because it feels like every opportunity might be the opportunity. 

But saying yes without strategy often leads to:

• • Overwhelm

  • Dilution of focus

  • Wasted energy

  • Slow progress toward what actually matters

Once you’ve defined your goals and time boxes, let them guide your decisions. Anything that doesn’t push you toward your selected priorities is a “no” — not because it’s bad, but because it doesn’t align. This doesn’t mean shut yourself off to all inputs – it means that you should measure all new opportunities against your established goals. If you determine this opportunity has a high likelihood to help you achieve your goals faster – hop on! But also reprioritize the other work to take that into account.

Saying no is the natural extension of saying yes intentionally.