Do you have time to meet friends for dinner this weekend? How about if I phoned you right now and invited you out for coffee? If enjoyment and relaxation are a part of your daily regime — cool, you’re one step ahead of most of us. But, if spur of the moment means suddenly discovering internet radio on your laptop while you hammer out to-do list after to-do list — read on.

Yeah, lists are a major part of ultimate organization and successful life planning for entrepreneurs. Because we’re personally invested in our business, our jobs can potentially create more of a mental and emotional strain on us than working for the man. Our business means more to us, so thoughts of it constantly leak into our personal life.

You should have passion and emotion invested in your business. But, if you don’t carefully plan for activities that are completely unrelated to biz — you’re setting yourself up for real disaster. It’s so common to get overwhelmed in the beginning of a new venture because we think we don’t have time for ourselves.

Ready for remedy? Prioritize. And put health on the top of your list. Without health you have nothing. Health is a combination of physical mental and emotional wellness, so consider all three. I find that a good way to start prioritizing is to begin with three separate lists. One should read personal, one financial and the third, business.

Worry not about the titles of the lists – it’s the concept of prioritizing that will be most beneficial to you. If you run your business from home, like I do, it is absolutely necessary to get out of the house EVERY DAY. A morning walk and yoga routine helps keep you all around healthy and gets you ready for the day.

Talk about making the most out of your time! Yoga’s a great practice for the business-minded, because in its pure form it encourages focus, wellness and peace of mind. If not yoga — Google Chi Gong, and start on your own. Or, I’d love to hear if you’ve got another form of exercise/meditation that works for you.

You come to completely understand the phrase you are what you eat after you’ve spent 43 waking hours in front of the computer nibbling on Doritos, and suddenly notice that you can’t wipe the orange off your lips. A balanced diet is the key to maintaining your energy and appearance as you put in those long hours. Plus, buying healthy can cost less than those preservative filled snacks –think about it.

Round off your personal priorities with family time, taking care of your house, fun time, free time (that means time to get coffee when I invite you), and anything else that does not involve money. Also, give yourself at least ONE full day off from any work or scheduling.

Your financial list needs to outline your current situation and your future goals. You need to make time to ensure that your bills are being paid correctly and effectively. Don’t get so caught up in planning your biz that your personal finances go down the toilet. Consolidate if it makes sense for you, but keep a constant eye on those automatic payments.

I’m sure you’ve probably drawn out a business plan – or have one in the works. Your business priority list is not the same as your prospectus. It’s a list of business related tasks that you need to do in the next two weeks (or preferred time frame).

Gather your three lists and create a calendar that you can follow for two weeks. Set reachable goals and test the waters for a two week period. Key points to stick to are work-day begin and end time, time available for meetings, how much time you will allow yourself to remain on the phone with a client (and I’ll get into effective phone conversations in another entry), break time and brain-storming time.

Business demands a bit of routine. Routine allows for relaxation and fun. I know you have 10,000 new ideas that need to get out and a bunch of work that’s looming over your head. But, if you had a set time when you allowed yourself to brainstorm and get those ideas out, and a set time for focusing on current projects I assure you that you’d breathe easier.

Start today, if you haven’t already. It’ll probably take 2-3 hours to create a do-able schedule, and a week to get used to it. Forcing yourself to conform to your own rules will enhance your discipline and managerial skills — and ultimately make you happier!!