Founding a company or being one of the first employees at an early-stage startup is attractive for many reasons. It's exhilarating to build something from nothing, and there's always the hope for a large payout for your efforts.

But for many, the untold story is that starting a business comes at the sacrifice of your personal life. A startup demands grueling schedules and laser-focused dedication, making it easy to become separated from the people and things you care about.

If you're struggling with this very situation, here are some strategies you can use to keep your personal life on track while you navigate the realities of a startup.

1. Don't alienate your partner.

My husband and I are both entrepreneurs and have launched several businesses together, so it helps that we both get what it means to be a business owner. But according to Meg Cadoux Hirshberg, author of For Better or for Work: A Survival Guide for Entrepreneurs and Their Families, the startup phase typically puts the most stress on couples and families. Financial insecurity is at its peak, and the entrepreneur's level of distraction is at its worst.

One of the most important things you can do is involve your partner in the business. When things are particularly stressful, our instinct is to retreat inwards and shield our partner from business problems, like a missed payroll or bad press review. The problem is, these stresses follow you home anyway, and involving your partner can help make him or her feel more invested in the startup.

If the crazy schedule of launching (or working at) a startup is pulling you away from time at home, you should discuss the impact this has on your partner and relationship. If possible, find extra help to pitch in on the domestic front. And always remember to acknowledge how much your partner is sacrificing during your journey.

See also: Questions to ask before starting a business in 2015

2. Stop worrying what everyone else thinks.

When business owners go through professional rough patches, they start to pull away from social gatherings. Sometimes it's because they're too busy, but often it's to avoid inevitable questions, such as, "How's the business?" and "Did you close that round of funding?" and "How many employees are you up to now?"

A few years ago my business was struggling; we were hemorrhaging cash and our accountant gave the hard news that if we kept up with the status quo, we could expect to close the doors soon. I panicked: What would my friends think, our neighbors, other parents at school?

My biggest lesson has been that starting a business is a marathon, filled with ups and downs, and I was putting myself under too much pressure worrying about what everyone else thought.

Not every startup is going to be the next Facebook or Slack. As long as you're putting yourself out there, working hard, and doing what you love, there is nothing to be ashamed of.

3. Make the time you have count.

You're not going to have as much time to spend with family and friends as you'd like. This is particularly true during the early stages — which can last anywhere from six months to three years.

When you are able to meet friends for drinks or have dinner with the family, make it count. That means putting away the phone. It may seem harmless to you to check the occasional email, but it's distancing to those around you.

See also: 8 things to do before launching a business this year

4. Focus on what matters.

In addition to learning how to put away your phone, one of the more important skills you can develop is to prioritize your social calendar to focus on the people and things that matter most to you. You may find you need to trim your social calendar and network to a core group of close friends and family.

Meet a friend for an hour or two; give your sister a call, even if it can only be a quick chat. Maintaining these connections will be essential to keep you grounded and sane.

5. Avoid startup tunnel vision.

Startup founders and early-stage employees are incredibly passionate about the product and company they are building. You need to believe in what you're doing; otherwise, you'd never put up with the long hours and all that crap that typically accompanies a bootstrapped budget.

While passion is your fuel, it can also be a problem without the right perspective. Don't alienate friends and loved ones with an attitude that your startup is the only important thing happening in the world. Check in with how other people are doing and ask what they're working on. Most importantly, don't dominate every conversation with stories about your product and journey.

No one is perfect at balancing work and social life. Despite the best of intentions, there will be times when stress and/or ego get in the way. The best we can do is to be honest about the challenges, be mindful of how our schedule impacts everyone else and work hard to make others a priority from time to time.

Just as starting a business is a continual learning process, so is navigating relationships in the shadow of a startup.