When running your own business it is very easy to run yourself into the ground as it feels like there is always something that needs to be done…
How do you know how to control it and yourself?
I think it’s essential (For our sanity) that weall learn how to draw the imaginary line for ourselves because business has a sneaky way of taking over every aspect of your life if you are not careful! Discipline…
Freelancing from home and staying productive is an artform in itself but learning how to give yourself dedicated time and area to work in will help leaps and bounds. Find somewhere where you can clearly mark your need for privacy while you work and don’t come out until your done!
Make it clear from the outset with your clients how your working relationship will be structured. Calls after 5pm will not be answered! Emails will not be responded to on weekends and bank holidays! You must train your clients to work in the way you do, and not the other way round.
Learn to say noAs freelancers we tend to leap t any work with open arms just because it is paying and will inject nicely into our cash flow. Also, some of us are people pleasers and simply do not like letting people down. However, is this a profitable business strategy?
Taking on jobs which will eat into your resources (time) for the sake of it, might not allow you to complete other jobs to their highest standard so you may lose referrals (those beauties) . Look at saying no / look at outsourcing? / look at passing on jobs to other freelancers for commission?
One of your most valuable resources is your time. Thus, it makes sense to organise and optimise its usage to avoid its waste. Find a system to prioritise each day / week /month the tasks that you need to complete. There will inevitably be things that pop up and eat into your time but at least you have a point of reference to go back to once you have dealt with such an eventuality.
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