03 Feb Tips for small business owners and self-employed – keeping yourself motivated and on track!

You may have chosen to be self-employed, to run your own business or due to the circumstances you may have been nudged into a new pathway. Either way, it can be tough (and rewarding) transitioning from employment to being your own boss, here are some top tips to keep you on track, motivated and focussed!

Have a plan – Know what your long-term goal is and what you are wanting to gain from being self-employed or from your business. What are your motivations for being self-employed or running your own business? Is it a lifestyle choice to get a better balance of family life, do you have financial goals or are you simply passionate about selling your products and services? Knowing your values and what your end goal looks like will help you keep focussed and on track.

Set achievable targets – it’s important to have targets to aim for but it’s essential to make sure these are achievable and easy to break down to prevent feelings of overwhelm.

Establish some routine – we know it can be easy to slip into bad habits when you work for yourself and it can sometimes be a struggle to drag yourself into your office or out of bed in a morning, but having a little structure to your day will help keep you focussed. It is also easy to burn out when you are self-employed, with nobody telling you when to stop and start work, so setting yourself a time to start work and having set office or desk hours will help.

Taking a break – it’s also important that we learn to rest, whether this is going for a walk or having a coffee away from your desk. This will boost your productivity and help you be more focussed. Exercising or taking some time outdoors with nature can also boost your mood and improve your mental well-being.

Surround yourself with positive people – by creating ‘team’ of people who yo catch up with or share ideas with, you will find it easier to get though your to-do list and may find that your creativity flows better. If you can, set up regular catch ups with people who know your business or industry – can you attend networking events or regular social events online, where you can chat to other people to prevent feelings of isolation.

Reward yourself – you are running your own business so make sure you see the benefits of this by getting the balance of the things that are important to you. Is it going for a walk or run? Or taking the kids to school (when they are back), make sure you stay focussed on what is important to you.

Timing is key – we know that running your own business can take creativity and flair –  sometimes this doesn’t always come as quick as we would like, allow yourself time for some tasks to take longer than others and don’t beat yourself up when jobs take a little longer.

Visualise your results – whatever your end goal is, you may find it useful to see your goal in front of you in your workspace. Is it that dream holiday, dream car or just more family time for example? Using a mood board, postcards or photographs can be helpful to keep you focussed.

Running your own business can be hard work, using some or all of these tips will help alleviate feelings of overwhelm and keep you focussed.