Working from home can be both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, you have the flexibility to work when and where you want. On the other hand, it can be difficult to stay focused when there’s nobody around to push you to get your work done. Solopreneurs or freelancers deal with this everyday. For some people this arrangement will be ideal, but for others it will be a struggle to stay motivated.
The day to day
Running your own business is hard work if you want it to be a success. Even if you enjoy the day to day work anyone can feel overwhelmed at times which can lead to becoming demotivated, or worse, depressed.
Setting goals
It can be helpful to set a goal for the day and then work towards achieving it. This can give you a sense of purpose and help you stay on track. Be careful however to not be unrealistic in setting your goal or you’ll risk causing yourself unnecessary stress if you cant reach it.
Make a list
Next you need to tackle your goal. If you make a ‘to do’ list it can help to stay focused. Break down your list into smaller tasks so you can more easily track your progress. A list is also helpful to remind yourself of where you are in carrying out a task if you have to pause for some reason, such as waiting on information from a client or supplier.
Take breaks
Working from home can be exhausting, so it’s important to take breaks. Get up and move around or take a break to eat something healthy.
Breaks are also useful as a reward. For instance, you might tell yourself you can have a break once you’ve completed a task. Allowing yourself a small reward is a great way to stay motivated.
Stay connected to others
Working from home as a freelancer or solopreneur can be lonely, so make sure to stay connected to others. Talk to your friends and family, or join an online forum or Facebook group related to your work. Providing you manage your time so that you are able to meet your daily targets, this can be a great way to stay motivated and on track.
Set a time limit
If you have a specific time frame for completing a task, you’re more likely to stay focused, but make sure you are realistic. An unrealistic time frame might result in feelings of failure if you dont meet it. This will likely affect your confidence and be demotivating. Remember to revise your time frame if anything changes to affect your ability to complete your goals.
Meeting deadlines
As a solopreneur or freelancer you will have deadlines, over which you have little control, to deal with at some point. These could be set by a client, dictated by production timelines or to do with producing financial statements for tax purposes. Most people experience some degree of stress when it comes to meeting deadlines and this will have an impact on motivation. For some, it’s the pressure of having to deliver on time that creates stress. For others, it may be the fear of failure or the insecurity of not being good enough. You need to address such deadlines in the same way as any task if you want to mitigate the stress.
First understand the root of the stress you experience when facing a deadline. Perhaps you need to set better boundaries for yourself or take some time for yourself to relax and recharge. You might also need to be more organized and efficient in your work. Or you may just need to be kinder to yourself. No one expects you to be a super hero, you just need to make a plan, a strategy to get from A to B.
Next you need to put the plan into action. This is where the hard work begins. It’s important to avoid getting sidetracked. Write a to do list. By breaking the task down into smaller parts you’ll stay focused on one step at a time.
When the goal is met you’ll feel the pleasure of having achieved your goal, so take a moment to celebrate. Depending on the goal you might be cracking open a bottle of champaign or just taking the rest of the day off to go shopping or to meet friends. The important point is that marking the moment a goal or deadline is completed is an important part of keeping motivated. If you take some time to relax and recharge, you’ll be ready to take on the next challenge invigorated by the success of the previous one.
And finally….
Achieving your goals, meeting deadlines and dealing with stress are an everyday part of running your own startup. If your approach to this isn’t right it can lead to you putting things off and feeling overwhelmed.
Staying motivated and focused is the key to success and finding the way to achieve this that is right for you, your circumstances and business is crucial. In this sense we are all unique. The good news is the problems we experience as a startup are not unique. Connect to professional forums and maintain your social circles, whether online or otherwise. Its a great way to keep everything in perspective and its a great way to stay motivated.