This may sound counterintuitive, though it’s key if we’re building a business for the long haul.
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Productivity
Feeling stressed and overwhelmed? Do you feel increasingly tired throughout the day? Well, you’re not alone. Find out how to avoid burnout and how to develop healthier work habits.
I recently was preparing to be OOO (out of office!) for a week. I got to thinking about my prep this time v. my previous prep - and what I see many business owners do when trying to take time off. So I thought it'd be interesting to look at this together as taking time off is mission-critical for every business owner so they don't burn out.
A while back I purchased a $60 planner thinking it would be the solution to help me finally get organized. However, it felt like such a task just to fill it all out, so most days I didn't even open it. Eventually, I realized that the design put me into overload space.
Now, I keep my weekly task planning super simple. This is what I use and how I do it.
For as much as I like to talk about playing big, let’s talk about how starting small will help you get there.
When we get inspired to “go big,” we usually can’t see the path to get there at first. So we make plans and fill our planners with the best of intentions…but we’re often left frustrated when it doesn’t happen the way we thought it would.
From time to time I discover a new trick, app, or system that solves some small frustration or issue I’ve been dealing with, and it just makes me so happy I have to share. The following discoveries I’ve made aren’t really about solving big issues, but rather help with those little things that streamline your day and bring a little delight and ease to your business.
You know those days where you’re feeling a little discouraged by business?
The days where you haven’t made one sale.
Those moments when you feel disappointed that you only have one client.
The times where you start doing the math on what you have currently and what you need…and it feels daunting.
Yep, those days happen. But you have a choice as to how you’re going to deal with them. You can either decide that it’s a lost cause and you’ll never get there. You can get sucked into the overwhelm and start googling jobs on Craigslist.
Or you can ask a few simple questions about how you can take just one baby step forward.
When you’re in charge of managing your time and your projects, you might get to the end of the week and think “where did the time go?! What have I even done this week?”
At least I know how that’s how some weeks feel to me!
It’s easy to have one week blend with another, and let projects get stretched out further than you’d like. It can be hard to keep yourself on track sometimes. But a quick weekly reflection can really help you to get clear on what’s working and what needs work.
Discipline is key to running your own business. But, man it can feel like drudgery sometimes.
If you find yourself putting off things that you need to do for your business time and time again (even though technically they’re in your “plan”), this video is for you.
These two mindset shifts have made a big difference to ensure that I don’t get distracted by the shiny objects that pop up constantly in my day.
Imagine a new email comes in from a potential client or customer asking about working with you. They're asking for a proposal for some custom work, a commissioned piece, or an on-going service.
You're excited! A new client is just what you need!
You want to get everything just right, so you spend the next 30 (50?) minutes carefully crafting a reply. You eagerly await their response and then...nothing.
Ever had that happen?
Now, not only did you not get a new client, but you burned valuable time and energy as well.
Do you ever feel like a 4 year old who just consumed a double espresso and a bag of cookies when you sit down to work? Like, your brain is a pinball machine and your thoughts are bouncing all over the place?
You know the deal, right? I've found I have to treat myself like a toddler and have implemented as many guardrails for productivity as possible so I can stay FOCUSED. Here are some of my favorite tools, apps, and ideas to prevent distraction:
If you live in a place where summer is short and glorious, you might be feeling the pull to just blow off your to-do list and enjoy the sunshine…you know you can't do that entirely, but man. It's tempting.
And if you’re also working another job, this becomes really hard! Here are a few ways to thoroughly enjoy your summer and still stay on track with your business.