How to work effectively when you’re a solopreneur

Being your own boss is great – you’ve got no-one telling you what to do, you completely manage your own workload and set all your own deadlines. The downside, of course, is that if you make any mistakes, you’ve only got yourself to blame.

And there’s no-one else around to take up the slack if you’re really busy or having a bit of an off day. Many solopreneurs who work from home or are alone in their office also report a lack of motivation to get on with things and knuckle down to the task in hand.

Without having someone overseeing your work, or colleagues whose productivity encourages you to focus on your task, you risk becoming demotivated and lethargic, which leads to lower productivity. So we’ve put together a few tips and ‘tricks of the trade’ to help you work smarter and more effectively.

Have a good daily work routine

We know that one of the reasons for setting up by yourself is to get away from the old 9-5 routine, but having some structure and routine in your day really will help keep you motivated.

There are tasks that need to be completed every day or every week, so allocate the estimated amount of time in your calendar and make sure you spend that time doing them. If the tasks are routine and a little bit boring, schedule them for the time of day when you’re less energetic, and leave the work that’ll bring in paying clients to a time when you’re in better shape mentally to deal with them.

Keep on top of the business budgets

You always need to know what’s happening with your finances as, by always keeping an eye on both your gross profit and net profit, you will be able to use your turnover to not only help you stay on track, but also able to make better informed business decisions.

Take regular breaks from the internet

Who can resist the pull of emails, or checking what’s going on in the world via social media? Unfortunately, every time you do this, you break your concentration, and even if you’re only spending a minute or two away from your task, it’ll take time to refocus on it. Researchers have found that it takes nearly 25 minutes to properly refocus on a task after an interruption – bad enough if someone has broken your concentration to ask a relevant question, but every time you check your email, you’re making your own life more difficult! The solution is to block out a certain amount of time when you don’t look at emails or social media, or whatever it is that distracts you whilst you’re working, so you can really focus on what you’re doing and become much more productive.

Escape from your desk. Go for a walk

The main advantage of being your own boss is that you can get up and go for a wander whenever you need to. It’s amazing how much you can refocus on your work if you have a little break. A study by researchers at the University of Georgia found that 10 minutes of walking up and down stairs at a low-intensity pace is more energising than a cup of coffee. Just five minutes away from your desk could be the difference between struggling on a task for ages and having that light-bulb moment which enables you to finish it almost straightaway.

If you would like to enhance your focus and motivation by working in a collaborative environment (we even have a flight of stairs to help your energy levels!), click here to inquire about our range of office space available in central Hertford.