Make Working Alone Work For You by @happyhealthysam

by Samantha Attard | Featured Contributor

Being your own boss has many benefits, but there are some downsides. Solopreneurs don’t hav same camaraderie, retirement parties, or vacation days as the office-working set. We often lack people to troubleshoot issues or celebrate wins with. It can hard to measure progress and keep yourself on track without a boss breathing down your neck.

Today, I wanted to share the common traps that entrepreneurs can fall into and how to overcome them.

4 ways to have a more productive workday (despite working for yourself):

1. Get dressed and shower early. In can be tempting to roll out of bed, and immediately get hooked up to the computer. The next time you look up, it’s 3pm and you’re still in your PJs. That’s no good for your energy, productivity, or your sense of worth! Instead, make a habit of getting showered and dressed in comfortable clothes that wouldn’t be confused as sleep wear before noon. You’ll find yourself more alert at your desk, and it will help you feel like you have a real job.
2. Take mini-breaks throughout your day. This can be incredibly difficult to do. Your to-do list is a mile long, and there’s a lot of work to do! But not taking time for your breaks has multiple negative effects. First, it makes it difficult to track what you’ve actually accomplished. Without those breaks, you can end your day feeling like you haven’t done anything of worth!Instead, take a few breaths and a pause between your major projects. It will help you take a second to acknowledge and appreciate the work you just completed.
3. Enjoy computer-free meals. Eating in front of the computer is one of the most common and worst work habits that I see in my clients. There are a few reasons why stopping for meals can revolutionize your work day:First, stopping for your meals provides your brain a break. You’ve been working hard throughout the day, and your brain needs a few minutes of rest, so that you can be at your most productive in the afternoon. Second, eating in front of the computer means your brain isn’t registering the food in front of you. This is a recipe for over-eating and feeling under-satisfied with your food.

   Do yourself a favor: shut off the computer for 30 minutes, sit near a window (or even better, go outside!) Eat your lunch, day dream, and return to work refreshed.

4. Hold regular business meetings. When you work for yourself, staying accountable to your goals and larger vision can be difficult. With so many last-minute emails and issues that pop-up, strategic planning can go to the wayside. This hurts your business because you’re not tracking what is and what isn’t working.So open up your calendar, choose a time of the week that tends to be meeting free, and book it. Take yourself out to coffee, order in lunch, have a business meeting to look at your finances, your goals, and see how your business is performing. You’ll be grateful that you did, as you spot issues and celebrate your successes!

Working for myself is one of my greatest pleasures, and I wouldn’t have it any different. But there are some common pitfalls that can keep you from your best business success. So start taking your appreciation breaks, stopping for lunch, and holding business meetings. You’ll be glad you did.

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Samantha Attard is a wellness coach and yoga instructor living in Washington, DC. She doesn’t help her entrepreneurial clients have it all, she helps them have what they want. Sam develops individualized wellness plans with her clients so that they can run their businesses and lives with energy and confidence. Currently completing her PhD in Nutrition, Sam helps her clients optimize their diets, their exercise routines, and their attitudes, so they feel less stressed, more productive, and more joyful. Learn more about Sam’s blog and business, Happy Healthy Human, at SamanthaAttard.com, and be sure to follow her on Instagram @happyhealthysam for tips on nutrition and living an integrated, healthy life.

Samantha Attard