Running your own business is not an easy thing to do and it always feels like a constant grind. With this type of work style you can easily burn out, get stressed, and just not be happy at all. Here are six tips that I have integrated into my work routine that should help you be more effective and to feel better. These of course are not just for people who run their own business, they can be used in any type of situation really.
Wake up earlier – This is a big one! I used to be real lazy with this, I mean I make my own schedule, but waking up earlier has really helped me. For me I am more creative in the morning and I am more motivated. Waking up early allows me to do my morning routine and get many tasks out of the way fast. This way I am not stressed about getting certain things done. Later in the day I am more tired and I tend to push tasks off till the next day. Getting up early and completing these tasks first thing has really help me a lot!
Make a to-do list – This may seem like a simple thing to do, but you would be surprised at how easy this is to forget. If I don’t have a to-do list I really can’t organize my day and it is easy to get distracted by things like Facebook and YouTube. Having a to-do list gives me a clear direction of what I need to get done for that certain day and I can pick out the tasks I dread doing the most and get them done first. I typically make my to-do list the night before for the current day. That way it is sitting there ready to go when I wake up.
Exercise & Get to the gym – There have been times in my life where I wouldn’t go to the gym at all for like 6 months. Luckily because of my metabolism I didn’t turn into a fat slob, but getting exercise and going to the gym is very important. You would be surprised at how good you feel after going to the gym. Even if it’s a couple times a week it is much better than not going at all. When you feel better you are going to work so much better.
Eat Well – This goes hand in hand with going to the gym. You can eat garbage and expect to feel good. I used to eat fast food and really bad food all of the time, but eating foods like that is a real rarity these days. If you follow me on Instagram you know I eat quite well. Just like working out if you eat well, you are going to feel well. Skip the fast food and pack a healthy lunch or choose something better than fast food.
Get out of the house / office – I work from home and while it is great, it does have some downsides. One of the biggest is that I get tired of it easily and it is hard to be creative and on top of that it is easy to get distracted. You could feel the same about your office. At least once a week I try and get out of the house to work. I typically choose places like Starbucks, Panera, etc. A change of scenery can get those creative juices flowing for sure!
Take a break – As I said when you are working hard it feels like a constant grind. It is important to take a break. I typically don’t take many days off, but many times I will work a half-day where I’m out with my friends during the day and I come back home to work after. Taking a break from work and getting your mind off of it all really helps you recharge. Then you can go back to work recharged and ready to kick ass!
These are 6 things that have really helped me out, try and few and see if they can have the same effect on you!