Do you currently work for yourself? Or are you building up to finally taking the plunge? There is so much to consider when making a decision like this, not least the details of the business itself that you are looking to run. In order for you to focus your time and attention more on those details., let us share with you 4 tips for working for yourself that should make things run that little bit more smoothly.
- Create a workspace
If you are just starting out then it is likely that you are working from home. This is practical to do and some businesses work well being run out of the home over the long term. However, in order for this to be an effective arrangement you do need to create a workspace. It might just be a corner of a room or you might have a whole workshop to use, but whatever it is, you’ll want to ensure that your workspace is well-organized. There’s nothing worse than wasting time finding things and arranging desks and drawers when you could be moving forward with your day to day tasks. An untidy space can also lead to procrastination, an annoying urge that can sometimes strike those of us who work for ourselves. Don’t give in to it, get organized and get cracking.
- Get your books in order
We know that this one isn’t exciting, but it is so very important. You need to know your obligations regarding bookkeeping and taxes and ensure that you have all of the correct administration in place. From your first day, take the time to ensure you understand the records that you are required to keep and continue to do so. This is an area where you may benefit from getting the experts in to help you, as ignorance is not an acceptable excuse for failing to get this one right.
- Invest in IT
It is worth investing in a Desktop Performance Monitoring company, a business that can cover all of your IT needs, leaving you to focus on other areas. Frustrations caused by IT issues can take the non-technical amongst us days of lost work to resolve, along with the stresses caused, so it is worth assigning this task to the specialists.
- Give yourself a break
When you work for yourself it is so easy to fall into the trap of working all hours. Whilst this hard work feels good at the start, eventually, you are going to pay for it. It is difficult to switch off when you work for yourself, especially if you work from home as your office is always right there, but you absolutely need to do this from time to time. Be strict with yourself and assign yourself business hours, and then do clock off outside of these times. You need to give yourself a break from time to time to re-energize and you will then return to work and be much more productive afterward.
What tips would you add to this list?
Troy is a Freelance writer, editor, and author who lives, works, and plays in Boise, Idaho where he hikes, cycles, skis, and basically enjoys the outdoor lifestyle of the Northwest. Troy writes about business, sports, GIS, Education, and more. He is most passionate about writing suspense thrillers, and his work can be found at https://www.amazon.com/Troy-Lambert/e/B005LL1QEC/
