WHEN we work for ourselves it’s really easy to get trapped in the treadmill and lose sight of the passion and drive we had at the outset.
Stress can become the norm – even a little addictive – and our physical and emotional wellbeing can start to suffer. Very often, we don’t even notice it happening.
These eight tips – or ‘life hacks’ – are some I’ve learned along the way. I wish I’d known and followed them at the outset and I hope they help you as much as they’ve help the coaching clients I’ve shared them with over the years.
If you have any of your own to add, please do share them in the comments.
Here we go…
1. Ask for help – outsource.
There is little sadder than someone stagnating in a pool of brilliant ideas.
2. Reward yourself – give yourself a pat on the back for the little wins.
Learn to be happy with your own progress rather than needing it from outside sources – it’ll keep you going and praise from others becomes a bonus, rather than a requirement.
3. Learn to listen to your body and emotions enough to recognise when you need a break.
Take time for YOU. It’s easy to keep ploughing forward and ignoring the pebbles until we end up knackered and run down. It’s harder to achieve wonderful things when we’re ill and exhausted!
4. Network!
Get out there and meet other people – don’t have pre-conceived ideas about the size of business you want to meet or dismiss others you don’t yet know. Share your successes, build a support network, be willing to help and BE helped. It’s amazing how many ideas, leads and solutions good networking can provide. Done properly, business networking is an excellent investment of time and cash.
5. Take the first hour of the day for you and your development.
Read, journal, meditate – whatever it takes. It’ll help focus your mind and set you up for the day.
6. Get into the habit of going to sleep on a positive thought.
Think of something you’re really looking forward to the next day, or spend a couple of seconds saying how grateful you are for the hours of sleep you’re about to have, that it’s the perfect amount of time your body needs to recharge and rest and that the next day will be awesome. The last thought you have before going to sleep is often your first thought of the next day, so this simple technique can really help to switch your mindset.
7. Have an outcome in mind.
Hold onto a picture of where you want to end up – make it as clear as you possibly can and check in with it regularly. Make sure it’s something you feel passionate about and believe in. Keep moving towards that intention and you won’t go far wrong.
8. Whatever you’re doing, make it something you enjoy.
Work/life balance isn’t about cramming for 10 hours and then squeezing a bit of exhausted time in with your loved ones, it’s about loving what you do so much it doesn’t feel like work – you’ll be happier, the people around you will be happier and you won’t resent your ‘job’. If you’re going to work for yourself, it’s a no-brainier to do something you love.
Remember – if you have tips of your own to share, please do add them in the comments.
Until next time,
#UnleashYourAwesome
Taz
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• Need a bit of help and support? Someone to keep you on track, encourage you to keep your life and business moving in the right direction, or keep the stresses down and successes up? Click here for details of my coaching and mentoring programmes.
