Doing Better Business From Home – A Few Little Habits Can Make a Big Difference
Running a home business can be rewarding, but thousands of small business owners are finding they put in more hours working for themselves than they ever did working for someone else. Smart business owners must continually weigh the pluses and minuses, and learn to manage everyday tasks more efficiently to reclaim lost time. Over time, it pays. Thankfully, we live in a technological age that allows us to do what we love from whatever location we choose, and enables us to manage personal matters from our desks to shop everything from groceries to auto insurance. The time and gas you used to blow running errands in the car can now be recycled back to your business, home, or family. The time you save by shopping online could leave you time to pamper the boss – YOU!
Re-learning self-management may be tough at first, but it does get easier. Just make a few small rules for yourself, and stick to them.
Rule #1) Open business mail during business hours. A problem you might find on a statement will only frustrate and upset you if you can't access the appropriate representative to get it resolved. Unfinished business is a strain on your brain. You'll only carry it around – maybe all weekend long. Why lose sleep over something you can do nothing about? Instead, choose to rejuvenate with family, then start fresh in the morning.
Rule #2) Ever notice how list-makers tend to accomplish more? Write down all those things you need to do. Putting pen to page makes ideas tangible. At day's end, you can count the check marks of tasks you completed, and see real progress. That's empowering.
Rule #3) Start each day with a clean desk. It's a small discipline, but that island of order can keep your mind fresh all day, no matter how chaotic things get!