Many people dream of the opportunity to start a business from home, and who can blame them? There are many perks to this arrangement, including the chance to have some quiet time while you work, to pick your own wardrobe, and skip the commute. However, while it sounds great at first, many professionals fall into the trap of becoming workaholics and they quickly burn out.
This unfortunate situation typically occurs because home business owners can work at any time and can easily become glued to the desk. Not only is this issue bad for our mental health, but it can also impact our family life and have rippling effects down the road. The good news is that you can regain control of your life. We have some tips for how you can retain a healthy lifestyle even when you work from your house.
1. Maintain a Work-Life Balance
Once you decide to start your business from home, the first step you need to take is to ensure that you maintain a work-life balance by setting your operating hours and sticking to them. An example would be starting at nine in the morning and working until five or six at night at the latest. That will give you some time to hang with the kids, eat dinner, and get to bed at a reasonable time so you can feel refreshed the next day. Once you set your working hours, you must stick to them.
While you may have a lot to do as you are getting your business off the ground, you must not risk overworking because doing so could negatively impact your health. In addition to feeling fatigued, you’ll also likely feel stressed, and that can lead to ailments like high blood pressure. That is in addition to the fact that if you are at work all day, you are not ever exercising, which in itself can lead to poor cholesterol levels and an increased risk of heart disease.
Keep in mind that you may need to adjust your business hours a bit more if you are still showing signs of overworking, such as stalled productivity, back and neck aches, or if you find that turning to alcohol is the only way you can relax. You need to watch your health if you want this home business plan to work.
2. Get Organized
A great way to be more productive and avoid stressful situations is to ensure that your files and projects are properly organized so you can find what you need at a moment’s notice. Keep your physical paperwork in a filing cabinet and make sure to shred what you no longer need, especially if it contains company or customer data.
You can keep all of your files in one place and avoid unnecessary clutter by opting for a paperless setup. By doing so, you will eliminate the need for a physical filing system, and you will have all of your digital documents together, either on your computer or on a backup server.
When it comes to organizing your online files, make sure that you have a proper naming convention, so you know where to look and how to find the particular document that you need. A good convention will include dates and times. Also, consider putting older items into zip folders which will compress them so they are smaller and you can fit more documents without slowing your computer.
3. Talk to People
We talk a lot about ensuring that you spend time with family, but if you are single or live alone, then you need to take your own special precautions to retain your sanity. It is easy to work all day and night when you don’t have someone calling you down for dinner, but that routine can quickly wear you out. So, if you live alone, take some time out every once in a while to call your friends or loved ones and touch base. Self-isolating is a bad way to maintain your mental health, so a friendly voice may be what you need to remember what is important and to stay grounded.
4. Manage Distractions
If you feel like you are just not getting as much work done as you hope to each day, then the issue may be that there are too many distractions in your workspace. While you should definitely take breaks, if you turn on and get stuck watching the TV, then your day could quickly go out the window. Set specific times for breaks, and if you have a big project that is due, then make it a point to turn the TV off, put your personal cell phone in a drawer, and close your office door, so you aren’t distracted by kids or pets.
5. Think Sustainably
If you are anxious at work, or you want to avoid becoming stressed, then you may need to change up your office setup or add in some new features, and when you do, think sustainably. You may not have thought of utilizing eco-friendly aspects, but in addition to helping the planet, they could also help you to be more productive.
For instance, by placing your desk next to a window, you will be able to see your work clearly without the need to turn on lights and waste energy. On top of all that, natural light has also been found to boost productivity while also increasing your vitamin D production, which protects you from disease and keeps your body strong.
You can also do wonders by adding plants to your space. You don’t have to go overboard, but by having a couple of potted plants, you will purify the air around you, and research shows that having them nearby can also help to reduce stress and improve your focus.
6. Get Help If You Need It
If the stresses of work are becoming too much and neither better organization nor an improved work-life balance is providing relief, then you may need to take some time out to talk to a mental health professional. Just remember that if you are feeling overwhelmed, you are not alone because many business managers can feel like you do now.
One idea that many people are trying is recreational therapy, where the individual partakes in leisure activities to improve their physical and mental well-being. To get started, you would work with a therapist who would talk to you and see what you enjoy doing in your off-time. Then, you simply go and do what you love. The therapist is with you along the way.
In the case that you just need some quick advice, you can try to talk to a therapist over the phone using any number of available apps.
As you can see, there are many ways that you can improve your situation at home so you can run your business smoothly and reach the goals you have set. Just remember to take it one day at a time, and you will find the success that you crave.
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