Love having your own business but sometimes feel like it’s all hard work and no play?
We’ve all experienced this at one time or another. It can often start as a phase where you feel that you really aren’t connecting with your work. And sometimes this stage extends into a permanent situation of stress or reduced enthusiasm. So much to do, so little time…and before you know it you’re dreading the tasks on your to-do.
Here’s 5 ways to move out of that drudgery or avoid going there altogether!
1. Make sure your work aligns with your values
If your work is in conflict with your values you are more likely to experience anxiety and a lack of fulfillment in what you are doing. It’s best to check in and get this sorted now, to make sure that your business is developing in the way that will support your personal needs and lifestyle. Aligning your values to your work is the path to true fulfillment and results. Check out my article here on how to identify your values.
2. Work at the pace that works for you
We all have an idea of how much we should be getting done, but where is that measurement coming from? Now, we are all unique individuals, but as driven Solopreneurs there’s a good chance that many of you are expecting a lot from yourself. Is that you? To enjoy your work you need to be realistic about your workload but even more so about how you work. Find the pace that works for you, where you are focused but not stressed or overwhelmed. You can still be as productive even when you slow down a little- believe me!
3. Have a specific goals plan
A specific goals plan is peace of mind– there I said it. It really is! It’s like you’ve set a goal and paved a step by step process, so when you sit down to work, all you have to do is look at the next step. It makes it easier to forget about the rest of the things you have to do because you know you’ve already planned for it. It’s all done, so you can just focus working on this current step.
4. Do each task as if it is the only one you have to do
I love this idea. You totally have to give this a try. When you sit down to do a task, simply start by thinking only about that particular task, not anything you need to do after. You kind of “pretend” it’s the only task for today. What does that do? It relaxes you first of all, and it brings you into the present moment where you can give the task your full attention. The result is that you will become absorbed in what you’re doing. And anytime that happens, you truly enjoy what you’re doing.
5. Create clear boundaries for work and non-work times
It’s easier to enjoy your work when it is fitting in with your lifestyle and not taking over your life. Okay, busy work periods are inevitable in any business, but you should still maintain healthy boundaries even if your work hours have increased. What do I mean by this? Have specific days or parts of days that are designated a “work-free” zone. You can do anything in these times, but no work and that also means no looking at email on your phone. Creating clear boundaries will help you recharge by being completely away from your work both mentally and physically. Then when you are back at the desk, you will have more energy and mental clarity. This will in turn improve your enjoyment of your work and eliminate the struggle to focus.