Moving beyond 9-5 to setting your own schedule
What 'they' say your work from home office will look like
Transitioning from 9-5 in an office to making my own hours was one of the toughest things about going solo. Like most people on the brink of business ownership, I’d read lots about the pleasures of living the freelance dream. Working in my slippers, knocking off at lunchtime on Fridays and popping to the uncrowded supermarket during others’ peak work times definitely appealed.
One thing I discovered is that while there are a gazillion shiny stories about the joys of working out of your local ‘coffice’, the downside of the shift to solo operating gets much less air time. Advice on managing zero boundaries to working 24/7 hardly gets a mention. Nor does the lurking guilt that hits when your working day slips below eight hours (who made that rule anyway?). Finally there’s the sorry and under reported fact that while your cat/ dog/ wall may talk back occasionally, they’re generally not up for a sustained conversation.
One of the first bits of advice I tried and failed to follow suggested writing down your ideal week. This was hugely confronting. I felt I had to pin down and schedule the perfect mix of everything in my life - relationships, health, business, learning, hobbies etc. Figuring this out was just too daunting. So I gave up on that.
Since then I’ve learned lots about how and when and where I work best. I’ve learned to balance the competing demands on my time and energy in (mostly) sane ways.
Here is what I suggest:
1. Find your daily rhythm
I work most productively in the mornings. I start my working day with marketing, administration and writing jobs that tend to go well first thing. If I left these often ‘less absorbing‘ tasks until later my natural capacity for procrastination might set in. By the afternoon I’ve got that satisfying feeling of accomplishment that comes with getting stuff done. This is a great time to be really present for clients.
Observe your energy levels throughout the day and work out your best times for focussing on different things. When is it best to exercise, do admin, see clients, be creative or take time off?
Working to your natural rhythm most of the time makes you more efficient settled and productive. This means you’re more adaptive and flexible on days when your ‘must dos’ don’t match your preferred time slots.
2. List ‘ 3 things to do’
Some days I seem to switch to ‘autopilot’. I work through one task after another getting things done, without prioritising what really needs doing. While I’m ‘knocking off’ routine jobs, somehow I’m not satisfied at the end the day.
To beat this feeling of automated underachieving, try starting your day with some clear intentions. Write down three things that you will get done. Add some reciprocal accountability by exchanging ‘3 to dos ‘ texts with a fellow freelancer or business owing buddy.
Sorting my three things makes me feeling great. Not only that, this deceptively simple bit of mindful planning has a bonus flow on effect making me more productive and focused throughout my day.
3. Schedule social time
If you work from home or in a small office as I do, you can go a whole day without interacting socially with another human. Even for introverts like me there’s a limit to how much quiet time alone I can healthily handle! This (literally) hysterical clip contains a warning about the potential pitfalls for all of us who work from home.
a) Hang out with other solo business owners
Social time is extremely important for prevention and cure of Entrepreneur Flu. Chatting honestly to like-minded solo workers really helps to normalise what you’re experiencing and halves the problem. It is also a chance to share business advice, grow your network or simply bounce ideas. Finally it’s also the time to sing the praises of our flexible entrepreneur lifestyle - as a friend and I often do!
b) Be with your nearest and dearest
My office colleague
I work two evenings a week. Without our regularly scheduled ‘before work’ coffee dates I could go for days without a proper conversation with my husband.
One of the perks of working for yourself is the luxury of scheduling your own time. Take advantage of this to book lunch with a mate who works near where you have an afternoon meeting. Make a catch up call to a friend on their lunch break.
While coaching offers brilliant two way learning, it’s also one sided. I love hearing all about someone else and supporting them in what they are doing. They talk 90% and I talk 10% so sometimes it leaves me needing to regroup and recalibrate by nattering away to a good mate. I aim for one personal human interaction per day - this might happen by design with my personal trainer or maybe by accident with my hairdresser. I also aim for at least two social chats during ‘normal working hours’ each week.
4. Schedule self care
The risk, responsibility and downright loneliness of running your own show can be overwhelming. Sometimes you need to ditch that ‘to do’ list and take extra care of yourself. Day to day, I know that if I take time to care for me, I’m a much better coach. I work on finding self care that fits my ‘office hours’ including; exercise, healthy cooking, walking by the water, cat cuddles and chatting with mates.
Working in the evening means I also need to take a break in the day so I’m not doing marathon 12 hour stints.
5. Look backwards and forwards every Thursday
a) Fill your ‘Win Jar’ – review what you have achieved for the week and celebrate wins of all sizes. Write these gems on pieces of paper and put them in a jar. On a bad day, empty them out and remind yourself of how much you have done and how brilliant you really are!
b) Check your diary for the next week. Is it totally jam-packed? If you feel you’ve crammed in too much, move some things about. Make sure you’ve scheduled in some self care and social time.
6. Find your boundaries
Make the most of the autonomy that comes with running your own business. Most times you don’t have to be at others’ beck and call, so set your own sensible deadlines.
I love to finish my day having done the things I set out to do. This beats working myself to the bone because I’ve taken on more than I can elegantly acquit in my available working hours.
Finally, a word on the potentially vexing matter of hours, who decreed we should work eight of them consecutively for five days a week?
I suggest you find what works for you and stick with that.
By Jo Green, Career Change Coach
I know what it feels like to be lost in your career. I also know that when you find what you love, heart and soul, your life changes. I work every day with people who are reshaping their current careers, starting new enterprises or searching for a new direction. Basically I help people who don’t like their job to figure out what to do instead!
As a Careershifters and Firework Advanced Certified Coach and experienced career changer myself, I can help you figure out what fulfilling work looks like for you.
Drop me a note to organise a free 20 minute consultation to chat about your career change and how coaching could help.
