- Going Solo Live, learn to manage your work day, get into a routine and avoid making some mistakes the make you less effective. I keep blogging about this #GoingSolo, @Suw
We have already posted these stories about Going Solo Live here:
Going Solo – @Pistachio – how to use Twitter smartly NOT
Going Solo – Dennis Howlett – tax and finance
Going Solo – where do you start when you set a fee for your services?
Suw Charman gave us a presentation entitled When Passion Becomes Profession (balancing work and life):
1) Decide on your working day
Do not make it too long but be consistent build your day with rituals… start your day with whatever but do it every day. For instance, I have breakfast and then bring my son to day-care (or he stays home) at 8:00 o’clock, I start my workday.
Sometimes I take a break or go and shop for milk or bred around 15:00 hours… and so on.
Your end of day ritual is most important. Therefore, I sometimes do work in front of the TV and this might not be a good habit. I have to focus more on my family and take time out playing with my kid and talk to me wife after our son is in bed.
In addition, make sure that you go to bed at the same time each night, help your sleep and makes sure you wake up next day being ready to go.
2) Take time off
Friday evening mails do not have to be answered before Monday morning. Do not project your own expectations upon others; clients do not expect you to answer your e-mails over the weekend or during your holidays
Re-charge your batteries – you need to take time off. Even from Twitter.
Stop work at least 2 hours before going to bed to calm down – helps you go to sleep.
3) Get a hobby AND a peer group
Find something to do besides working. Do something different; hang out with some of your friends.
The peer group you need to sound off your ideas – I thank my stars that I am able to discuss ideas with partner in crime Freydun M. Badri.
Do exercises – go for brisk walk, jogging, do weights at home.
Again all these things help you to be more effective during your work day
4) Managing Procrastinating (putting things off)
There is no cure as such since not all procrastination is bad. Too much is unhealthy.
Give yourself time to do a task and then stop. Do certain tasks when you know that you are productive. Therefore, phone calls should be scheduled and done during times of the day when you know you are less productive such as later in the afternoon. Writing a submission for a tender in the morning when you are more productive is a good strategy. You have to decide what works best for you.
Bottom Line
Break the bad habits and restart the new or better habit. If you do it, long enough you will change your habit. Start with defining which habits are most critical and need changing. Then start with one and achieve a permanent change. Thereafter proceed with the next one and so on.
Incidentally, the habits you have fallen into might not make you more effective, such as working until four in the morning and trying to get up at eight. It is all about being effective.
Thanks to Suw for reminding us that we have to get our house in order. Working hard is fine, unfortunately, taking time off is important as well.
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