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Many of us dream of starting our own business, being our own boss, and keeping our own hours. However, this dream often clashes with the reality of being self-employed. Sometimes it can feel like a constant scramble for the next project with a decent level of income attached, never fully switching off from the day job, and a lifetime of chasing after invoices and late payments. It sometimes takes a moment of pause and reflection to appreciate the joys that being self-employed can bring. Here are 5 top tips that will help you take the time to enjoy self-employment.
Create Quality Down Time
Having a day off every so often doesn’t count if you spend those days thinking about your next marketing strategy or even catching up on all the housework. Value your skills and experience and build downtime into those costs. Employees take paid holiday leave, and so should you. Whether you spend that day cruising the internet looking for some great bargains or curled up on a sofa reading a book is up to you. But your work must allow you time off. A lot of self-employed people love doing their jobs, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do other activities too. You might love pizza, but your enjoyment will dwindle if you eat it every day.
Make Sure You Treat Yourself
Be the boss you would want to have. The type of boss that buys everyone a cake after working a long shift; or makes sure that their team gets a bonus before the holidays is a great aspiration. Try to think of yourself as an employee, and if you had an employee, how would you want to treat them. You should give that same level of care to yourself. Buying a good coffee machine for your office or buy cbd gummies uk that you can keep in a drawer as a treat for a stressful day in the office. Remember to reward your achievements. If you have secured a big deal or signed a contract, celebrate. If you have had a bumper year or only just broken even, that is still better than some other companies will have fared. Remember, don’t be too critical. No one likes a boss that is overly judgemental or critical. Don’t be that boss to yourself.
Prepare for A Rainy Day
If you have had a bumper year, then fantastic, but remember the unexpected pitfall can be just around the corner. Whether a product isn’t as successful as you had projected or a global pandemic means your phone has stopped ringing, businesses need to have a cushion to protect them. It is very tempting to reinvest all your profit back into the business in the hope of rapid expansion but keeping a pot for contingencies will come in useful at some point. No successful business hasn’t hit a few bumps along the way. Don’t let a bump derail you. Prepare with a contingency budget that reflects your outgoings and can keep your business safe, even if it has to pause for a bit.
Take On Work That Matches Your Lifestyle
The life you want to lead is the top priority in a self-employment plan. If you want to have weekends with the family, don’t create a portfolio that requires multiple overseas trips. However, if you want to see the world and have adventures, that same portfolio might suit you perfectly. That isn’t to say you can’t travel with a toddler, but that should only happen if the thought of combining your work with a holiday sparks joy. Your work can be used to complement and enhance your lifestyle, not compete with it.
Remember Business Success Takes Time
You don’t need to take on every project that is offered to you. It is fantastic that there is a demand for your service or product, but if you overstretch yourself, you will underdeliver and lose custom. Businesses need time to grow and expand. Do not rush to expand in every direction. Be strategic about how you want the business to develop and give it time to establish. No overnight success really happened overnight, years of training and experience is usually behind it.
Finally, remember in the working day, take a moment to look at everything you have built and achieved. You are making this happen for yourself. Appreciate the job you have curated. Remember many people dream of self-employment but never take the leap. You did. Take time to be proud of that leap.