Has your get up and go, got up and gone?
I have had to work really hard to keep my motivation going over the last few weeks.
I don’t know whether it has been the change in the weather, the fact that we are in a local lockdown or just the fact that I haven’t had a real break (I was supposed to go to Florida last month and I may be sulking a little).
The funny thing is, I have had no such problems with my client work. In fact, I have really been in my flow for my clients. So, what’s a girl to do about it? Why am I fine with somebody else’s work but when it comes to my own business, I am struggling?
The answer is actually very simple. I lost my direction, and because I had no direction, I wasted a lot of time going round in circles and never felt like I was achieving anything and that had to stop.
So, I revisited my top tips for staying productive (the ones that I hadn’t been using myself… bad babba!) and I thought I would share some of them with you.
See if they can help you
Write yourself a list and check off each task when you have completed it.
Not only will you be able to see where you are at, it will give you a sense of satisfaction checking off the items that you have already actioned. Simple, but effective!
Stay focussed on your tasks for THIS week.
It is really easy to get distracted on an upcoming project but try to remain focussed on the tasks that need your attention this week.
Get rid.
Go through your emails, your software and your documents in your quite times and get rid of anything that you do not need. It will make it far easier to find everything that you do need and free up clutter from your drives.
Turn off your email and phone notifications.
If they are distracting you from the task that you are doing it will take you far longer to complete and lets face it, notifications are ALWAYS a distraction!
Turn off notifications until you are ready to go through them properly.
If you have a big to-do list, break it down into bite sized chunks.
What do you have to achieve to move on to the next task? Complete each bit and move on to the next.
Hold fewer meetings.
If isolation has taught us anything, it is that we have too many meetings where we don’t really achieve a great deal. Go through your meeting schedule and work out what meetings you need to have and what could be dealt with by a quick call. Give yourself a break.
Keep your workspace tidy.
When I am working on a major project, my desk usually looks like a bomb site BUT it is organised chaos! I can put my hands on every piece of paper that I need instantly because every night I today my desk and set my to-do list ready for my next working day. Most people are far more productive when they have a clear working area and a cluttered area can make it difficult to concentrate.
Without time to rest, you cannot be productive. It is a simple fact.
If you are on the edge of burn out, you are not giving your best to anyone so make sure that you schedule time to do things that you enjoy. For me, it is time to do my nails or read a good book, or to snuggle and watch cartoons with my boy! No matter what it is, make sure that you make time for you. One of the sayings that I hear quite regularly within my network of wellbeing professionals is that you cannot pour from an empty cup…
Are your customers still feeling feels valued?
Are you getting all of your messages answered quickly?
Are you maintaining networking relationships?
Is your customer experience as good as it could be?
If you are struggling to keep up with everything, it is time to consider outsourcing.
A happy customer is much more likely to return and recommend you to their friends and family.
So, am I practising what I preach? Absolutely!
I now schedule 1 full day off per week (this may not seem like a lot but it is a baby step in the right direction whilst I am building the business).
I have challenged myself to do 6 minutes of Pilates a day to help with my back. If anybody is interested in Pilates, I can personally recommend Beverley Densham. She is an amazing lady and has been a real help with advice for my poorly old back) You can find out more about her here.
I am spending time with my family doing the things that I love.
So, if you are losing the battle with motivation, try some of these tips out and come back and let me know how you got on.
If you would like to know more about how we could help to take the pressure off and give you an extra pair of hands with your admin, you can contact us here.