Too many projects, too little time?!
You would think, as a self employed small business owner, that getting more and more work would be the answer to my prayers. While it is to an extent, the very fact of it is often quite overwhelming! Projects are piling up, my new baby is coming, one of my business partners is out on the mend due to surgery, and the new hire is not quite pulling through yet. Just another day in the life of a small business owner and full time mom, I guess!
The question I’ve been asking myself lately is “How much is TOO much?”
Those who are self employed know one thing - it is CRUCIAL to be highly disciplined. Working from home is a challenge itself in terms of being prone to many different distractions, especially when you have children. Discipline proves even more of a challenging concept when there are multiple projects and so little time to get it all done. When faced with this, our minds get overloaded and we are prone to let deadlines slip, and take nights off while you get your head together. But, is this good for the business? Do you forgo rest and relaxation to pore through that pile of work sitting on your desk?
It’s a tough question to answer. The bottom line is, BALANCE. As in everything with life, balance is essential to a sound mind. While tackling on those projects day and night and weekends too may help us feel accomplished to an extent, it may wreak havoc on our personal and social lives as well.
This being said, here are some tips to keep in mind when you are faced with this kind of situation:
1.) When work piles up, acknowledge the fact that chores and other personal tasks may have to wait a couple days. When you make a dent in the work, take a day or two off to recollect yourself and get your personal life in order.
2.) You are your own boss - don’t be too hard on yourself.
3.) Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize! Schedule your time wisely to meet all deadlines, even if it means a few late nights working. Try not to miss important deadlines, as you don’t want to negate your reputation and work history.
4.) Take much needed breaks to avoid burnout, and be sure to keep yourself nourished, hydrated and exercised.
If you have any tips on controlling heavy work loads, please do share!
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