I used to daydream about what it would be like after I quit my 9 to 5 job and becoming my own boss. Casually waking up, going for long walks for inspiration, and enjoying snuggle seshes with Penny. Whatever I don’t get to, I don’t get to. There are endless days ahead of me.
Whoa! Wake up, girl! 🤦🏻♀️
It’s so easy to fall into those lazy and procrastinating traps and before you know it, 2 months have passed, you’re covered in dog hair, and there’s been no needle moving in your business.
Hi, my name is Heather, and I’m a recovering personal procrastinator. More than a few times in the past, I’ve put off the important things in my life or my own business in exchange for being comfortable. I knew that if I really wanted to make a serious go of my business and make it work, I was going to have to make it more of a priority this time around.
So what did I do differently? I’ve implemented these 5 strategies in my schedule during the week after I quit my 9 to 5 job. And, when I did I noticed a shift in my perspective which then shifted a change in my business. These strategies may seem silly to most. The whole reason for starting a business is to have more freedom over your time and day. Yea this is true BUT you need a little structure built-in or you’re just going to be all over the place.
Strategy #1 – Waking up early
Waking up early and getting a head start on my day has kept me in a working rhythm. I’ve always known I was most productive and creative in the morning hours, so I’ve used that to my advantage. Even though I’m now working for myself, and at home, I still wake up at 6:30 AM. My goal is to move that up a few mins every couple of weeks to eventually get to 6 AM or even 5:30.
Strategy #2 – Exercise
Even before leaving my job, I loved going to the gym. I meet a girlfriend there about 4 times a week in the afternoon. We hold each other accountable and it’s been a game-changer to my overall exercise routine. Now that I’m home I’m glad to say that that routine has not changed. If anything, I feel like I’m improving on it. I now add in a run in the morning a few times a week and more walks with Penny.
Strategy #3 – Time Blocking
Time blocking, chunking, batching, or whatever else you want to call it is SO beneficial to my daily workflow. Basically what you want to do is schedule similar tasks together, instead of bouncing around from task to task. For example, in the morning I’ll check my email but right after I’ll check all my client emails too. I’m already in that zone so I just keep the flow going. I take this method to the next level by designating certain days for certain types of tasks. I only schedule my VIP Days on one day of the week, client meetings on other days, my business admin work on another.
Strategy #4 – Shutting It Down
Knowing when to pack it up for the day has been the biggest challenge so far. It’s so easy to check those Slack messages and pump out something simple right then and there. I’m so guilty of this. I’ve been working at reserving my weekends only for family time and building better boundaries around what should be my personal time.
Strategy #5 – Build Routines
As much as I wanted to throw my old work routines out the window when I left my job, a small voice told me to hold on a little longer. Keeping a morning and afternoon routine created stability in my day that otherwise could be a little scattered here and there.
Building and developing these strategies over time will only make me a stronger and better entrepreneur but also I’ll be able to serve my clients better as well. I’m interested to hear your thoughts though. Share a comment below or dm me @heathertormey.co and share a strategy that was useful to you when transitioning from your 9-5 job to full-time entrepreneur.
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