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Running your own business can feel like you’re spinning 100 plates solo. Standing on one leg. Blindfolded. Balancing on a tightrope. You get pulled in so many directions that, eventually, you get sucked into unhealthy work patterns and find yourself entirely overwhelmed. Research from Sifted found that 53% of the founders they surveyed said they’d experienced burnout, and 85% said they’d experienced high stress in the past year.
There’s no hiding away from the fact that entrepreneurship is stressful, but by consciously fighting against harmful work habits, you can get in control of your business and personal life, so that you can work on it and not in it.
Sara Osterholzer, one of our ecosystem experts, shares her tools, tips and tricks to help you climb out of the weeds, take the reins and establish some healthy work patterns.
Work Smart, Not Hard
It’s an oldie, but a goodie. Poor time management is the number one factor that results in founders and entrepreneurs struggling to get things done. And it’s not just the business that ineffective time management will impact.
Sifted found that 57% of founders said they’d started exercising less over the past year, compared to the previous year. 42% said they were eating less healthily. 62% said they’d been on holiday less than usual. And 64% said they were spending less quality time with friends and family. Focus on efficiency over perfectionism. Delegate as much as you possibly can. This will not only reduce your workload but will also upskill your team quickly (meaning you then have cover) and instill trust in the company.
Eat the Frog First
“Most people overestimate what they can get done in a year and underestimate what they can do in a decade.” - Bill Gates.
If we transfer this sentiment to the day-to-day it’s truer than ever. Even with all the best intentions in the world to get certain tasks done, we inevitably get distracted and pulled away throughout the day. By learning how to prioritise effectively and sticking to seeing tasks through to completion, you’ll find you can actually get more done.
‘Eat the Frog’ methodology, coined by Productivity Consultant Brian Tracy and named after the Mark Twain quote, is where we identify one major and urgent task that we may not enjoy and that requires the most energy and focus and work on that first. The methodology calls for pushback against internal and external distractions and shifts your focus to deep work. It also teaches you to put your own agenda first before derailing requests come in and disrupt your day. Set aside one to four hours first-thing and ensure that the project is tackled and completed before you move on to the next. It requires practice and discipline, so don’t worry if it takes you some time to establish this into your routine.
Start at the End
Our brains tend to work a bit like a sat-nav; if we know the destination, our minds will work out how to get us there. Don’t be afraid to dream big and set out long-term goals but ensure that the little ones get as much attention. Once you’ve got your destinations, you can develop action plans for weekly, monthly and yearly goals that will help you achieve your small tasks and wider vision. You might be surprised at the opportunities and ideas that come out of working this way.
If you struggle with this type of planning, seek out expert advice, coaching opportunities and programmes that are designed for exactly this purpose. An outside eye can be invaluable in giving a clear, ariel view as they’re not as stuck in your business as you might be.
Lay it All Out (Literally)
Blocking out your week visually can really help you get an overview of what your time looks like and where you’re spending it. Print out your calendar and honour it. You could even set yourself themes for each day to ensure that you’re distributing your time evenly between your business and non-negotiable personal time. Switch your phone onto Do Not Disturb, don’t look at your inbox and see your tasks through to completion before you move on to the next.
Creating a distinctive space to separate your tasks can be helpful here. Finding a dedicated innovation space can facilitate getting into a deep work headspace, away from the interruptions and disturbances of your usual environment.
Be disciplined with yourself and know when it’s time to switch off. By giving yourself breathing space from your business, you’ll find you have more clarity and energy for the next week ahead.
Give Yourself Capacity
By establishing healthy work patterns, you’ll find that you’ll have more capacity to work on the things you love in your business, like innovation, and making the most of your downtime with family, friends and hobbies.
If you're looking for accountability and working amongst a community that just gets it, then making time for things like networking and business events can help you to find and cultivate your tribe.
Remember, it can feel lonely at times, but with 99% of businesses in the UK being SMEs, there is a bottomless pool of people and resources waiting for you.
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