10 Rules for Working from Home as an Entrepreneur
/I’ve recently ventured down the path of entrepreneurship and am doing the foundational groundwork of starting my own consulting business. Think lots of website copywriting, social media plans, blog and content creation, and I can’t forget the highly entertaining work of setting up an LLC and getting necessary contracts in order.
And while it’s been a long time coming and I felt prepared for this journey, there have been some roadblocks I didn’t foresee when planning this career change. One of the biggest transitions for me has been going from working in an office with dedicated work hours, my own desk, and being surrounded by other mission-driven people, to now working from home with Shawn (also a home-bound worker) and our very cute, but very needy dog.
While I worked from home while we lived in California, I had my own home office and was home by myself, limiting my distractions and forcing me to knock out my responsibilities all at once. Plus, my full-time consulting job was on an hourly basis, so I was motivated to stay at my desk and on the clock.
Today’s life looks a little more laid back and a whole lot different. Think family walks in the morning, writing from the couch, scrambling eggs mid-morning when everyone’s hungry, and taking lots of breaks throughout the workday for whatever needs arise. And while I wouldn’t change a thing about my current set-up and all the quality time I’m experiencing with my family, there are some things to know about working from home that I might’ve not known beforehand or have forgotten along the way.
Start your day the same way you would if you weren’t working from home.
This was tough for me. The first week of my working from home, I got up almost an hour later than I would when I worked at an office. This not only threw off my sleep schedule, but my focus and productivity lagged throughout the day as a result of my lack of intention first-thing in the morning. Whether it’s working out, creative writing, or your faith time, try sticking with that routine if it helps wake you up and kick-start your day.
Don’t measure productivity using time.
Since going full-time on my own from home, I’ve experienced a lot of guilt when I don’t put in an eight hour day. I’ve been programmed for so long to believe that a productive day means tracking time, so when I found myself starting at 9:00 a.m. instead of 8:30 a.m. or ending an hour early to run errands, I would sink into a self-shaming spell about how I’m not hustling hard enough. If you have these moments, think about how much of your time in an office was spent goofing off or checking out. Were you really giving it your all for eight hours a day? Probably not. Focus on how much you’re getting done over how much time you’ve spent working.
Write your daily goals in advance.
Speaking of measurements, I’ve found that I have to have a daily roadmap of goals so I know how to track my productivity. That way, if I cross off all my to-dos for the day, anything else I may accomplish is just an added bonus and there’s no guilt if I have to shift gears for the day. It’s been said, “what gets measured gets done.” Start your day with a clear vision of what “success” would look like, write out your check-list, and get to work!
Know your best rhythms.
Do you work best from home all day? Are your afternoons best spent at a coffee shop when your energy is low? Are you more productive when you create space first thing in the morning then come back to work at home after lunch? These are things you need to play around with to see how you work best. Maybe you’re an early riser who can start your day earlier. Maybe you’re a night owl who is most productive in the evenings. There’s no wrong answer, but you need to know your rhythms to produce your best work.
Take breaks as needed.
You probably took a break working from an office, so you need to remember to take scheduled breaks working from home. In his book High Performance Habits, Brendon Burchard emphasizes the importance of creating scheduled breaks. While he recommends the ratio of 50 minutes of work followed by a 5 to 10-minute break, play around with different options.
Get out of the house (especially when you don’t want to).
When I first started my work from home routine over two years ago, I was a newlywed in a new state where I didn’t know a single person. I knew it was important to get out and go work from a coffee shop or co-working space but found myself struggling to leave. It was and still is easier for me to be miserable and less productive at home than it is to motivate myself to go to an uncontrolled environment. While it may be tough to get out the door, steal my personal trick and give it an hour. Tell yourself that if you go for an hour, you can come home. More often than not, you’ll end up staying longer. And in the weird chance that the outside space is filled with crying babies, broken air conditioners, or loud patrons talking about dysfunctional relationships or health issues, you can hit your one-hour mark and beeline it home!
Don’t forget about your health.
Working from home is the one place where our health routines should flourish (again, hello controlled environments) yet they often take a back door. Take advantage of not being surrounded by people. Do squats while you’re muted on a conference call. Stretch in between projects. Go on a quick mid-morning walk instead of refilling your coffee when you need a burst of energy. Fill up your water bottle and chug it to rehydrate. Remember, no one’s there to watch or judge.
Get creative with your evening plans.
Something I’ve struggled with the most since Shawn and I both started working from home is feeling cabin fever in the evenings. I used to be so excited to leave the office and get home that I didn’t care if we didn’t have plans after finishing work. Now, I find myself getting antsy and wanting to get out of the house almost every night. Something I’ve found that’s helped is looking ahead and making evening plans in advance so you don’t go in circles with the dreaded “what should we do tonight?” question. Work in the yard one evening. Go to a park another day. Schedule a date night or meet up with friends. Plan a weekly service opportunity. Attend an ongoing Bible study. Join a weekly book club. Whatever it is, make sure you have set in stone plans to limit your chance of cabin fever.
Surround yourself with others who get it (and ask for more advice).
There’s nothing funnier than telling a full-timer about your typical “day in the life” schedule as a work from home professional (bonus points if they’re a Baby Boomer.) They’ll look at you like you have three heads! The work from home routine usually doesn’t start at eight and end at five, so few people understand what you’re going through. That’s why it’s so important to stay in an authentic community with other people who are on similar paths, who can encourage you when you need it most or give vital lessons learned from their journey. Instagram is a great place to meet new people. Try searching a hashtag like #workfromhomelife, #mompreneur (great for work from home moms) and #essentialism to see how many like-minded professionals you can connect with!
Focus on the good of working from home, not the bad.
I’ll end this novel of a list by saying not all days are going to be great. There are times when you’ll spend more time tending to broken appliances and personal appointments than you will being productive or attentive to your business. However, it’s on those days that you need to count your work from home blessings the most! You may be waiting on the dishwasher repair man, but at least you don’t have to ask permission to leave the office early. You may have kids who need you to tend to their every need, but at least you’re getting to balance being a parent and a professional without feeling guilty about spending too much time at the office or at home. This season might not last forever, so soak in the positives and give yourself grace for the time being.
And there you have it! Ten rules to live by if you’re either working from home as a business owner now or considering it in the future.
Do you have anything else to add to the 10 Rules of Working from Home as an Entrepreneur? List them in the comments below!
Joyful Takeaway: Start your day with a clear vision of what “success” could look like, write out your check-list, and get to work!