Running your small business while working at home: How to prepare yourself to succeed

Tips for running a successful small-scale business at the comfort of your home

How can you prepare yourself for success while running a small business at your home? Here are some helpful tips.

Although flexibility can be advantageous It’s all too easy to check emails during home or family time. Not only does this challenge one’s attention, it can create expectations of availability. It’s also more difficult to turn off and decrease stress.

So, how do you keep from all of this?

Create your own workspace with creativity

An excellent work at home is to clearly distinguish your home and office spaces.

A separate room or space that is exclusively for work is critical, as creating physical distance can result in mental separation and make it easier to switch off at the day’s end. Getting a desk, appropriate office chair, and a storage system will set you up for success.

It is also recommended to take the time to make your workspace feel comfortable. In addition, research suggests that personalizing your workspace is a fantastic way to increase your productivity.

"I have a massive cabin with a kitchen that has space for my kitchen products as well as other items. It’s my little sanctuary. It smells wonderful and I’ve got full rights on the songs!"

A little imagination in your workspace is something that can make a huge difference.

"I’ve been trying to make my office an environment that I like being in. There’s a string of bright red roses on the table behind my computer. I place all our massive feather costumes to the elements so I can see them. I have a blanket that my mother made me for the chair I sit in."

When you’re working at home in the midst of a pandemic, these little conveniences can be the difference.

Mimic your normal work boundaries

While some people might allow work to infiltrate their home life a little, it’s best to be very strict about not allowing this to occur. It’s a good idea to keep a laptop off the kitchen counter and no packing orders in the living room.

Setting boundaries can help to maximize the value of your day when working from home.

We should mimic the boundaries that we’d have in our regular workplace. For instance, you’d not respond to emails that pop up if you were in a face-to-face meeting with a customer or an employee which is why you shouldn’t do it during a Zoom meeting.

While working from home, it could be tempting to pay attention to every ping from your phone or email notification immediately but making this a habit isn’t going to help in the longer term.

Stop receiving email notifications to allow you to concentrate on your task without distraction, then only go through your email every hour or two.

Find a method that you enjoy and stick to it

Making a schedule when working from home is extremely crucial.

A regular start time with breaks to exercise during the work day and a regular time that work finishes, are essential. Following a schedule and putting structure around your work schedule will make you much more efficient.

"If I’ve got three treatments booked, I will stop each one one after the next Also, I will keep in a schedule that has time for coffee breaks, lunch and other obligations."

Every morning, she should ask yourself important questions such as "What are the objectives or milestones I must achieve today?" and "What’s in my head right now? ".

Many people want routine and find practicing daily gratitude exercises to be beneficial.

Note three things you appreciate every day and try to write your to-do list before bed or early in the morning. This will help you get in a state of mind and make you feel at comfortable.

Take on the role of an advocate for your own mental wellbeing

When you’re working from home you’re able to work for the entire day without seeing anyone else, which means you need to know how to advocate for your own mental health by practicing self-care.

Be realistic about what you can get done, especially if you are home schooling kids, and have proper breaks to replenish your energy.

Research shows that, following the SARS quarantine period, people displayed signs of psychological stress. Taking the time to keep in touch with your family, friends and clients is paramount.