Are you one of those who has a never-ending list of tasks? Raise your hand if you’re always hooked to your business phone, responding to emails, and overscheduling yourself. While work is good, too much of it can be bad for your happiness, health, and productivity.
Downtime isn’t an option; it’s a must especially in times of stress. Making time for yourself is the only way you can fully recover. In today’s blog post, let’s explore eight different ways to carve out more free time.
1. Start committing to 15 minutes of downtime each day.
If this will be your first attempt at committing to spending more free time for yourself, start small. Setting aside just 15 minutes is a good start. During that time, stop whatever business-related tasks you’re doing. Focus on complete relaxation.
2. Establish a routine.
People who easily get distracted by anything are usually the ones who don’t have a daily routine. A routine ensures that your day is structured and you experience flow. When it’s time to take a break, you take a real break and don’t feel guilty at all.
3. Learn to say NO to time suckers.
I know there are some things that suck your time that you want to say no to, so stop saying yes to them. This can be anything from unproductive meetings to invitations to phone calls to low ROI activities.
4. Delegate some of your tasks.
The truth is that when you take on more than you can handle, other areas of your life get affected. Practice delegation both at home and work. An example of effective delegation would be hiring a social media manager to create and schedule posts. Another is asking your partner to do some household chores.
Related: 9 Things You Can Outsource When Running an Online Business
5. Establish 1 or 2 personal non-negotiables.
Think of one or two important things that you wouldn’t sacrifice because these things keep you sane, happy, and healthy. My two personal non-negotiables are spending time with my kid and exercising.
6. Live in the present moment.
When you focus on what’s right in front of you, you get to enjoy it and filter out distractions. The result is that you get it done! Thinking about the past or worrying about tomorrow for your business creates a lot of brain clutter.
7. Check your emails only twice a day.
Before you begin work and when you end work — these are the only two times you should check your emails. If you don’t follow this rule, you might end up responding to every message you receive throughout the day. Not only does this consume your time, but it also puts you off-track.
8. Make your work environment more pleasant.
The environment where you work in affects your mood. When you feel less happy, your productivity also dips. You get less done and end up spending your rest days for finishing work. How to create a pleasant environment? Join a co-working space. Create a home office. Bring in some green.
Related: A Solopreneur’s Guide to Creating a Home Office (And Staying Productive)
Final Thoughts
You won’t regret spending more free time for yourself. I hope that the tips above turn you into a happier solopreneur. Realize that you are important. Your life and business would be a lot better if you made time for the things you love and cherish.
