Running your small business at home: How to prepare yourself success

Strategies to run your small business from home

How can you make yourself more successful in running a small-scale business from home? Here are some suggestions.

While flexibility is beneficial however, it’s not always easy to respond to emails at home or during family time. Not only does this occupy one’s attention, but it also creates expectations of availability. It’s also harder to switch off and reduce stress.

So, how do you stay clear of all this?

Be creative in your work space

One great work at home is to clearly define your work and home spaces.

A separate room or space that is exclusively for work is critical, as creating physical distance can result in mental separation making it simpler to shut down at the day’s end. Finding a desk, the right office chair, and a system for storage will set you up to be successful.

We also suggest taking the time to make your workplace feel comfortable. A study suggests that personalizing your workspace can be a good way to boost productivity.

"I have a huge house with a kitchen that has room for my products and equipment. It’s my personal sanctuary. It smells amazing and I’m in full control on the songs!"

Incorporating a bit of creativity into your work environment can make a significant difference.

"I’ve been trying to make my office space one that I like being in. There’s a row of bright red roses that line the table behind my computer. I put all of our large feather costumes out on the floor so that I can see them. I have a blanket that my mom made for me to sit on the chair I sit in."

When you’re working from home in the midst of an outbreak, these tiny amenities can make all the difference.

Mimic your normal work boundaries

While some people might allow work to take over their home life a little but it’s better to be very strict about not allowing this to happen. This means that you should not have a laptop on the kitchen bench and no packing of orders from 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 normal workplace. For example, you wouldn’t respond to email notifications popping up in a face-to-face conversation with a client or employee therefore, you shouldn’t be doing it in the context of a Zoom meeting.

If you work at home, it might be tempting to check every ping of your phone or email immediately, but making this a habit won’t help you in the long term.

Turn off your email notifications so that you can focus on your task without distraction. Only go through your email every hour or two.

Find a method that you enjoy and keep it up to date

Establishing a routine for working from home is very important.

A consistent start time with breaks to exercise during the work day as well as a consistent time for when is when work ends are all crucial. Sticking to a routine and putting structure around your day’s tasks will help you become more productive.

"If I have three massages scheduled, I’ll block each one one after the next Also, I will keep an established schedule that includes time for coffee breaks, lunch and other tasks."

Each morning, she ask yourself important questions like "What are the goals or milestones I need to reach today?" and "What’s on my mind currently? ".

Some people prefer routine and find that performing daily gratitude activities beneficial.

Write down three things that you appreciate every day and make a list of your tasks list in the evening before or early in the morning. It will put you in a good head space and allow you to feel at relaxed.

Advocate for your own mental health

If you work from home you’re able to work throughout the day without seeing anyone else, so you need to know how to be an advocate for your own health and wellbeing by practicing self-care.

Be realistic about what you can accomplish particularly if you’re home schooling kids, and take breaks regularly to replenish your energy.

Studies showed that following the SARS quarantine period, some people had signs of psychological distress, so taking the time to check in with your family, friends and clients is paramount.