While stress is a common part of life today, there are things you can do to help reduce stress related to your business.
1. Maximize Your Work Time
If you wish you had more time in the day to finish your to-do list, then focus on improving your time management skills. We all have the same 24-hours in every day and it’s up to you to manage that time wisely. One option: go unplugged for an hour and focus on one task. No phone calls, no checking weather, no social media, no emails. Choose the most difficult task first and get that off your to-do list. You might be surprised at how little time it took to complete that task and then you’ll feel motivated to do more. At the end of the hour, reward yourself with a short break, then go back into uninterrupted work mode.
Try using waiting/slow times to tackle simple tasks. For example, while waiting to pick up your kids from school, brainstorm blog post ideas or answer emails. Finally, having a plan on what you will work on BEFORE you start your work period will save time and allow you to focus on the task (instead of deciding on one).
2. Don’t Over Extend Yourself with Promises
Do you wake up with joy or dread? Are you excited to get back to work or would you rather ditch work and play hooky? Feelings of dread often occur when you keep saying, “Yes” to everyone without taking into account your own physical abilities. Of course, we want our clients to be happy but it’s impossible to please everyone and by saying, “yes” all the time, we risk our own happiness. Set boundaries with clients, set a refund policy for customers, and schedule some much-needed you time on your calendar.
3. Create a Marketing Plan to Gain More Clients
Another area of business stress centers on finances and worrying if you’ll have enough paying clients to cover your bills. It’s a legitimate concern but if you strategize how to attract prospects on a continual basis, you’ll always have people in your sales funnel. What forms of marketing do you want to use? Which social media platforms? Where are your ideal prospects hanging around online? Utilize your free or inexpensive marketing avenues first before jumping into costly advertising campaigns. Need help working on your sales funnel? Check out this FREE funnel workbook.