Running your own business can be exhausting, both physically and mentally. Trying to navigate through the day to day operations while managing to turn a profit can be damn near impossible sometimes. If can be really hard keeping focused on the main goal when you have so much going on every day. Whether you have a brick and mortar business, or you work out of your home, there are many things you should do to try and maintain some level of sanity.
The main problems that arise when you are trying to keep your business afloat is time management, stress, organization, and productivity. If you are just starting out it can be that much harder, but once you get a routine in place it may fall into place for you. Don't try to wade through the mud and figure it out with no real plan. Sure, it may work for some that way, but you are more likely to get overwhelmed and feel like quitting.
Time management is arguably the most important aspect of running your own business. You have to be able to assess how long a task or goal will take you to accomplish, and you have to use your time wisely. They say that time is money, and that is especially true for business owners. When you aren't using your time to be productive, you are flushing your dollars down the toilet. The best thing that you can do to start managing your time is to create a plan and stick to it every day. Try not to get side tracked by distractions that will end up wasting too much of your time.
Organization is next on the list of importance when it comes to running your business. Organization holds everything together. It helps reduce stress by eliminating clutter and mess, and it also increases productivity. When everything is organized you are less likely to waste time looking for something, because it's all in its place. The best way to organize both your home office, store, or warehouse is by using the 5S system. 5S stands for sort, set in order, shine, standardize, and sustain. It is the organization by color coding or labeling shelves or folders. Not only is it visually appealing, but there are relatively few costs involved with a 5S system.
The level of productivity can either make or break a company. If you are spending 8 hours working every day, you need to make sure that you are being as productive as possible. Let's say you sit down to work on your computer, but you get sidetracked by Facebook and waste an hour scrolling through your newsfeed. Not only did you not get any work done, but now you have one less hour left to get work done. The important things you should do to increase productivity include maintaining a to-do list, delegating your tasks, and taking it one task at a time. Don't start something else until you are finished with the first task, and avoid procrastination at all costs. "Tomorrow" there will be another urgent task, and you will be further behind than you were the day before.
Once you figure out the ins and outs of running your business, it will get quite a bit easier. Keeping a routine will feel more like a second nature to you, and if you are doing it right you will actually enjoy what you do. We all know that when you are doing what you love it doesn't feel like work, so isn't that the goal? If you do it right, you will love it, and that will make it all worth it. Running your own business will be the hardest work you will ever do, but if you do it right and avoid productivity killers, stress, and clutter you will find that it doesn't have to be so difficult.