Simple Ways To Change Up Your Work Environment
Being a business owner is wonderful in 101 different ways… but, do you know what? It can be challenging in just as many.
Some days it will feel like a lot. There are so many decisions to be made and, for many of us, having a sick day, skiving, or passing on our workload to someone else just isn’t a viable option. It’s more than a job. Being a business owner, is a lifestyle decision.
On those days, it can be helpful to mix things up and go to work from a different space. Perhaps that’s buying a co-working pass in your local area, heading to a library or cosying up in your favourite coffee shop. As with so many things, prevention is often better than cure. If you know that you periodically get a little sick of staring at the same four walls, then try to plan this in.
I do an end of the month review and use that as an opportunity to look forward and plan out the next month too. I like to do that from my favourite café as it makes it feel more like a treat and means it’s something that I look forward to. There’s also something about working around other people that really makes you pull yourself together and focus.
This may be another occasion when you want to tap into your tribe of support. Could you meet with another entrepreneur each month to do your end of the month reviews together? You may want to keep it simple and just work side by side, or you may also want to use this as an opportunity to share what you’ve learnt, check in with one another and help to hold people to account. If nothing else, believe me when I say it’s great to work alongside someone who can watch your laptop while you nip to the loo.
You may want to think bigger and set up a co-working day for entrepreneurs / freelancers / people who work remotely in your local area. I run a monthly co-working day in a gorgeous local venue and I’ll hold my hands up and admit this was motivated by largely selfish reasons. There’s plenty running in the city centre but I wanted something hyper-local to be able to connect with others in my community, get out my house and power through my to-do list in a fresh space.
Changing up your work space can help give you a fresh burst of energy and be hugely motivating when it comes to cracking on with the day to day grind of running a business. This isn’t something that has to be all or nothing though.
You may want to change up your space in small ways throughout your day. The value of getting out for some fresh air and exercise can’t be overlooked. This can help you to ‘re-set.’ If you’re stuck behind a desk all day, then inevitably things to start to feel a little stale. I would strongly recommend you have boundaries with where you choose to work from though – especially if you work from home.
I know when it’s rainy and cold outside, the temptation to work from your bed can be all too strong. Please don’t! Even if it feels ok initially, it’s really important that we have clearly designated spaces in our home for work and relaxation. You may even want to dismantle your work station at the end of the day or simply put your laptop / work phone away. And I mean, away AWAY. It’s really important to draw that boundary around work hours for yourself because no one else can do it for you… but more on this in the next chapter.
MY ACTION PLAN:
· How often do you currently step away from your workspace during the day? Are you happy with that or do you want to add more time in? E.g. for a walk at lunchtime.
· Where else would you like to work from? (Library, café, co working spot…)
· Get those times and places in the diary now as a reminder to change up your space.
· Could you tap into your tribe of support and set up a co-working day with someone?
