So you've made the bold decision to become your own boss. Congratulations! Now comes the real challenge: staying motivated and disciplined enough to make your business thrive. When there's no boss looking over your shoulder, it can be all too easy to hit the snooze button and slack off. How do you push through and get important stuff done when you're feeling unmotivated? How do you avoid distractions and stay focused on your priorities?
The truth is, maintaining motivation and discipline in self-employment is tough, but absolutely critical to your success. The good news is, there are proven strategies you can put in place to help cultivate the mindset and habits you need to crush your goals. In this article, we'll explore some of the top tips for boosting your motivation, strengthening your discipline, and building an entrepreneurial mindset that will set you up for long term success. Get ready to take your self-employment game to the next level. The journey ahead won't always be easy, but will be well worth it.
When you're self-employed, it can be easy to feel unmotivated or undisciplined without coworkers and bosses keeping you accountable. The key is setting clear goals to work toward.
Start by determining your big-picture vision and ideal outcome. Do you want to build a business that allows you to quit your day job? Generate an extra $500 a month? Becoming clear on your ultimate objective will give you motivation and direction.
Then, break that down into smaller milestones to achieve each month. For example, if your goal is $500 a month, aim for $125 each week. Or if it's to build a viable business, set milestones like acquiring 5 new clients or publishing a blog post each week.
Review and reset your goals regularly. As you progress, your goals may change. Maybe you blow past that $500 a month and want to aim higher. Or you realize blogging isn't effective so you adjust your strategy. Revising your goals keeps them inspiring and relevant.
Accountability is also key. Tell a friend or family member about your goals and milestones and check-in with them regularly. You might also find an online community of self-employed individuals dealing with similar challenges. Helping each other stay on track can be highly motivating.
When self-discipline wavers, focus on your motivation for becoming self-employed in the first place. Connecting with why you started this journey will help strengthen your resolve to achieve your goals and push through obstacles. With determination and the right strategies in place, you've got this! Stay focused on your vision and keep putting one foot in front of the other. Your hard work and perseverance will pay off.
As a self-employed person, it's easy to let discipline and routine slip, but that's a surefire path to losing motivation and productivity. The key is developing a regular schedule and sticking to it.
Start your day at the same time each morning and end work at the same time each evening. Having set work hours helps you stay focused and avoids the temptation to work longer and longer hours. Within your work hours, break up the time into blocks focused on your priorities. For example, spend the morning on high-impact work like client projects or product development, and the afternoon on admin tasks like billing, accounting and emails.
Take regular breaks to recharge. Step away from your work for at least 30 minutes each day to rest your mind. Go for a walk, do some light exercise, or simply relax. Eating lunch away from your desk also provides mental relief. Staying in one place staring at screens for too long drains your motivation and creativity.
At the end of each workday, shut down your technology and avoid checking email. Make time for hobbies, socializing, and self-care. Having interests and relationships outside of work leads to greater life satisfaction and motivation.
Sticking to a routine isn't always easy, but the rewards of increased productivity, work-life balance, and sustained motivation make it worthwhile. With regular practice, discipline becomes a habit. Your routine provides an anchor in the sea of self-employment, keeping you on course even when motivation ebbs and flows. Develop the discipline to stick with it, and you'll thrive as your own boss.
To stay focused when working for yourself, you need to eliminate anything that can divert your attention or interrupt your flow. Some strategies to try:
Turn off notifications on your devices. The constant dings, buzzes and alerts from emails, texts and apps can easily distract you. Disable notifications for everything except phone calls or other urgent messages. Check email and texts on a schedule, not every time one comes in.
Let people know you’re unavailable. Put an out-of-office auto-responder on your email and change your messaging status to “Do Not Disturb.” Let coworkers or employees know you’ll be offline for focused work periods. Ask friends and family not to disturb you unless it’s important.
Find a dedicated workspace. If possible, set up an office space used only for work. Make sure it’s away from noisy areas of your home. Having a designated place to work helps put you in the right mindset to be productive. If space is limited, try using headphones to block out sound.
Take regular breaks when needed. It's easy to get burnt out when working for long, focused periods. Take short breaks every 90 minutes or so to recharge and renew your mental energy. Even stepping away for just 5 or 10 minutes can help you feel less distracted and more motivated when you resume work.
The key is making a plan and sticking to it. Decide on the strategies that will be most effective for you and implement them consistently. It can take time to adjust, but removing diversions and interruptions is essential for maintaining motivation and discipline when you’re self-employed. Staying on task will help ensure you achieve what you need to each and every workday.
When working for yourself, it's easy to get burnt out and lose motivation. Taking intentional breaks to recharge and renew your motivation is key to sustaining your energy and discipline over the long run.
It's important to take longer breaks from your work—at least one full day off each week and 2-3 weeks of vacation each year. Completely unplug from your work during this time. Do something fun and rejuvenating like spending time with loved ones, engaging in hobbies, getting outside in nature, exercising or pursuing other personal interests. Coming back from a longer break, you'll feel refreshed and re-motivated to dive into your work.
Take short breaks every 90-120 minutes to rest your mind and body. Step away from your desk, close your eyes, do some deep breathing. Go for a quick walk around the block. Light exercise provides an energy boost and helps you refocus. Staying in the same position for too long causes fatigue, draining your motivation and concentration. Short recharges will make you more productive and effective when working.
Working in the same place for long periods leads to restlessness, boredom and lack of motivation. Get out of your usual workspace for a few hours or days if possible. Head to a coffee shop, co-working space, library or park. Exposure to new surroundings sparks creativity and inspiration. Seeing other people being productive can also motivate you to get more done.
Remind yourself why you started your business and what energizes you about the work you do. Revisit your goals and dreams to reignite your passion. Speaking to others about your work and its impact also helps boost motivation through validation and accountability. Be open to feedback and see it as an opportunity to improve and better achieve your purpose.
Taking proactive steps to maintain motivation and discipline will help ensure your success working for yourself in the long run. Build breaks and renewal into your regular routine and you'll sustain the energy and drive needed to thrive.
Rewarding yourself for achieving milestones along the way will keep you motivated to continue progressing. As an entrepreneur, it can feel like an uphill battle at times. Celebrating wins, both big and small, gives you a sense of accomplishment and renews your energy to push onward.
Set specific and measurable goals to work toward. Whether it’s gaining a new client, completing a project, or increasing your revenue by a certain percentage, define what success looks like. Then, determine how you'll reward yourself when you reach that goal. The reward doesn't have to be extravagant, but should be something meaningful to you.
For example:
If your goal is to gain 5 new clients in a month, treat yourself to a nice dinner out or tickets to your favorite sports team.
If your goal is to increase revenue by 10% quarter over quarter, plan a weekend getaway.
If your goal is to finish developing your new product or service, indulge in a spa day.
As the saying goes, “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” While self-employment often requires long hours and dedication, it’s important to avoid burnout. Taking time for yourself keeps you motivated, rejuvenated, and passionate about your work. Your business will benefit from a refreshed and re-inspired entrepreneur.
Celebrating milestones, both big and small, gives you positive reinforcement that you're on the right track. Let the rewards and recognition from achieving your goals fuel your motivation to accomplish the next milestone. With consistent progress and ongoing motivation, you'll build momentum and drive your business to new heights. Stay focused on your goals, work hard accomplishing them, and be sure to celebrate along the way!
back to blog listing