Taking the step to work as a home-based entrepreneur is a brave decision to make, but it is one that can pay huge dividends if you have the right business idea.
However, there are numerous pitfalls associated with working from home and it is important to eradicate as many of these as possible if you are to be successful.
Maintaining the correct balance between home and work life is perhaps the most difficult factor, while the impact on your health and wellbeing is another major consideration.
Introducing some changes into your life will help to make the transition to working from home run much more smoothly and will create a foundation for you to enjoy the fruits of your labour.
Read on as we look at some of the top health and lifestyle tips for home-based entrepreneurs.
Make sure you plan ahead
Confucius once said that “A man who does not plan long ahead will find trouble at his door” and those words still ring true today.
Planning ahead will not only help your business flourish, but will also help to ensure that you have time and space for yourself.
Having a plan will help you complete projects on time, reach your targets and ensure that you don’t become bogged down by being disorganised.
Planning reduces stress by making sure you are in control of your daily activities and allows you to fully focus on the job at hand.
Respected leadership coach, Benjamin Ritter, says planning ahead is one of the most important parts of working for yourself.
“Decide your strategies and must-dos for the entire month,” he said. “What are the main things you need to accomplish? What are the main ways to accomplish them? What are the things that could get in your way?
“Add each of the tasks related to your strategies to an excel document and use it to keep you on track throughout your day. At the end of each week and month analyse what is working and what isn’t and adjust accordingly.”
Consider using supplements
Many people strive to eat a healthy and balanced diet, but time constraints often leave them falling short of the recommended daily intake of certain nutrients.
Dietary supplements such as a good protein powder or additional vitamins are amongst the products people use to make up the deficiency.
It is important to steer clear of products that promise unrealistic results and supplements should never be used to replace real food.
However, as an addition to your daily food consumption, they are a sensible way to give a boost to your health. Supergreen Tonik is another substitute for the daily nutrients people need each day.
Jessica Higgins, founder and chief marketing officer at Digital Unicorns, is a fan of adding supplements into her dietary routine.
“Around lunchtime, I will do a vitamin IV twice per week,” she said. “It is impossible for most people to get all of the vitamins we need, so this makes up for a less than perfect diet if you’re too busy to plan out your meals but want to stay healthy.
“This sounds crazy to some people, but nutrient deficiencies make you feel lethargic and can lead to health issues.”
Don’t neglect exercise
Numerous research studies have shown that exercising regularly is a major contributory factor towards health and wellbeing.
Exercise keeps your heart healthy, improves your mood and can even help you sleep better, thus giving you the platform to perform to the best of your abilities.
People who feel good about themselves are generally more productive and this is an ethos that entrepreneur Lindsey Dinneen fully subscribes to.
“Start the day off right — don’t hit the snooze button, because then your first choice of the day is to procrastinate,” she said. ”Make your bed so that your second choice of the day is accomplishing a task, even a small one.”
“Pick a workout routine that you love to get your exercise in right away, and then spend a few minutes meditating.
“Finally, write out your daily to-do list. By starting your day off like this, you’ll have already been productive, thereby putting you in the mindset of being productive all day.”
Get enough rest
People who set up a business from home often fall into the trap of neglecting rest and sleep and this can be hugely damaging to your health.
Ensuring that you take time out during the day will improve your focus when you are working, while getting good quality sleep is proven to boost productivity.
Failing to get enough rest can affect your ability to concentrate and make good decisions, all of which can have a negative impact on your business.
Logan Tan, co-founder at Eezee PTE Ltd, is a firm believer that taking power naps helps him to function better when he is working.
“Many people underestimate the effects of power naps,” he said. “Whenever I am tired after lunch, I nap for 15 minutes and my productivity instantly shoots up.”
“In fact, I have made it a company practice to be ok with everyone taking power naps. We are even implementing sleeping pods to encourage more individuals to take on power naps to increase productivity.”
