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How to Organize Your Self-Employed Life

© Bert Markgraf

When you're employed, a large part of your life is organized for you. You're told when to come to work, when you can go home and when you have to fly to Omaha on the weekend. That leaves the rest of the time to eat and sleep and fit in some fun, exercise and culture. Your work time has a high priority so what you decide for the rest doesn't make a lot of difference to the work part. In addition, whether your performance at work is at 100% or only at 80% won't make much difference - chances are nobody will even notice.

Once you become self-employed, things change. Noone is deciding anything for you. You can work when you want, stop when you want and fly to Florence instead of to Omaha. In theory anyway.

In practice, the reality of bills coming in regularly will keep your nose to the grindstone but now, it becomes very relevant whether you're working at 100% or 80% - it's the difference between surviving and living well.

To function at 100%, you have to eat properly, get enough exercise and fit in the relaxation you need. When you start out in your new business, this will mean scheduling - it will seem just like you're employed. You'll start work in the morning after breakfast, break for lunch, finish before supper etc. - just like when you were an employee. But, as time goes on, you'll find that you work better at certain times of the day so you can start adjusting when you work to suit your natural schedule. Finally, while some people work best in regular shifts, others work better doing the work in one or a couple of large, uninterrupted chunks. When you've reached that stage, when you can structure your work for your own maximum efficiency, then you'll really start reaping the benefits of self-employment.

For more on this and a light-hearted view, try this site.Either you'll enjoy the article because you'll recognize your present or past self or it will give you some idea what challenges quitting your secure job will entail.

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