by Nadene Martin | Jun 22, 2022 | Business, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Productivity
We have been blessed with warmer weather in the last few weeks, so the question is what will you be doing this Summer? Is it a family trip, a solo trip, a girls’/lads trip or something else? It feels quite nerve-wracking that flights are being cancelled last minute and everyone is being stranded at the airports dying to feel their toes in that golden sand.
Taking time off for freelancers and entrepreneurs is something that we all struggle with. Let’s call it a love-hate relationship. No matter how much we love working for ourselves, there are still those days when we wish we could work less or just not have to work at all. Even at weekends, I am thinking about what my new week will look like, it is so hard to switch off.
When you’re working for yourself, you have the freedom to work flexible hours. If you feel like taking a day or two off work, you can do it. The ability to take time off when you want is one of the main benefits of being self-employed. Yet, many of us don’t take advantage of their freedom because we feel guilty if we are not working.
I want to help you get rid of that guilt and remind yourself why taking breaks is so important.
Allow your mind to rest
I know I know; this can be SO tricky. The mind is very active and can think of so many different things at once. Rest is so important for things like mental health improves your mood and can reduce stress. Mental breaks can improve productivity, and attention to detail and encourage creativity. You have seen that when people are feeling burnt out or just exhausted, they force themselves to shut up shop and have some downtime. Many take social media breaks just for this reason. Everything can feel like a rat race and how can you enjoy the fruits of your labour when you are constantly on the go?
Gain new perspectives
Taking a step back looks different for everyone. Taking time off can help you foster new ideas, plans and directions for your business. Your environment is no longer a ‘crack the whip’ setting, the pressure has reduced and time away can put the spring back in your step that your business so desperately needed. The weight of the day-to-day running of it all can be quite daunting especially as a solopreneur, you have nobody to bounce ideas off of, accountability and/or another body to help you drive things forward.
Have fun
Whatever fun looks like to you, do it! Whether you like travelling, going for long walks, working out or taking part in an upcoming retreat, go and do just that. Laughter is good for your soul. Laughing releases endorphins, makes you feel happier and can lift your mood.
Better balance
I spoke previously about getting that work/life balance right. Being overworked is no fun for anyone. Taking time away from your work gives you the opportunity to bask in the joy of your hobbies and things that interest you. Life is for living, as they say, ‘all work and no play make Jack a dull boy’.
Improved focus
By now, you can probably run the business with your eyes closed, although doing the same things each day will eventually take its toll, where you are screaming to see the plane leave the runway. Having a good holiday will see you return to work with fresh eyes and lots of new ideas to implement.
If you have a service-based business like me, you can work from anywhere. This aspect I love because in between having a dip in the pool, I can answer emails, hold client meetings etc. without disrupting the services that I provide. If, however, you don’t have a service-based business and you sell physical items, you may wish to outsource that side whilst you are away. Of course, you can look after all the admin stuff. Also, look at automating your systems, so you don’t have to do very much regardless of where you are in the world.
In summary, it all boils down to this: if you like your work and enjoy the freedom of being a freelancer, it can be tempting to continue working at all hours of the day. But in doing so, you might end up losing some of that initial passion you had for what you have created.
Taking time off from your work can help you to destress and rejuvenate, helping you to come back to your projects with a fresh perspective. Taking time off is crucial if you want to continue being productive when you do return to work—it keeps you motivated and always thinking of new ways to improve your business or creative endeavours.
Schedule some time in to grab yourself a well-deserved holiday. You won’t regret it.
by Nadene Martin | Jan 26, 2022 | Inspiration, Productivity
People have always said they don’t know how I can get so much done, in such a short space of time. I guess over the years of being a Team Secretary looking after a team of 12 Actuaries to being a Medical PA for one of the top Neurologists in the UK, I had to organise myself to be able to confidently organise others.
Although I have learnt so much, here are some simple techniques you can use too, to get organised and become more productive.
The first thing I recommend you do is to take a look at your desk. Is everything there mandatory in your day-to-day dealings with your clients, and yes, I am talking about that takeaway coffee cup too.
On my desk I have:
- 2x monitors
- Wireless Mouse
- Wireless Keyboard
- Pen Pot
- Filing Tray
- Coaster
- Diary
Sounds very minimal, that’s because for me a cluttered desk = a cluttered mind!
Filing
I understand that we are very much trying to save the environment and printing is a big no, so where you can, please do electronically store your documents. If however, you do have to print or receive hard copy documents, grab yourself some trays which you can stack and file away documents in this order IN | PENDING | OUT
- IN – Things that have just come in
- PENDING – Things that you are working on and/or require further action from you/somebody in your team
- OUT – This means completed. Once complete you can set aside time daily/weekly to completely file this away in client files, or any other filing system that you may have
It is worth noting that if you no longer need the document(s) and it does not need to be filed, place it in the shredder. Alternatively, if the paperwork does not contain any sensitive information, use it as scrap paper instead of purchasing new notepads or post-it notes.
Ring binders will be helpful for your various client work, utilities, insurance info etc.
Personal Items
Try to limit the number of personal items you have in your desk area, that includes your mobile phone as they can cause distractions. You could put up some shelving to showcase any family photos, awards, quotes etc. Alternatively, how about a cute noticeboard that you can pin important reminders too.
Give everything a home
Place all your everyday items within easy reach, anything that is not required on a daily basis, place in a drawer close by but still within easy reach just in case you need to access quickly.
Keep it simple
Working from home has become our ‘new normal’ and sometime soon we may well head back into the office/co-working spaces but until then, let’s keep it simple. You don’t need to break the bank and splash out on lots of new things for your home office, keep it simple and house what you need. The only two items that must be reviewed is your chair and your screen. Ensure your screen is at a good level to avoid any neck and shoulder pain. Also, your chair should give you good support, I learned the hard way by investing in a chair that was more aesthetically pleasing to the eye. I now have a chair that gives you an active seating position and improves your posture.
You have to be focused on the space that you have. At a glance, I can see everything that I need. I don’t want to be a detective looking for a client document buried underneath thousands of receipts, that has been on my to-do list for forever and a day. The thought of it gives me anxiety and I hate the feeling of stress for no reason.
Start your working day with ease and by reading this far, I know you have already been thinking about how you can improve your home office space. You are already on your way towards a more productive workspace.
If you are still stuck or don’t fancy decluttering your space yourself then reach out. Organising is my thing and would love nothing more than to help you to do just that. Alternatively, if you are wanting to outsource something more, let’s get connected here.
by Nadene Martin | Dec 29, 2021 | Business, Inspiration, Services, Thoughts
Gosh, what a year, I cannot even begin to think about 2022 as it feels like a massive gust of wind came along and swept the year away. It feels weird to even be writing one last blog post that will close 2021.
I have been thinking about how I have spent my year and I have done so much despite the pandemic. There are so many others within the VA industry doing what you do out there and that should not make you feel inferior to anyone, so focus on yourself and go at your own pace. I joined so many groups on Facebook and followed profiles on Instagram wanting to drown myself in knowledge and truth be told, I overdid it. Everyone is going to do things differently and that’s OK. Nobody is me at the end of the day, my clients work with me because I am awesome (obvs) and have the skills that they require. We often find ourselves selling our services when people ‘buy’ from people, shine bright like the diamond that you are!
Throughout the year, I understood that to move forward within the business I had to really drill down on what I love doing as opposed to what would bring in the most money. If you don’t love what you do, why are you doing it? I refined my packages, added new services, removed some services, said no to various work that did not bring me joy and it felt so good within my heart.
I am 110% confident in all the packages I offer, my rates and the value that I bring to my client base. Having the right skill set to support overwhelmed business owners is such a great feeling. Knowing that I have contributed to their growth and sharing the same vision in even a tiny way, makes all the difference.
Small business owners usually take on Virtual Assistants as soon as the workload increases or the overwhelm is too much, you do not have to wait until the eleventh hour to grab yourself some support. Since the pandemic struck, we have (Virtual Assistants that is) been in popular demand, this has continued throughout, and I love that we are no longer seen as an unnecessary expense. As I tell all my clients, see us as an investment for your business and believe me we really are. Each VA will bring something different; some are traditional like looking after your day-to-day affairs, and others may be techier whereby they can take care of websites, podcasts etc. Whatever your needs are, there is someone out there for you.
If you have been thinking about it for a while, or are ready to take the leap then feel free to book a discovery call with me to discuss your needs. If you are unsure, we can brainstorm together, two heads are always better than one.
See you on the other side!
