Running a business is stressful—a statement that could possibly be the understatement of the century. After all, companies in your industry would naturally prefer that your business failed because that means one less organization to compete against and potentially swallow up their market share. On top of that, for your business to survive and thrive in today’s competitive digital landscape, you must continually evolve with the market, maintain a coherent strategy, continuously streamline all of your overbearing systems, and never get too attached to creative ideas, specifically ones that do not work.

As a business owner, you have a lot on your mind. You are trying to solve things in your head all day while trying to still remain present with the current day’s demands. This can feel burdensome with so much load to carry on your own. Shutting down mentally can seem almost impossible, and to think that you will ever have a day where you do not have to worry about anything, or that the wheels will someday spin themselves, is a pipe dream. So, you diligently attack your never-ending to-do list with everything you have.

@viancasoleil reminding us that it is possible to create a life and business that is a reflection of anything you desire. This includes managing your business in a way that promotes peace of mind.

Fortunately, you can certainly be in control of your business to the point where integrations, software, and contingency planning can give you a sense of security and protect you from security threats that could spell disaster for your business if not implemented.

Additionally, if something goes wrong, your business will remain strong. You will have the luxury of avoiding unnecessary downtime because you have put in effective measures and protections beforehand that will provide reassurance and peace of mind for when you need it.

Here, we will discuss a few ways that we believe are necessary to achieve peace of mind in your business. Giving these items immediate attention will help you avoid unnecessary expenses or challenges in the future.

01

Stated, Definable Goals

Confusion is often the best breeding ground for stress, which is why leaving vital business priorities vague can only cause chaos, no matter how good of a manager or owner you are. It is good to cement your work week, workday, and overall visionary priorities into concrete, executable goals—those that help you move forward with care so you genuinely understand what the next step will be. Integrating that into the time blocks of productivity you use daily will ensure you know what you are doing, and how to build on what you have developed beforehand. This personal example will help your managers conform to your style, and as such, structured approaches to tasks will take root throughout your organization.

02

Proper Documentation & Contractual Management

It is important to make sure you learn about the contract management life cycle before you agree to contracts or embed them into the structural policies and plans of your business. This way, you know that as contracts expire or as you work on your record-keeping and transparency, you will have no administrative deadwood that causes confusion and breeds mistakes. This will also help manager training and employee onboarding, and ensure complex B2B connections are honored at every level.

03

Cybersecurity Is A Growing Concern

Regular cybersecurity training can help you defend against hacking and social engineering methods used by online criminals, says Lumify Learn. Your staff does not have to be negligent or unintelligent to suffer a hack, as even very popular tech brands can come under fire from time to time. Regular backups, password changes, file protections, data encryption, and secure communications will help you avoid a small issue from turning into a system-wide issue. The more you can do that, the more you can rely on your systems to protect you as opposed to wondering where the next threat will come from.

@viancasoleil is the founder of Unna, an interior designer, and a photographer. We are inspired by her calming, island aesthetic which keeps us dreaming of a work-life balance that includes a bungalow beachside and drinks at sunset.

04

Automation software & AI tools

With the advances in automation and artificial intelligence, simple tasks can now be done with software that promises efficiency, accuracy, and time management. Finding software to fuel your business growth is one of the best things you could do to ensure that you are fully integrated with systems that help manage the day-to-day activities of your business to increase productivity for yourself and your staff. Using software to manage your time, budgets, and projects are effective ways to keep everything all in one place and organized for your team.

Takeaways

These are just a few processes that can be implemented to avoid future battles that can be avoided with intentional integration within your business. With this advice, you are sure to identify and eradicate stress where needed, helping you remain clear, focused, and calm as much as possible so that you can run your business smoothly. Maintaining a business can be easier when systems are being utilized in areas that are fundamental to the success of your business and when they are specifically used to protect you from future threats or liabilities.

This month, Marianna Hewitt and Lauren Ireland celebrated their 5th birthday celebration at Upside Pizza in NYC. They have been successful in understanding their customers’ needs since the launch of their flagship product, the Jet Lag Mask, and have since launched many other products. Their nostalgic pop-up events like this one with a Self-Care shop incorporate the iconic Summer Fridays branding to achieve a memorable experience for their customers.

01

Understand Your Customers’ Schedules 

Many freelancers paid by the hour must abide by time clock rules. This often means they are responsible for logging their working hours and dedicating a set amount of time each day to a project. Understand your customer schedules and how it corresponds to your routine. Ensure you are fulfilling your contractual obligations, especially when it is tied to whether you get paid.

02

Stick To A Routine

As a freelancer, you are largely responsible for managing your time. We all have routines, and you know what works best for you. But basic rules like the time you get up, eat, and sleep will help you stick to a routine and avoid you working unusual hours that leave you feeling run-down. Try to work a set amount of hours each day, take regular breaks and create a schedule that will help you stay consistent.

03

Set Boundaries With Clients

Make it clear to your clients when you are available. If you are working with clients outside your time zone, try to find some overlap in your working day where you can connect if needed. Respect your boundaries and ensure your clients know exactly when you are and aren’t reachable. This will also help establish a good working relationship with your customers and give you a clear work-life boundary.

04

Seek Financial Advice

Seeking financial advice can directly tie into the hours you work. If you are having cash flow problems, the earlier you know, the quicker you can explore new avenues for business growth and regain control of your time. The more money you earn is directly tied to the hours you work as a freelancer, so keeping on top of finances avoids spiraling hours to make up for financial losses in the business.

It is also best to pay attention to common personal and business expenses that can easily be prevented by choosing a bank that has no monthly fees, no overdraft fees, and free ATMs. These common expenses can add up, so this decision will be very important to avoid unnecessary expenses down the road. We are impressed with Chime because it checks off all the boxes and makes banking smarter. Earn $100 when you join Chime. Learn more.

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05

Use A Project Management Tool

A project management tool like Asana can help you organize your time and meet your schedule and deadlines. When you are extremely busy, a project management tool can help keep you on track and ensure you can complete your projects to deadline and budget. Project management tools can help you break down large tasks into more manageable ones so that you can be more effective with your time.

06

Make Sure You Switch Off

Managing work-life balance as a freelancer can be challenging. Nonetheless, switching off is an essential part of being effective. Make time for yourself, whether protecting your hour lunch break or ensuring you finish at a reasonable time in the evenings. Do what helps you switch off best, whether that’s playing a video game or going for a run. 

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07

Invest In Automation

Automation can help you win back vital time as a freelancer. You might invest in social media planning and scheduling, automated email marketing campaigns, or prompts to potential customers that leave their cart on your eCommerce site. You can look at opportunities to automate tasks like sending invoices or payment follow-ups to help you win back time you can spend on other areas of your business.

08

Define A Reminder Schedule For Payments

Spending valuable time chasing your invoices? Setting a reminder payment schedule is vital to appearing professional and saving time. Following up on overdue invoices is stressful and, when done manually, can eat into your working hours. Setting clear reminders and payment deadlines is vital to saving yourself time as a freelancer.

09

Get To Grips With tracking your time

Do you know how long it takes you to complete tasks? An accurate picture of your tasks can help you manage your working hours and get the right project timelines. It also ties into your payments. Recording your timelines ensures you set accurate prices for your goods and services. Underestimate your hours, and you risk getting both underpaid and working extra hours to complete pieces of work.

10

Block Off Time

Blocking off chunks of time to focus on specific tasks can help you get into a flow state and manage your workload better. A flow state refers to becoming fully immersed in whatever you are doing. It describes when people achieve their best work with focus and clarity. Giving yourself allocated hours to focus on specific tasks can help you achieve a flow state and make the most of your time. Physically block off hours in your calendar to complete your projects.

11

Document Everything

Document all your workflows and processes. Identifying your business operations can help you identify where you can streamline and template your work. It is also great when your mind is blank, as you can refer back to something you have drafted previously as a prompt. Documentation is great to review as your business scales, as it can be used to train new employees or collaborators quickly and effectively.

12

Give Yourself Buffer Time

Even if it takes you three hours to complete a task, it doesn’t mean you should only give yourself three hours. Buffer time is essential as a freelancer. It protects you on days you feel tired and ill, days your boiler breaks or your internet goes down. You don’t need to cram your working days with constantly focused work. Give yourself some buffer time to protect yourself against life’s unforeseen events. 

If you are questioning the value of buffer time as part of your hourly rate, it is still essential. You and your clients would be much happier if you built in time for fact-checking, proofing, and project revisions.

Takeaways

It can be tough to manage your time as a freelancer. Fortunately, resources like project management software and financial advice can help you manage your time as a small business owner. Sticking to a routine, setting clear client boundaries, and managing your timelines are important resources for working effectively. There are also many chances to automate and save time, including drafting documentation, setting reminder schedules, and investing in automation. Try these tips today and see how it helps you manage your freelance business.