#136: How to Build a Less-Stressy Business Day

Mar 19, 2022 | Office Operations

 

The theme this month is Organizing Your Life, Home, and Office for more Fun and Flow. This month, we’ll comb through the main areas of your life and put some simple, actionable routines and practices into place and, as a result, you’ll get to see firsthand how everything flows better, faster, and easier!

For most small business owners, organizing your personal life will grant you more time to focus on your business because you won’t be distracted with household chores. But you also need routines and organization in your business to help your days flow smoothly. Just think how nice and energized you’ll feel walking into your organized office, ready to tackle the day!

In this episode, we go over how to build a less-stressy business day.

Welcome to a new Systems Sunday! The theme this month is Organizing Your Life, Home, and Office for more Fun and Flow. This month, we’ll comb through the main areas of your life and put some simple, actionable routines and practices into place and, as a result, you’ll get to see firsthand how everything flows better, faster, and easier!

I am Lisa Wells, Your Virtual Assistant Trainer.

For most small business owners, organizing your personal life will grant you more time to focus on your business because you won’t be distracted with household chores. But you also need routines and organization in your business to help your days flow smoothly. Just think how nice and energized you’ll feel walking into your organized office, ready to tackle the day!

Today’s topic is how to build a less-stressy business day.

1. Set business hours. All businesses have set hours–and just because you work for yourself or your business is completely online doesn’t mean you have to be working 24/7. Set business hours and stick to them! When your brain becomes accustomed to when you’re working and when you’re not, you’ll find it easier to get started in the morning and to shut down at night.

You can even put this information into your Google Calendar and share it with your family, so they know when you’re in “Do Not Disturb” mode. Share your business hours with friends, too, so they’re not calling you to chat for 2 hours during the productive part of your day.

2. Give everything in your office a home. If you don’t have a designated spot for something, find one. This will also make the daily 15-minute cleaning or decluttering of your office a lot easier. Do you REALLY need photos or mementos cluttering your desk space? Use your vertical wall space to hang up vision boards, photos, inspirational quotes, and awards. Bookcases also work well to store those sentimental items.

3. Embrace minimalism. Do all the books on your bookshelf serve a purpose or have special meaning to you? Do you have an old printer or shredder that you don’t use or doesn’t work? Give yourself permission to throw those broken items out! Donating unused items is noble but be honest about whether or not you have the time to list things on Facebook Marketplace or will these things sit in a corner of your office, making the clutter even worse?

4. Create a routine to transition from “business time” to “home time.” This routine is especially important for those with a home office and/or laptop. What can you do at the end of each workday to signal it’s time to switch to at-home mode?

Many people find it beneficial to look ahead to tomorrow’s calendar to notice any meetings or project due dates. Take this time as well to prioritize your top 3 activities and schedule time for them if you haven’t done so already.

If you’re more of a to-do list person, start your to-do list for the next day before you shut the door tonight.

At the old house, my office was right off the living room so I was constantly popping in during off-hours, but now that my office is in the bottom level of the house, it’s much easier to transition. I clean up the desk, turn off the computer or monitors, turn off the light, and physically walk upstairs. Super simple.

If you enjoyed this episode and want more tips and strategies, check out my new Organize Your Life, Home, Office & Routines Training system. In this training, you’ll learn how to organize everything from your home office to your self-care routines (and all the things in between!) with just a few hours a week, so you can accomplish both what you need to and what you’d love to. You can find the product below or head over to my VA Business Builder Boutique by clicking on Shop in the menu bar.

Join me next week where we will finesse your finances. See you next week!

Catch up on other “Organizing Your Life, Home, and Office for more Fun and Flow” episodes:

Did you enjoy this episode and want to put it into action? Check out this action kit!

Organize Your Life, Home, Office & Routines

$15.00

Feel like your life is one, big unorganized mess & it’s really time to get it together, but don’t know where to start?

Tell me if any of the following sounds like you…

1. You don’t have solid routines or structure in your days because you started your business for more freedom–but truth be told, it’s draining and time-consuming trying to keep up with all your commitments (and “life stuff”) without a plan.

2. You’re struggling to get it all done in your business because you’re constantly stressing about everything else–like the dirty dishes in the sink, or the laundry that most definitely needed to be moved from the washer to the dryer several hours ago (oops!)

3. You’re eating like crap because you haven’t planned a meal ahead in months. (You’re way-too-familiar with the frantic search for something–anything–to eat at the end of a long work day, and never actually making it yoga, HIIT or barre despite your best intentions).

4. Overall, you’re overwhelmed by all the things in your life and business and it’s reflected in everything from your waistline to your bottom line

…then keep your eyes on this page.

Here’s the deal: Everything in life is connected. And as a business owner, the truth is you’ll get lots more done (and have way more fun!) if you create solid structures, plans & routines.

For example…

When your home is organized, you can hyper-focus on your work without secretly obsessing about the dirty bathrooms or the major mess in the family room (And when your office space is clean & pristine, it becomes a place you actually want to be.)

When you have routines in place that ensure you’re well-nourished with healthy food, well-rested with adequate sleep and well-manicured with self-care rituals, you feel creatively full (versus energetically drained) when serving your cherished clients or customers.

And when your finances are in check, you can enjoy life (and enjoy spending a little cashola) without sweating over what bill is coming out when and whether everyone on your team is paid out (or not).

See how it works?

Yep, when you’re a business owner, it ALL matters. Your mental health–and the health of your business–truly depends on every area of life and business flowing well together. (Especially if you’re the face–and backbone!–of your business).

The good news? You can start simplifying, streamlining and “doing” life and business with more intention today.

Yep, with just a few tweaks, you can ensure every single area of your life is “in check” and (almost) instantly start experiencing more fun, happiness and ease in your daily life.
Introducing…

Organize Your Life, Home, Office & Routines for More Fun, Flow, and Happiness

In this training, you’ll learn how to organize everything from your home office to your self-care routines (and all the things in between!) with just a few hours a week, so you can accomplish both what you need to and what you’d love to.

We’ll comb through the main areas of your life and put some simple, actionable routines and practices into place–and as a result, you’ll get to see firsthand how everything flows better, faster and easier!

Here’s a peek at what we’ll cover….

  • Advantages of organizing your life so it all flows together
  • The best systems for streamlining your weekly tasks–from cleaning to meal prepping and back again–for more productivity and pleasure
  • How to efficiently eliminate distractions (like ahem, dirty laundry) during your day so you can get more done with less stress
  • How to make meal planning, prepping, cooking and shopping 100x easier on yourself–especially as a business owner!
  • Creating a less stressful business day through structure, routine & boundaries, so you can easily get into the groove/flow
  • Managing your money and finances so you’re not forever-wondering if you paid that bill (or if you have enough to pay that bill) while crafting content, serving clients or living your life
  • Living your life in line with your natural rhythms and inclinations. (i.e. If you prefer working at night, allow yourself the luxury!) all while being a better business owner (and human)
  • Crafting an ideal schedule that includes both home and work tasks so you can make sure every area of your life is tended to, every day

When we’re done, you’ll have a plan for everything and everything will have a plan. Period.

#136: How to Build a Less-Stressy Business Day
#136: How to Build a Less-Stressy Business Day

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