Overcoming summertime work challenges

By Doreen Martel

The weather is getting nicer every day, the sun is out for long and your children are either out of school or excited about the idea of getting out of school very soon. Along with this comes the challenge for those who are self employed to fight back against summertime distractions. It is not easy to dedicate yourself to working six, eight or ten hour days at any time of the year, but summertime is even more problematic. Here are some tips for overcoming summertime distractions and still having the opportunity to enjoy the weather.

Make sure you know what lies ahead

Practical time management is one way to overcome summertime work challenges. Contact your clients and get a firm handle on what their expectations are. You may elect to do this weekly or monthly, whichever works best for you. Knowing what work load you will have to deal with ahead of time can allow you to schedule time off to spend with family and friends.

Plan time off

One of the failures of many small business owners is that they overlook the necessity for time off. Taking some time off can help you prevent burnout. You may not necessarily be able to plan 2 or 3 weeks off in a row, but you can certainly plan for multiple days in a row, weekends or simply a day every week that does not interfere with your work. If you are interested in taking a “real” vacation, work it out with your clients to either hold off on assignments until after you return or work with them to outsource the work to others. Remember, that if you do outsource the work, you are still responsible for the quality.

Stick to a schedule

One of the biggest challenges that is often faced by the self employed is sticking to a regular schedule. There are hundreds of distractions that can take away from your work plan including social networking sites, forums and other distractions. Plan out your schedule every week (and if needed every day) and stick with it. Find out what works for you, some people may find it easier to do a small amount of work in the wee hours of the morning and take the middle of the day off then return to work in the evening. Remember, there is no “one size fits all” schedule, you are self employed because you wanted to set your own hours. Summertime will be the perfect time to test your dedication!

If you have children

Children love to be out of doors in the summertime and often want to do things with their parents. If you are self employed and you cannot take entire days (or weeks) off while your children are home, perhaps you should consider working with other parents who are in your area and setting up a schedule where you can swap off time to do outdoor activities. This can benefit everyone and allow you to adhere to your work schedule.

Summary

Summertime is fraught with challenges for the self employed. The last thing you want is to ruin your reputation by not meeting goals and deadlines. Working with your clients (good communication), planning time off and preparing yourself to overcome summertime work challenges will ensure that you have an enjoyable summer and still meet your work goals.