It has officially been one month since I quit my job to work on my online businesses. Over this past month I’ve had some revelations.
Has quitting my job to work from home turned out quite like I expected? Yes and no.
While it has been wonderful to work on the things I really enjoy there have been some down sides too. Everything is not going exactly how I planned. Luckily, I am able to admit my flaws so that I can work on a plan to fix them.
Here’s what I’ve come to realize over this past month of working from home:
It’s Not How Many Hours You Work It’s How You Use Those Hours
I decided from the get go that I was going to set office hours for myself. To be specific 9-5, just like I was working at my prior job. I thought with this much time to commit that I’d be better able to meet all my blogging and writing goals.
While I have had no problem getting the things that really need to be done completed I haven’t been doing much more.
Before I quit my job I’d usually get up an hour earlier to read and comment on other blogs. This is something that I really enjoy doing and also something that can completely consume my time. Since I no longer have that one hour limit on me before I have to rush out to work I am spending way too much time doing this.
While I do think it’s important to continue my relationships with existing bloggers and build new ones, this task should not be taking up the majority of my time. In reality, commenting on other blogs is probably one of the least beneficial things I can be doing right now.
New Plan: Make a list every morning of the things that I have to do and the things I need to do to push me closer to my goals. Complete everything on this list before reading and commenting on other blogs. This way I’ve done the most important tasks first and I’ll feel accomplished each day.
You Need Motivation to Earn More Money
When I was working the day job I had some serious motivation to work hard on my online businesses. I really, really wanted to quit my job. I knew that I would need $2,000 a month to pay the bills and cover self-employment taxes.
At one point I did have to work really hard to earn that $2,000. Now I’ve set the path to where that $2,000 comes pretty easily. I’ve established writing jobs and worked on my blog hard enough that I can just kind of sit back and that $2,000 comes to me. And, that’s likely all I’ll earn this month even though I know if I pushed myself that number could’ve been higher.
Even though I have spent a good bit of time working on my online stuff I’ve been concentrating too much on those low value tasks that don’t really bring me much reward. This has to stop.
New Plan: I’ve been implementing the Eat That Frog method listed above of doing the most critical and least fun things first in the day. I have done this for a solid week now and am already starting to see some improvement. However, since I am no longer working my butt off to escape a job I don’t like, I need some more motivation.
My new motivation is saving up to buy an investment property. I desperately want to try and flip a house again. I keep seeing all of these amazing foreclosure deals in my area but at this point it’d be too risky for me. It may take some time but I will put everything toward the purchase of an investment home. Motivation!
Conclusion
In a nutshell working for yourself is nice but it comes with its fair share of struggles. Going forward on I’ll be working for myself just like I would for an employer.
Here’s my to-do list from here on out:
- Work on this blog and Defeat Our Debt
- Find more writing jobs. Need a writer? Hire me
- Save for an investment property
- Utilize my time well by working on high value tasks
Wish me luck!
Have you discovered any great ways to use your time more efficiently? What motivates you to build your own side business?
You’re absolutely right about focusing on the big value tasks first. Though if it were me I’d like to change things up and reward myself every few accomplishments with something mindless – Say work hard for 2 hours straight then relax for 15-30 minutes reading blogs you enjoy. You don’t want to get yourself to a point where all you feel like you can do is work. You also don’t want to get yourself into a mindset where every time you relax it equals “losing money”. I hear this is a big problem for people who freelance. Like all things you’re smart to pace yourself.
I actually tried a method similar to this. Last week I set up 25 minute blocks using a timer and just went full force working on something. I’d then stop and take a break and do something around the house for a few minutes. I really think it did increase my productivity.
Oh I definitely would spend too much time commenting on sites and whatnot if I was a full time blogger/writer! I have seen this happen to me in the past when I’m on PTO from my full-time job. I like the fact that I only have a set amount of time before work, during lunch, etc. to comment as it limits me. I agree about needing motivation and actually wrote a post about that just last night!
Yes it is really hard to limit yourself. I feel like I have so many blogging friends that as soon as I think I am done visiting blogs I remember I forgot someone….then I find new blogs and a cycle has started. It’s harder to focus than what I had originally thought.
Greg leaves with the kids at 7:40 and I usually comment on other blogs from 8-9. After that, I am cut off from commenting and socializing. Like you, I could spend all day screwing around. So I make 9:00 my official start time.
I need to set up some type of schedule like that. I don’t have a good balance right now. I feel like I either do too much of it or too little. I think setting up a specific time of day would help. Maybe lunch time?
Thanks for sharing! I’ve been thinking about moving to freelancing full time within the next year but I definitely need to be more realistic about it. It takes a lot more self discipline!
It does take a lot of self discipline. I find that the days just fly by and that’s why I am trying to do all those most important things first.
The transition to working from home definitely has it’s ups and downs. I find that my day is a lot less linear, but that seems to work OK for me. Meaning I’ll work as soon as I get up, then do exercise mid-morning, then work again, then maybe take another short break, but then work in the early eve. I try to cut myself off by 8 though. Glad at least the 2k is coming easy to you!
I just started taking a walk when I start to get tired and I think it really helps. I need to work a bit more exercise into my life. I am always surprised at how energetic I feel when I get off my butt and do something.
Thank you Alexa for the update.
Your Welcome 😉
I like when writers like you take on the subject of motivation. Mostly because I think of you as a pretty driven person, so when you point out the need to dig deep and work harder, it shines a pretty bright light on my own work habits.
I’m similarly in need of a push. Thank you for the link about eating that frog…I’ll give it a shot.
Well, thank you! I do think I’m a driven person but I know I’ve definitely been slacking way more than I thought I would. I would check out that book sometimes if I were you. It has all kinds of productivity tips. You might like it.
Having a finite goal like buying in investment property is a great way to motivate yourself. Otherwise, it’s easy to get complacent when goals are too general. Early next year, we really need to set some specific goals. Right now, I’m waiting for several things to happen before we can move forward, and it does not make me terribly productive.
You are so right. I was extremely motivated when I wanted to quit my job but now I’ve done that and need something else concrete to work on. I’ve been browsing the foreclosures and have even had a friend who is a realtor take me to look at a couple.
I am trying to find the right balance for me right now. Although I work full-time, I can’t seem to find the balance between writing, marketing, social media and commenting. I can easily spend time on the latter two and wonder why I can only write 2 posts a week. I am trying to become more disciplined but it’s hard!
That is a hard one! I like to write but I like to socialize online more than I like to write 🙂 I’ve also been trying to do things in blocks and I think that helps. I started using a timer and setting it for 25 minutes and only working one that one thing for 25 minutes. I think when you limit your time, commit yourself, and know you only have 25 minutes to do something you work a lot harder. (and can remain focused)
It’s so easy to get off track and waste half your day doing non-essential tasks that won’t really have a big impact on your business. I’ve started using lists too and I find it helps me stay focused and on track. Once I tackle some of the important tasks I feel better and then I can spend some time exploring new blogs and commenting.
Me too. If I get those first few big things knocked off my list I feel better about socializing. I do think there is a lot of importance in socializing with others but it’s really not the one activity that’s bring a ton of success.
Great stuff Alexa. Like you, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about what tasks really advance my goals and which ones I’m doing just because I’m comfortable with them. It’s all about finding the few things that really accomplish what’s important. Good luck!
I’ve been thinking about comfort zones a lot lately, too. I accepted an online live interview via webcam and have recorded my first ever video for this site this week. I’m way, way, way outside of my comfort zone this week. Scary but fun!
Sounds like you’ve got a good plan, Alexa. Like Holly, I set a commenting time, or amount of comments I’ll leave, each day. I think it’s super important, both for networking reasons, and to feel more like you have a “real” job with other people. But, like you said, it can get out of hand really fast. So glad it’s all going well for you at home. 🙂
That’s what I’m going to have to do. I need my one hour back and I am just going to have to force myself to call it off at that one hour.
Thanks for the update…good to hear how it’s going working at home. Glad it is going pretty well. I can see commenting being very time consuming. You’re right that you have to focus on what will be beneficial for you. I need to start making lists and setting goals too…I’m a bit too unorganized.
I can understand where it would be harder to keep yourself motivated once you reached such a big goal! Congratulations on working for yourself for a month, and good luck keeping your good momentum going. Having something new to work for – your investment property – should help keep you driven and focused!
I work from home — though I have a job separate from my blogging — and it’s just so easy to get sucked into other things. I check my email and then I think to check my blog and…suddenly I’ve just wasted 20 minutes.
My rule is kind of like yours: clear out the inbox (I work over email) first. Then you can check twitter/email/blog or take a break for some lunch. But the holiday season is almost upon us, which means about twice as many emails. So priorities will change. Mostly that I can’t wait until I’ve cleared out the inbox to take a break. Otherwise, I don’t eat until 2 p.m.!
80% of the results you seek will stem from 20% of the efforts (or at least thats what Pareto would have us believe.) Realizing this, I believe you are on the right track in prioritizing those things that are going to have the most impact.
You are an inspiration…thank you for sharing your self-employment experiences 🙂
Alexa,
I’m a huge fan of real estate for both the income and tax breaks. The only thing I don’t do is flip houses as I like to hold on to it for the long term.
That’s interesting to hear that the motivation isn’t as strong now that you are working for yourself. I find that when I only have an hour to comment each day, I get to the blogs I want to get to and I don’t get burnt out reading. I don’t know what it is about that time limit, but it works for me too.
I need to do the least fun things first. I have a tendency to start my day reading and commenting on blogs and then I’ve found it’s four hours later and that’s ALL I’ve been doing.