Whilst much is written about the joys of self employment and being your own boss, the truth is that it can actually be hard work. Whatever your feelings are or were about your boss, the truth is that they dictate pretty much how you structure your working day. You can’t consistently turn up late, spend hours on the internet and then just head off home when you fancy it. You have to report on progress, you have set responsibilities, other people depend on you and above al l you have someone managing you. Annoying as that can sometimes be, it can also be quite reassuring. When you become self employed all that changes. So what are the things you need to consider if you’re to manage yourself successfully?

1. Have a working schedule: It doesn’t really matter if you start work at 7am or 11am. But you need to have a schedule and you need to stick to it. Treat it the same as you would if you were going to work for someone else everyday. If you need to go to the post office or run a couple of errands, do it in your lunch hour – not just when you feel like it.

2. Get tough on the distractions: For the vast majority of us the internet and email are the two biggest distractions in our working day. Limit the amount of time you spend surfing the web, check your email at specific times during the day and if you’re work doesn’t involve having to access the internet perhaps work offline. It’ll help you resist the temptation to just check that website, or quickly reply to that email, etc.

3. Have an office: I’m not suggesting you sign up a 5 year lease on prime office space. Just make sure you have a dedicated area or room that is your workspace. No settling down on the sofa with your laptop. That will get you in completely the wrong frame of mind.

4. Start the day with a to do list: Whether it’s written on a piece of paper on your desk, an online task manager or in your diary – it really doesn’t matter. Just make sure you have a list of the key things you want to achieve that day. Don’t finish your working day until you can tick each of those tasks off. Before you clock off, write out your list for the next day.

5. Use a time tracking programme: If you really don’t know where your day goes then start finding out. There are plenty of time tracking programmes available online, many of them free. They allow you to list projects and tasks and use a punch in/punch out timer to compile detailed time reports on your day. So if you are sitting at your desk for 8 hours a day but not getting much done this will prove a great eye opener for you.

6. Take your working day seriously: If you don’t take your efforts at self employment seriously then nobody else will. Stick to your schedule, don’t let personal matters intrude on working time, set yourself tasks and do them.

Most successful self employed people work hard. This doesn’t mean you have to put in 12 hour days 7 days a week, but it does mean that you need to put in concentrated time on your work. Stick to the above pointers and you should be well on your way to making a go of your self employment.

©Pattie Mason 2008