Working from home as a virtual assistant or event manager can provide you with a great deal of flexibility, but if handled in the wrong way, trying to run a business and juggle the demands of your home life can quickly become a right pain in the proverbial!
When you’re working as a virtual assistant then chances are that most of your work can be carried out in your living room. Though you may save money on food, transport and bypass all the other costs associated with getting to and from a place of work, staying indoors means it’s very easy to fall into the habit of working fourteen hour days, never stopping for breaks, and generally becoming too absorbed in your work to notice what’s happening in other areas of your life.
On the other hand, if you spend too much tome enjoying yourself thanks to your new-found sense of freedom, your business will quickly fall by the wayside. So how do you find a happy work/life balance? Read on for three top tips from a VA who quickly learned the importance of taking a step back and reassessing her approach towards her work.
1. It’s Up to You
When it comes to finding the right work balance it really will depend on your own preferences. Think carefully about the time you can commit to and provide less than that for your clients. This will leave you room for contingencies until you feel more comfortable in the role. As phone calls in the evenings and at weekends become more commonplace, you’ll quickly start to feel as though you never get a break from work, so stick to rigid working hours and make it clear to clients what your working hours are.
Obviously the more hours you put in to your business, the greater the rewards- if you’re willing to put in lots of hard work at the beginning you will build up a loyal client base and find a sustainable level of income relatively quickly, leading to a greater sense of stability.
2. Avoid Workaholism!
Having lots to do and placing an awful lot of pressure on yourself will keep you on your toes and encourage you to strive for more. The rush you get from feeling super-busy can become addictive, but sometimes being pumped full of adrenalin doesn’t induce us to make the wisest decisions. While it’s easy to become demotivated and disinterested if you’re not tasking yourself with enough work, if you always feel like you’re hanging on by a thread then you’re probably not running your venture in the most productive (or sustainable) way.
Make sure you make time for breaks throughout the day and don’t have your lunch at your desk – get away from your computer screen. It’s a good idea to get your heart pumping, so go outside and spend some time in your garden or walk around the block at least three or four times during your working day. At the end of the day, choose a cut-off point and stick to it. Just before you’re due to finish work, make a to-do list of your tasks for the next day so you won’t spend the evening thinking about your next move.
3. Learn to Say No
Running a successful business depends heavily on the things you say no to. Whilst it can be tempting to take on every little job for the smallest amount of money, it’s best to aim high from the outset if you want to attract the right kind of clientele and find steady, ongoing work.
Saying yes to small, underpaid jobs will do you little good financially and give you less of an opportunity to enjoy some much-needed ‘me’ time, so if you want to give yourself a chance to rejuvenate and approach your role as a virtual assistant with renewed vigour each morning, take on each project on its merits and avoid committing to work that’s simply more hassle than it’s worth!
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source: http://sxc.hu
Maggie Johnson is the managing director at Executive Virtual Support, a virtual assistance agency that supports companies in the finance sector.