Setting goals and dreaming big is well and good but figuring out how to be productive even when you don’t feel like it is key to a thriving freelance business.
How to be productive even when you’re unmotivated
When you’re the one juggling all the balls and keeping your business going, there are times when you might wonder if it’s all worth the effort.
No one said running your own business would be easy but sometimes it’s harder than you imagined. So what do you do when you have no motivation?
Tip 1: Stop Making Excuses
If you find yourself blaming outside forces or other people for why you’re not more productive it may be time for some honest reflection.
There will always be obstacles and reasons why you can’t work on your business. Stop making excuses and figure out a solution. Keep moving forward.
Example: I can’t market my business, I’m awkward/introverted/etc. Nope. Get over it. You have to market your business. Figure it out.
By the way, here are some marketing ideas for people who hate marketing.
Tip 2: Celebrate the Victories, Big and Small
While you were analyzing your freelance business did you stop to celebrate the small wins? Take a moment now. You’ve worked hard, you’ve had some good times. Acknowledge it.
No matter how small the accomplishment, give yourself some credit. Savour it. Pat yourself on the back. Being a business owner is tough, whether you’re a plumber or freelance writer. You’ve earned this moment of celebration!
When we’re stressing about how to be productive and worrying about how far we still have to go it’s easy to miss the progress we make. Try to see it. Try to feel positive.
Once you’ve found a few victories write them down and remind yourself of your progress every time you’re feeling down. Use the small wins to spur you forward.
Tip 3: Ask for Help | How to Be Productive
Just because you’re an entrepreneur doesn’t mean you have to do everything by yourself. If you’re feeling stressed, overworked or under pressure it might be time to ask for help.
Sure, you may have a time management issue and if there are systems you can implement and changes you can make to your routine then you should do it. But it also may be time to ask for help. Outsourcing isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of growth. Finding the right strategic partners could make all the difference.
Tip 4: Analyze and Evaluate
Rather than digging in and pushing harder, it might be time to take a step back and take stock of your situation.
Give yourself some space, evaluate where things are at compared with where you want to be.
Here are a few questions to consider.
- Are you circling burnout or do you just need a bit of help?
- Is your work/life balance in tact?
- Are you working towards your S.M.A.R.T. goals or are you just working?
If your business financial health is in question, it may be time to dig out last year’s reports and take stock of your actual numbers. How did things go? What’s changed?
Once you have a good idea of where things are at you can re-evaluate where you’re going. Take a look at your road map and adjust as necessary.
One more thing. You may be interested in my free resource library. This is where I keep my files, downloads, ebooks, worksheets and whatever else I manage to create. I love sharing what I learn and want to keep adding to this library so it becomes a wealth of helpful goodness.
This is a free resource but I do require a password to access the library itself. You can get access by popping your email address into the form below.
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