It's good to be busy and self-employed, but how much is too much? When too many project collide, a self-employed overload can hurt everything else.
Self employment is ever-changing. Sometimes, there’s just too little work and too little money pouring in. Other times, everyone seems to want something at the same time. When there are too many projects and too little time, a self-employed overload is already in progress.
Self employed professionals have to be extremely disciplined. It’s hard to work at home when there are many different distractions, and difficult to keep plugging away and looking for projects when funds are extremely tight. Discipline is even more difficult when there are a lot of projects and time seems to be on the brink of running out – it’s tempting to make choices, let some deadlines fall by the wayside, or simply take the night off instead of getting projects completed.
Many people don’t realize this, but a lot of self employed professionals don’t get the chance to observe holiday weekends, and sometimes there just isn’t time to take Saturday and Sunday off for rest and relaxation. When work piles up and a self-employed overload looms, there’s no time to simply stop working and go enjoy fun events. But, it’s good to be busy – that means money will be coming in, and that’s always a great feeling.
It can be damaging to personal and social lives, though, and that’s the downside of a self employed overload. When work piles up, chores and people may get neglected for a few days. Sometimes, work has to come first – but after the overload crisis has passed, be sure to do some necessary damage control. After working lots of long hours, it’s a good idea to catch up and take a day or two off. When you are your own boss, remember not to be too hard on yourself.
The key to surviving a self employed overload is in prioritizing your work load. Schedule time wisely to meet all deadlines, even if it means working late for a few nights. It’s a good idea to avoid missing deadlines if possible, because self employment can rely heavily upon reputation and work history. It is good to be busy – hectic at times, but still good. Take breaks every so often to avoid burning out completely, especially for meals. It’s tempting to grab a quick bite while getting some quick work done, but it's better idea to walk away and enjoy the meal and a few much-needed minutes of relaxation.
