Four Factors: How to Stay Motivated when Working From Home!

Guest Post By Sheri Andrunyk, Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Inspiring Speaker, Holistic Business and Life Coach, Author and Publisher (More about Sheri at the end of this post)

Staying motivated is a choice, and it doesn’t always come from “feeling” like doing something. In fact, the feelings usually follow action. Staying motivated is about focusing on something bigger than ourselves—it is often as simple as recognizing the difference you make to others when you follow-up and follow-through to the best of your ability. And who would be disappointed and worse yet, lose out if you don’t. It can also be the strong vision you have of getting closer and closer to reaching your goals, and being able to set new ones . . .

When it comes to the work you do, ultimately, you need to understand its inherent value to others, and you have to make it your mission to deliver each and every time.

Here are four factors that I believe affect greatly how easy it is or how challenging it can be, to stay motivated when you are working from home:

1) What are your work hours? Do have them? What does a regular work day look like?

This is critical from a number of standpoints. For clients, they know when they can reach you and count on you for assistance, etc. For family, you help them learn how to respect your work hours, regardless of the fact that you happen to work from home. Your consistency and communication around this will help set the stage and foundation for a potentially very successful home-based business.

2) What are the “daily disciplines” you need to take action on each and every day?

Daily disciplines tie in with your work hours with respect to how you fill your days. Of course, we know we can’t “say” we work 9 to 5 every day of the week, and then sit and wait for our prospective clients to call us. We have to develop some strategies, good habits that will balance the time you are working on your business and the time you are working in your business. One of the phrases I learned long ago that I highly recommend you adopting is, “Is what I’m doing right now growing my business?” And then focus on growth activities during a certain time of your work day, when you know you can most easily be in front of your customers—and allow another part of your day or week for support and administrative work (until you’re at a point where you can hire someone).

3) What do you read or fill your mind with on a regular basis?

You might think you don’t have time to read a lot. If this is the case, although it’s definitely worth making time and investing in yourself and your business in this way, then you should be all that more mindful of what you allow to occupy your mind during your work day and beyond. Here are a couple of very helpful tips where a few minutes and the right words can go a long way in giving you the extra boost you need at any given moment:

• Select content (book, blog, audio or video) that moves and inspires you, and keeps you in a confident and motivated state, and connected to your goals. Indulge yourself for just 5 minutes in the morning, and 5 minutes at the end of your day.
• If you’re on social media over the course of your day (which most of us are these days), allow yourself to gravitate to the messages that motivate you. Take a few more seconds than you might normally; and apply it to your own reality and see how it can empower you further.

4) How many new people do you meet and connect with on a regular basis?

This is critical, and it’s also where many small business owners and entrepreneurs feel the most confusion and frustration. If you are constantly focusing on existing clients and following up with what prospects say they might be interested in, and you are not continually filling the pipeline with new contacts, you run the risk of creating a significant imbalance in your business. Of course things are changing constantly, and even with a strong and established client base, if you are not making new connections, you will eventually see a decline … Worse yet, you may put pressure on existing clients and prospects for more business than they really need. You also can get a little stale and lose your own passion for what you have to offer, because you’re not educating and introducing yourself and your company to others regularly. On the contrary, when you do this consistently and stay engaged, you re-motivate and excite yourself . . . which permeates everything you do in a very positive way.

Last but not least, remember, whenever you want to make a change and create a new habit that will help to propel you towards living your ideal life, plan to implement your new activities for at least 21 days. Note in your calendar and check mark them each and every day, acknowledging your progress and exciting new outcomes as you go.

Oh yes, and surround yourself with empowering and positive people, always—because you deserve it.

Here’s to your success!

About the Author: Sheri Andrunyk’s specialty is working with small business owners and entrepreneurs. She has a passion for all forms of meaningful communication, and has expertise in providing invaluable guidance to her clients, colleagues, and community. Sheri’s new book Working from Home and Making it Work© discusses time and choice management, work/life balance and shares powerful insights on how we can become better self-managers, an essential component to success. For more information and to download a free chapter, please visit www.insightfulcommunications.ca.

Community Member

Women on Business Community Member

More Posts