Bloggertone

For creative and entrepreneurial types, their work means giving up the cosy office environment and going it alone. The solitude gives them the peace and space needed to come up with innovative ideas. But the loneliness can be crushing and seriously sap your motivation. As a home worker, I have come up with some tried and tested strategies for keeping motivation high when you’re working alone.

Morning ritual. A good start is half the battle if you want to stay motivated for the day. Instead of rolling out of bed and beginning work straight away, get up a little earlier and create a relaxing ritual for yourself, which will prepare your mind for work. For me, it’s that first cup of tea.

Make a list. This commits you to a course of action for the day. It’s like a map which keeps you on the straight and narrow. This is particularly useful on days when business is quiet, as it helps you use your time effectively. At the end of the day, you will feel a deep sense of satisfaction that everything on your list has been ticked off.

Exercise. Some yoga moves or a visit to the gym will give you just the jolt you need when energy levels are flagging. Exercise can easily be fitted into your day, even when you’re busy. You can walk into town to get your jobs done, or even run up and down the stairs in your home once every hour.

Social Networking. Sites like Facebook, Twitter or Bloggertone itself will help you tap into an online community of people who are eager to interact with you. Social networking offers the home worker an opportunity to increase their contact lists, which can’t be done easily when you work on your own. But be careful to use it wisely, as it can suck your life away if you let it!

Real-time Socialising. When you’ve completed your day’s work, reward yourself with an outing. There are plenty of networking events with a social component, where you can bounce ideas off other business people. Or you can unwind completely with a play or football match.

Working on your own is not easy. Be kind to yourself, treat yourself if all is going well and don’t be harsh with yourself if you fall off course. You can always find your way back onto the right path next day.

What do you think? Share your tips below!