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Jane Hinchliffe Squarespace Website Design

HeartπŸ’ŒBiz Letter
 

25 July, 2024

Welcome πŸ₯°

It's Jane here, & welcome to my HeartπŸ’ŒBiz Letter. The email is designed to inspire you, share tips, & move you forward to growing a sustainable, small business.

Let's dive in!
 

The Hubby and I enjoying our recent holiday.

Hi πŸ‘‹ there,

I thought it was about time to share a little life catch-up. Yep, scroll down for the holiday pics.

Finding the Elusive Sweet Spot:

Balancing Flexibility and Routine as a Small Business Owner (kind of, I’m a work in progress, you know how it goes lol).

One thing's for sure, running a small business is no small feat; I totally see you!

I think you'll agree that it keeps you on your toes (understatement), and of course, our lives are constantly changing and evolving too. Our two sons are home with two months of summer hols still to come (great and yikes, simultaneously!), which is our reality.

Balancing new challenges, avoiding distractions, managing life's storms, and maintaining a routine to stay productive and focused is demanding. For me, striking this balance is tricky as I evolve, tweak, try new things, and discard routines that don't work, oh and don’t get me started on all things, menopause!

Another layer to this is that I'm the kind of person who loves and hates routine (anyone else?). After all, freedom πŸͺ is one of my values. While I don't have all the answers (who does), I aim to work well while living with as much freedom and joy as possible. Isn't this partly why we work for ourselves?

I try new things (and endeavour to be gentle with myself when things go pear up). I observe what feels right, and celebrate the wins. Let's get curious shall we and discover your sweet spot between flexibility and routine in your biz life.

The Power of Routine

A well-structured routine can be a game-changer for small business owners. Karen Eyre-White, a renowned productivity expert, says:

"Having a routine provides a sense of stability and predictability in our daily lives. It helps to reduce stress and anxiety by knowing what to expect and when."

Yes, routines can create a stable environment that can boost efficiency and productivity. By allocating specific times for crucial tasks, you can prioritise better and meet your goals more effectively.

The Need for Flexibility

However, I’d also say, that in the ever-changing landscape of running a business, flexibility is equally vital. Unforeseen challenges and opportunities pop up all the time (yep, you also?), and the ability to adapt quickly without feeling overwhelmed is crucial.

Flexibility doesn't have to mean abandoning your routine; it means incorporating adaptability within your structured plan. This approach ensures that you can more easily handle unexpected events without derailing your entire day (and yeah, I'd be the first to admit derailing, happens 🀣).

Finding the Sweet Spot

So, how can you strike a balance? Here’s what’s currently helping me (most of the time lol):

  1. Set Priorities but Stay Adaptable:

    • Start your day with a clear list of priorities. I use Notion for this (as well as for client work). Identify the most critical tasks and allocate time for them. However, leave some buffer time in your schedule (when possible) to handle unexpected issues that may arise.

  2. Create Time Blocks:

    • Use time-blocking to organise your day. Allocate specific blocks of time for focused work, marketing activities, meetings, and breaks. As above, try to give yourself some wiggle room to accommodate last-minute changes.

  3. Regularly Review and Adjust:

    • Periodically review your routine to see what's working and what isn't. Adjust your schedule as needed to improve productivity and adapt to new challenges, seasonal changes, energy levels, or just more/less on your plate.

  4. Incorporate Self-Care:

    • Don't forget to include self-care in your routine.

      Eyre-White advises:
      "Incorporating self-care and relaxation into our routine ensures that we maintain a healthy balance between work and personal life, which is crucial for overall well-being."

    • On a personal note, one thing I've been prioritising, is going to bed earlier and waking up earlier. This has been a long time coming. My household is full of night owls πŸ¦‰, so the pull has been to stay up, when deep down I know this doesn’t work for me.

      Hello, larks 🐦! This early’ish ;) morning change allows me to dedicate time to myself before diving into my work day. Previously, I’d often head straight into β€˜taming any fires’ πŸ”₯ mode. I’d react to the day, and regularly prioritise the needs of others, instead of first taking time to orient myself for the day ahead. Yep, this β€˜highly-sensitive-person’ HSP person, totally needs this.

      This new approach has made quite a difference in how I feel and perform throughout the day. Oh, and I'm so enjoying going back to a little journaling in the am, eating my breakfast calmly (no one’s up yet!), and playing a little piano 🎹 (I’m teaching myself lol).

      At the mo, I love following Rachel’s videos on YT. I’m doing my best to incorporate a little movement most mornings, with weights in the gym, and regular dog walking with my hubby.

Here’s Rachel, The Girl With The Pilates Mat. Certified Pilates Instructor, based in the UK with 14 years of teaching experience, 25 years of practice and a former Professional Dancer.

5. Communicate with Your Family and Team (if you have one):

  • Ensure that your family (and team) know your routine and guard your β€˜personal’ time, whenever possible. Encourage open communication so everyone knows when you're available and when you might need to adapt your schedule.

Finding the balance between freedom/flexibility and routine is an ongoing process. Or, it is for me at least. There’s certainly no perfection here! But by creating some structure that includes room for adaptability, you can move towards managing your business more effectively AND enjoy improved well-being. Remember, the goal is to create a β€˜system’ that works for you, whilst having some built-in flexibility so that you can thrive as a small business owner AND a human being.

Here's to trying new things and being curious about what might help us achieve that bit more balance between work and play πŸ™Œ
 

Our Hols

Speaking of play and freedom, my husband and I took a recent one-week UK holiday. What a fab time we had!
Very old medieval wooden fronted building

Very old medieval wooden fronted building in Ludlow, Shropshire
England's Oldest and Steepest Inland Electric Funicular Railway

England's Oldest and Steepest Inland Electric Funicular Railway in Bridgford, Shropshire

Ludlow Castle - construction started in 1085, in Ludlow, Shropshire. We climbed to the top, by the flag pole (our dog 🐢 wasn’t keen, so we climbed separately lol).

As always, I love hearing your thoughts and what works for you :).

If you’d like me to occasionally share more on this topic and similar lifestyle content, please hit reply with a πŸ˜€

And while I’m at it, if you ever have a niggling small biz issue, then do hit reply and I’ll do my bestest to help.

As always, I’m cheering you on, all the way…

Love,

Jane x

 

Hi, I'm Jane. I’m here to help you stand out, and grow a sustainable small business that enables you to live the life you want. I’m your heart-centred brand strategist, & web design guru, all rolled into one. Get a well-thought-out brand and website, without the hassle of doing the work yourself. And, when you’re ready, let’s chat: Book Your Free Discovery Call
 

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