For some people, working a 9-to-5 means neglecting their dreams and the opportunities to pursue them. Other people only work a 9-to-5 to make ends meet, while investing time into building their businesses, brands, and projects that matter most to them.
What if I told you it is 100 percent possible to simultaneously work a traditional 9-to-5 job and follow your dreams? Here are three ways to make that happen:
Create a block schedule. Everybody gets the same 24 hours, seven days a week, no more, no less. It’s how we use our time that matters the most. Creating a consistent block schedule will help increase your productivity and keep you on track. When you use this method, you create time for each item on your to-do lists rather than making a to-do with no specific timeframes. Don’t limit your block schedule to work related reasons. For an example, you may want to dedicate Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. towards any business projects you may be working on, and Saturdays towards self-care. Use this method for all activities you want to accomplish daily, and watch your life change. Nothing is more fulfilling than checking off your schedule to-do lists and meeting your goals.
Set alarms and reminders. Now that you’ve created your block schedule, it’s time to utilize your alarms and reminders. A cool way to set your alarms is by selecting a reoccurring time on your phone, computer, apple watch, or whatever works best for you-- and don’t forget to label your alarm. The same goes for the reminder: complete the reminder form on your phone with as many details as possible. Select how you would want to receive your notifications. Different notifications are: show on your lock screen, in your history, or as a banner. Choose a notification sound that grasps your attention, something you can’t ignore even if you tried. Alarms and reminders help keep you on your toes, and prevent you from missing any meetings, deadlines, or appointments that are set in place. Plus, you are essentially holding yourself accountable, which is a win-win in my book.
Find accountability partners. Even though you’re doing things like creating block schedules, setting alarms and reminders, it is important to surround yourself with like-minded individuals who you can trust to hold you accountable. There may be days where procrastination or laziness kicks in, which is okay. But it is important to have those individuals around you that will encourage you to keep it moving, even on the days you don’t want to. You can do this by finding other friends with businesses, or join an online community of hustlers to share best practices, lessons learned, and tips to stay motivated. Working with others to achieve goals boosts your chances of success.
See, it doesn’t sound so bad, right? Mastering your 9-to-5 and your business is possible. Having a consistent schedule, backed up with frequent reminders, and great rest will produce outstanding results. If you are still having a hard time balancing both, contact us for some one on one advising!