What You Need to Know for Successful Work Life Balance

An independent consultant, freelancer, or just one who is self-employed  can be best defined as one who chooses not to be an employee; 

one who is willing to depend upon his or her own talents, abilities, and expertise for continued existence; one who is a risk taker - knowing that there is no weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly pay checks; 

one who may seem to be a little crazy and weird to his peers, but one is willing to try to make a difference in the world.

The Life of the Self-Employed
The life of a self-employed means that in working for yourself, you have to organize your own day. I organize my day around set blocks of time and types of task . Your choice of several calendar applications allows you to to this. 

I personally use Google Calendar which has proved to be great in helping me to do so. For example, you may break your day down into one hour segments or thirty minute segments depending on the type of task and how much time may be needed to complete that type of work.

Some of your tasks might require more time to be spent on the phone. Consequently, you may allow an hour for phone calls and follow-up to phone calls, while you may allow just thirty minutes for reviewing reports, and an hour for billing. 

The day and times allocated to each type of task may vary depending upon the type of work that you're doing. 

Know What Adjustments You Need to Make
Some type of task may be required each day, while some might just be required just once a week. The main thing is that over time it become clear as to how much time you need to allocate to the specific type of task week and what adjustment you need to make

A typical day of a self-employed person includes:

 a. making phone calls,
 b. checking e-mails,
 c.  keeping appointments,
 d. reviewing reports,
 c. writing reports,
 d. billing clients,
 e. going to meetings,
 f. and writing letters.

And, of course, until you become well established, you have to consistently obtain work which includes prospecting, asking for referrals, dealing with no answers, and marketing. Getting paid for your work includes billing, following up on billings, and negotiating rates.

Find the Work Life Balance
Finding the work-life balance can be a challenge. Being  self-employed means a willingness to accept extended periods of working alone while balancing that need with time to have fun and to enjoy your relationships. 

That means dealing with the challenge of finding those times and making those times meaningful.

Over time you want to develop the reputation as one who puts the client first; one who is willing to take the extra step; one who is sincerely committed to the idea of adding value to what you do; and one who is willing to make a commitment to becoming an expert in your chosen field.

Are you willing to make the commitment? Leave Your comments below.