By Mira Showers, CIPHE Industrial Associate member.
When you’re self-employed, work can creep into every part of your day. Quoting jobs at 9pm, replying to texts on a Sunday morning, even checking emails in the middle of the night - it can feel like you’re never fully off the clock.
It doesn’t have to be that way though. In fact, setting some boundaries and managing your time won’t just improve your personal life and wellbeing, it’ll be better for business too.
Here are some simple tips to help you take back control of your time, so you can keep your evenings and weekends free for yourself.
Plan Ahead
You don’t need a military-style schedule, but a bit of structure can go a long way. Focus on the tasks that really move your business forward - like quoting, finishing jobs and chasing payments - and tackle those first.
Creating a weekly plan helps you stay on top of things. Time blocking (where you set certain hours for admin, site work or breaks) keeps your day focused and prevents everything spilling into the evening. You might have a time that you know your brain is at its sharpest, for completing the tasks you find more challenging – such as first thing, or just after lunch when you’re feeling refreshed. Try and reserve the tasks you find easiest – whether that’s answering emails or uploading a social media update – to the parts of the day when you might be feeling lower on energy.
If a job feels overwhelming, break it down into smaller steps so it becomes more manageable. Moving things along a little bit, is better than not moving them along at all.
Set Boundaries
Just because you work for yourself doesn’t mean you have to be available 24/7. Define your work hours and let your customers know when they can expect to hear from you. You’ll find most people will accept these boundaries and even appreciate the transparency - especially if you’re clear from the start.
At home, having a dedicated workspace (even just a corner of the kitchen table) can help you mentally switch off when the workday ends. Try not to work elsewhere in the house, as this helps create a sense of separation – that your house is a space to rest and recharge. Turning off notifications in the evening also helps avoid distractions and gives you the proper time to unwind.
Use the Right Tools
There are plenty of simple tools that can help you stay organised. Project management apps like Trello or Notes can help keep track of jobs and deadlines, while time-tracking apps help to establish where you might be wasting time and where needs more focus.
Automating admin, like setting up invoice templates or using calendar reminders, can save time and stress. If you have room in your budget, consider outsourcing the jobs that cause you the most stress or take the most time out of your day, like bookkeeping or social media management.
Make Time for Yourself
Business is important, but so are you. Whether it’s hanging out with mates, spending time with family or just enjoying a quiet night in, make sure there’s time plotted into your week that isn’t about work.
Getting enough rest, eating well and stepping away from the tools every now and then keeps you sharp, allows you to do your best work and helps you avoid burnout in the long run.
You don’t need to do more to get your time back, you just need to do the right things. With a bit of planning, the right tools and some healthy boundaries, you can protect your evenings and weekends while still running a business you love.