How do I stay focused when I’m my own boss?

Staying focused as your own boss can be both freeing and challenging. It’s easy to get distracted when you’re not accountable to anyone but yourself. Here’s how I’ve managed to maintain focus:

1. Define Your Goals Clearly: Start by setting clear, achievable goals. Break them down into daily, weekly, and monthly targets. When I transitioned from corporate to freelancing, having a solid roadmap made the journey less overwhelming.

2. Create a Structured Routine: While I left corporate to escape rigid structures, I found that creating a daily routine was essential. Keep it flexible, but set specific times for work, breaks, and personal tasks. Routines signal your brain: "It’s time to work."

3. Apply the Capture, Develop, Expose Framework: Use this to stay organized. Capture your ideas and tasks in a to-do list or app. Develop them by prioritizing and scheduling actions. Then, Expose your progress through regular reviews to see what’s working and what’s not.

4. Designate a Workspace: Whether it’s a home office or a corner of your living room, having a set workspace distinguishes work time from leisure time.

5. Embrace the Imperfect: Understand that not every day will be super productive. Some days are about progress, while others are about learning through failures. Accept this as part of the process.

6. Limit Distractions: Identify what interrupts your flow and minimize these distractions during work hours. This could mean setting phone boundaries or using apps that block distracting sites.

7. Check-In With Your Why: Regularly revisit why you chose this path. For me, it was about flexibility, creativity, and impact. When focus wavers, reminding myself of my ‘why’ re-centers my intentions.

8. Accountability Partners: Find a mentor or join a community of freelancers. Sharing updates or challenges can create a sense of accountability which helps drive focus.

9. Celebrate Small Wins: Acknowledging even small achievements can boost morale and keep you motivated to maintain focus.

You’ll have days when focus is hard to maintain. Accept it. Allow yourself breaks and understand that your productivity might come in waves. Redefine success based on what brings fulfillment, not just output.