When you make the strong decision to leave a long-standing career of working for others to launch your own business, you are going to experience a lot of changes in your life.

It goes without saying that running your own company is going to be filled with surprises – some great, and some challenging.

Your success as an entrepreneur is going to depend on how well-equipped you are to roll with the punches.

The good news is, you don’t have to be afraid of getting caught off-guard.

You can know what to expect and put good habits in place to ensure the best success when launching your own business.

Here are 3 lifestyle changes that you can manage before they become obstacles to your business success…

 

Feelings of isolation

 

In the past, when you worked at a regular 9-5 job, you might have enjoyed some water-cooler banter or after-work drinks with your co-workers. Maybe you had a couple of office friends you’d go out to lunch with.

For many, work is a social experience, as well as a professional one.

Or, maybe you weren’t one of these people. Perhaps you had to deal with some unsavory co-workers or, even worse, a bad boss.

You might have even daydreamed of a future when you could leave your workplace behind and work in solitude and peace, without silly distractions like office drama, personality clashes, or toxic workplace culture.

Maybe you’re an introvert and thrive when working solo.

In any case, many people who start businesses of their own are caught off guard when they suddenly have to spend most of their work days alone.

Loneliness runs rampant among solopreneurs who don’t keep their isolation in check.

After all, entrepreneurs tend to be very driven, obsessed with their work, and don’t usually relate to most people who work a regular 9-5 job.

Human beings are social creatures, and even if we like working alone, we need connection. Studies indicate that feeling lonely can have the same effect on our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Make sure you schedule quality time with your family and friends. Go offline during some of these times and don’t compromise. Remember – quality is more important than quality.

Some business owners find it helpful to join a co-working space, so that they can mingle with other business owners and feel the energy of working within an office culture. It is also happens to be a great way to share equipment, boardroom space, receptionist services, and other business assets.

You can also join a business networking group, where you can interact with other business owners a couple of times per month/year. This is helpful on many levels: you can meet others who are in business for themselves and who can relate to you, as well as pass on business referrals and business growth strategies. Joining a group like this will not only help you feel less isolated, but can help you grow your business as well.

 

Loss of motivation

 

When you work a regular 9-5 job, you don’t have to motivate yourself.

There will likely be a boss or supervisor glaring down on you if you fail to deliver, or of you take too long to produce.

Or, your team might be depending on you, so you can’t and won’t let them down.

In any case, you are motivated by external forces.

When you become self-employed, this changes. There are no longer any external forces. You are it.

Now, you have to learn how to be self-motivated.

Staying driven and motivated is a skill that has to be practiced, just like any other skill, so don’t feel bad if you struggle to master this right away.

Breaking big goals into smaller, manageable milestones, and then scheduling deadlines for these milestones is a good way to stay on track.

Planning your day and knowing what you want to accomplish by the end of your “work shift” will also keep you motivated. Reward yourself with a snack or stretch break after certain items are crossed off your list.

A good rule of thumb is to take a 10-minute break every 45-60 minutes, so your brain stays fresh and your body doesn’t feel too much stress.

 

Loss of boundaries

 

While too much isolation is a bad thing when you’re an entrepreneur, a little distance is sometimes required.

You are going to need to set boundaries – when it comes to your time and your space – if you are going to be able to stay motivated and productive.

When you work for a company away from home, boundaries are something you can often take for granted.

However, when you work at home, or even in a co-working space where the rules are not as clear-cut, you may have to draw some proverbial lines in the sand.

If you have a home office, make sure it is sealed off from distractions.

Treat your work space as you would if you were working in a public office – clear of clutter and anything that has nothing to do with work. The better designed your home office is for work, the more productive you will be.

Do not attempt to multi-task and take care of domestic duties when you should be at work. Throwing in a load of laundry in between work projects has a way of derailing a workday, even with the best of intentions.

A helpful way to help manage your time is to think of your day as broken up into “shifts”. For example, when you are getting your kids ready for school in the morning, you are on “home shift”. When the kids are out, you are on “work shift”. Try to never mix shifts.

You might find it useful to change clothes, or “dress for work” to get you in the right mindset.

Making the switch from working for someone else at a 9-5 job to starting your own company isn’t just a career change, it’s a major lifestyle change as well. Some new entrepreneurs might be caught off guard at how different things are when they choose business ownership. However, negative effects of these changes can be managed very easily. An entrepreneur can combat loneliness by scheduling social time with their friends and family, renting a co-working space, or joining a business networking group. Keeping a running list of goals and deadlines will help you stay motivated. Business owners can learn to protect their boundaries by keeping their work time/space separate from their personal time/space.