what to do when boss cuts hours to 0

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The primary complaint with the typical ix to five schedule is that information technology simply leaves you Also FREAKING TIRED to exercise anything personally fulfilling later piece of work.

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From the moment y'all wake up, to the moment you become to bed, yous're in constant motion -- either preparing to show up somewhere, plowing through something, or preparing to exit.

In that location'southward no "you" time.

Weekends are a much-needed respite that typically only give yous enough time to recharge for the week but offer picayune hazard for you to make headway in personal pursuits -- like learning new skills, traveling or spending a lot of time with family.

Five days on... two days off. The math but doesn't add up.

I thought when I became fully cocky-employed I could fix all the glaring bug with the "employee schedule" by simply doing the opposite of what I didn't like.

Well, I'm here to tell you that these proposed solutions did Not work out similar I idea they would. Not even close, really.

Hither are some some assumptions I had about entrepreneur life that turned out to be false:

ane.) Virtually sleeping in...

What I thought:"Half dozen a.m. is too early to wake up! When I'g my own boss I'll make my own schedule and wake up when I feel like it!"

What I constitute: If you read biographies or stories well-nigh the world'southward most successful people, you'll hear over and over again that they get up at INSANE hours like 3 a.g. and 4 a.thousand. to start working. Of course, I never wanted to practice this. I figured that even if I stayed up late, every bit long as I got sleep, it didn't really matter when I got up the next day. Viii hours is eight hours, right?

Wrong.

Unfortunately, getting upward early makes a huge difference. Waking up at 5 a.1000. or vi a.one thousand. allows me to have an entirely different mean solar day than waking upwards at 10 a.m., but because I'thousand getting a four-5 hr spring on projects when I'thousand primed to be nearly productive.

There's nothing going on that early in the morning. I can wake up, get my coffee, hit the gym (if it'due south a training day), come back, get a solid 3 hours of work in and be ready to go by the time the residue of the world is buzzing.

I've also tested waking up early to do work vs staying up late and I've found that the quality of my work waking up at 6 a.1000. is far superior to the quality of work staying up until 3 a.m., even if I get eight hours of sleep in both instances.

Ben Franklin was correct when he said "Early on to bed, early to ascension... makes a man salubrious, wealthy and wise."

And that actually sucks... because I love sleeping in.

Unfortunately, I can't.

Tears.

Related: The Unglamorous Truth About My First Year of Business

2.) Nearly costless time to work on projects...

What I thought:"I don't accept whatever time to work on hobbies/skills/projects I enjoy. When I work for myself, I'll make fourth dimension in the heart of the day to do things that are of import. There'south no boss here except me!"

What I establish: I was really convinced that once I controlled my own schedule I'd be able to do what I wanted, when I wanted and fit everything else in around that.

To an extent, that is truthful. I do accept a adept amount of flexible time to do what I want.

Only (and this is a large "but"), I'1000 nevertheless accountable to MANY people. In fact, I'g accountable to more people at present than when I actually had a regular job. Even though I don't have a boss, I have clients, partners and colleagues who depend on me daily to help them with things.

And that'due south something worth thinking nearly -- even if you ditch your dominate, yous'll however need the support of other people to make it on your own. Nobody is an island.

Additionally, since I don't take set work hours, any time (and every fourth dimension) is a possible working hour. If something comes up, I have to handle it. In that location'due south no calling in sick and having someone do my task. It's all me.

Some days I have literally a dozen meetings.

Rather than doing what I want, when I want every day, I accept to use scheduling services like Calendly and Google Calendar to go along me on rail every single day.

Most days, I don't have a gigantic block of free time in the middle of the day to exercise whatever I want. I may not be stuck in a cubicle, but I'm probably busy working at Starbucks (my office of selection).

So while the power to piece of work on my passion projects certainly exists, information technology'south not a free-for-all. Lots of things still take to get done, and but like a regular working Joe, I need to brand certain I'one thousand meeting my obligations.

(P.Due south. When I practise work on my ain hobbies/pursuits, I e'er apply the Seinfeld Solution.)

Related: 10 Pitfalls of Being Your Own Boss

3.) About condolement...

What I thought:  "It's so difficult to stay focused at work. I'd love to be able to piece of work somewhere quiet and comfortable, similar my bed. When I have my ain business, pajamas for work every day!"

What I institute:Working from home, especially from the comfort of your PJs, is a perk that infomercial kingpins accept touted near self-employment for years.

"Imagine the thrill of working from home!"

LOL. The reality is that for me, working from domicile sucks. Non because it's not enjoyable, but considering I simply tin can't get anything done at home.

Commencement of all, my apartment isn't that big -- so it's non like I accept miles of space to spread out.

Then, between the TV flickering in the background, the fridge calling my name and Sara frolicking scantily clad (at my request)... I really tin't get annihilation done.

I Have to leave the house.

To be honest, I actually prefer separating work from abode because it allows me to create a psychological distinction between the two spaces and feel much more relaxed in the "work-free" dwelling environment.

And working in your pajamas is literally the fastest mode to guarantee feeling completely unproductive for the day. Trust me, I tried today... and barely got this post finished in time. In fact, if I have to piece of work from habitation, I'll brand a point to get dressed as soon equally I wake up.

(This is a quick piffling psychological play a joke on that discourages me from doing unproductive things or just flopping on the couch.)

Despite all this, I wouldn't trade self-employment for the world -- and fifty-fifty though it doesn't mean I get to sit at home and rampage sentinel 30 episodes of "Game of Thrones" on a weekly basis, it'due south however ane of the best decisions I've ever made.

Related: Richard Branson on How to Be Your Own Boss

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Source: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/251673

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