Run Your Online Business From Home & Thrive

Don’t you just love running your online service business from the comfort of your home? You get to do what you love and do well on your terms to help others. It can be a truly liberating and fulfilling life path, especially if you've come out of the confines of something like a corporate career.

Working from our home office is not without its challenges though. I've been chatting with some of the freelancers and business owners I know lately as well as having discussions in the online business groups I’m in. What's clear is that this freedom can bring feelings of isolation and even loneliness. Do you relate to this? I know there’s times that I absolutely do …

… and this is not just a phenomenon for people living alone. I hear the same stories from those with partners, those raising families and/or with packs of assorted animals to keep them company.

One of the things that often comes up is that the significant people in our lives don’t get what it is we actually do. They may not even appreciate the work and commitment we put in. When we enthusiastically relay details of our working day or challenges we face and conquer, that glazed look appears across their faces. They don’t get it. That can leave you feeling like a deflated, misunderstood balloon. So we learn to spare loved ones the details of that significant part of who we are, that thing we put so much love into - our business. 

Of course, many freelancers and business owners love to network for this very reason, be that at in-person events or online. It’s a great way to bypass that sense of isolation as you get to be amongst people who speak your language, understand your challenges and can share knowledge. But what if networking is not your thing, you crave connection but you’re not a group person? How can you free yourself from the isolation that can hold you back from thriving to your potential? These are my go-to strategies:

• Journal often. By honestly answering the important questions that those closest to you may overlook digging into: How am I really doing? What’s my self-talk like? Am I getting enough meaningful connection to truly thrive? Once you’ve identified that yes, you feel isolated or lonely, list out all the actions you could potentially take to better address it. We can’t rely on the people in our lives to get everything about us, it’s up to us to actively seek sources to feel validated and heard as a business owner too.

• Schedule time each week away not just from the office but the home too. The risk when we become isolated or lonely is it becomes a cycle. The more isolated we feel the more we turn inwards and isolate ourselves further.

• Find an accountability partner, someone you can check in with regularly as well as share knowledge and challenges with. As with dating, not all matches will be the perfect fit, so try this with different people until you land the right partnership for you. The beauty is you can do all this without leaving the office.

Being secure and comfortable with your own company is a must for freelancers and business owners working from home. Even so, our emotional wellbeing still needs regular waterings of compassionate, thoughtful attention not to mention a friendly shove from time to time. Be sure to get and give yourself your share.

Tell me your thoughts and strategies too, I’d love to hear them.

Much love,

Hannah x

P.S. If you'd welcome additional support, book in for a Free Friendship Connection Call with me to find out how I could potentially help you. Simply book yourself in via my online calendar here:

https://calendly.com/youliberated/friendship-connection-call