Self Discipline with Layla Alammar

In today's world, many are choosing to be self-employed and consequently are navigating one of the hardest skills to make their schedule work; self-discipline. Not having to clock in from 9am to 5pm or be held accountable for your working time makes you your own boss, but it also makes you that co-worker who is always distracting you with other things you could be doing. We wake up with good intentions, we make to-do lists and time blocks, but despite all our willpower, we find the TV very attractive, that decluttering project suddenly becomes urgent, or end up lost in the daydreaming part of the creative process. So how do we make our schedules work?

As a former financer and a full time PhD student, who is also a writer, Layla Al-Ammar has gone from the corporate world into the unstructured realm of self-discipline, and in order for her to achieve her goals, she has to set her pace.

Here are her tips:

1. Break up a large project into smaller, more manageable goals.
2. Set deadlines and abide by them. You can even enlist an accountability buddy who will check in with you.
3. Get into a work routine. I work best in the morning, so I commit to writing from 7am until noon every weekday, and I spend the rest of the workday reading or doing admin work.
4. Keep organised. I have a desk calendar where I jot down deadlines and things that need to get done.
5. Don't be afraid to say no. I wind up saying yes to every opportunity that comes by way, even if I don't really have time for it. Then I stress about getting it done on top of my priorities. It's OK to pass on things.

Sometimes working for yourself means you are on the job 24/7, which could lead to burnout. Balance is important, and to achieve that balance, she advises:

1. Maintain your weekend. Even if it doesn't adhere to the calendar week, make sure you take a day or two off in order to recharge.
2. Move your body. I frequently get writer's block and I find that going for a walk is so beneficial. You can also try yoga or swimming or meditation.
3. Maintain your social relationships. It's easy to get so consumed by work that everything else falls away. But it's important to keep up with family and friends in order to not lose sight of what truly matters.

Being your own boss has many advantages, when done right. If your dream is to start your own business, write that book, or turn your hobby into a profitable venture, with the right mindset and tools, magic can happen.