The Seven Best Business Habits for New Business Owners

Feb 20

The habits we employ on a daily basis impact our behavior and effectively determine our productivity and overall well-being. Of course, most of us know the importance of establishing habits in our personal lives, like exercising, eating a healthy diet, and getting quality sleep. But the immense value of habit formation in business can often be overlooked.

Creating good business habits keeps you organized, increases productivity, and allows you to chase your goals confidently.

It's common to feel overwhelmed when you start a new business. Still, by implementing daily habits, you can quickly establish a framework for managing your day-to-day operations and successfully planning for growth.

Here are seven habits you can start today to take your business to the next level.

1. Wake Up Early

Have you ever noticed how peaceful it is in those first few hours of the morning? You know, that time when you have a moment to think and breathe before the kids wake up and the demands of the day start rolling in?

Harnessing the habit of waking up early can be a game-changer for your business.

Some of the world's most successful entrepreneurs wake up at 5 a.m. every day and use those early morning hours to focus and plan. What you do with that precious uninterrupted time is entirely up to you. But it's an excellent opportunity to journal your daily priorities, catch up on communication with clients, and tackle projects before the day's chaos unfolds.

2. Dream Big

Successful business owners are dreamers. When you aspire for great things in your business, it pushes you to explore and learn. Take time to get really clear about what you want to achieve and why it's important to you. Starting a new business is challenging, so having a habit of visualizing your dreams can help you to stay motivated and inspire you to stay focused on achieving your goals.

3. Take Small Steps

While it's important to dream big, it's equally important to understand how to achieve that dream by breaking it down into realistic goals. Success doesn't happen overnight, but taking small steps toward your goal each day helps to build momentum and confidence.

Goal setting is one of the most potent business habits you can implement. But the real key to success is knowing how to break down your long-term business goals into actionable smaller milestones that you work on every single day.

Over time, these small steps add up, and your dream vision for your business will begin to eventuate.

4. Create Systems and Checklists

As James Clear states in his best-selling book Atomic Habits…

"You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems."

Successful small business owners use systems and checklists to create order in their day. These systems define practices and procedures for different activities and make them easier and more efficient.

Break down your routine tasks into actionable checklists and work on developing systems that will streamline your business operations.

5. Follow a Budget

Every business must follow a budget, but it's especially important when starting a new business. Expenses can quickly balloon out of control if you don't have a plan and follow it strictly.

Small businesses often have limited resources, so following a budget is crucial for tracking income, expenses, and performance. In addition, sticking to a budget ensures you have the cash flow to stay operational and allows you to allocate resources toward the growth of your business sustainably.

6. Establish Work Boundaries

Running a small business is hard work, and burnout is, unfortunately, a common experience. However, setting boundaries around work is a habit that will protect your physical and mental well-being and help you maintain the energy required to succeed in your business.

If you are working from home, try and set specific hours for work and be sure to switch off technology a few hours before bed. While it can be tempting to answer emails or catch up on the day's news, your device's blue light disrupts the melatonin required for quality sleep.

In addition, take time to schedule self-care. It's easy to fall into the trap of spending every spare moment on your business, but achieving a healthy work-life balance is vital. So, make sure you intentionally carve out time in your day to complete activities that bring you joy and help you to unwind.

7. Ask for Help

One of the business habits that separates the world's most successful entrepreneurs from others is their willingness to ask for help. There will be times when you need guidance, and it's essential to set up a support system that you can turn to for answers.

The team at Sweet Sleep Academy is passionate about providing a valuable community of support to sleep consultants. If you are looking to elevate your business to the next level, check out our one-on-one coaching program offering mentorship from experienced and seasoned sleep consultants.

And don't miss our Virtual Retreat on March 30th and 31st. Connect, learn, and get inspired with two days of workshops, breakout sessions, and presentations from experts in the field. Whether you are a new sleep consultant just launching your practice or you've been running your business for years, this retreat is for you!

Sarah Lougry