Even though you may be the master of your virtual business, it's vital to maintain a balanced and organized offline business as well. Organized bank statements, office equipment and even your fitness levels can keep you feeling healthy and your bank account sturdy. Practice these five techniques to maintain your productivity.

1. Surround yourself with a support system

The majority of dot com businesses are owned by sole proprietors. Many founders think they can do it all themselves. Similar to the brick-and-mortar world, one in every three online businesses fail within the first three years. Many of these ventures don't make the cut because of the lack of support system that surrounds the owner of the business. Whether it's programmers, customer service or an assistant, make sure you start to add co-workers to your team once you can afford to do so. Don't wait until it's too late and you can't fulfill an order because you have to take your son to his baseball game. Always look to hire people who are motivated to help you grow the business so it can one day run on auto-pilot while you are vacationing in Hawaii.



2. Maintain an organized work space

The famous quote is always true - "You can tell a lot about someone by the order of their desk." Don't clutter your work space with extra stuff or out of date papers. Maintain order by using labeled file folders for different accounts and subjects. At the year end, move files and statements that you don't need to a self storage facility, but always save them. You never know when the government may come knocking. Most importantly, keep your desk organized and clean and you will be amazed at how much more productive you will be. Storage units are available in a variety of sizes so make sure you choose the best fit that aligns with your space needs and your budget.


3. Keep an eye on your profit

Don't just focus on sales. In the online world, it's easy to keep an eye on your sales ticker. You may quickly get excited when your email box fills up with orders. Before feeling satisfied, match your sales against your TOTAL profits. Factor in your hosting costs, advertising spend and electricity bill. Create an advanced balance statement or a simple budget in Excel to track your profitability by using columns for the date and the rows for each debit or credit item.


4. Exercise and stay fit

Computer based businesses can cause long-term circulation and muscular problems because of the long hours of sitting. Be sure to get up and walk around every couple of hours to get the blood flowing. In the morning or at lunch time, go for a jog or hit the gym to lift some weights. The best way to maintain a fitness routine is to treat it like a part of your business. Schedule your appointments with the gym so it fits into your work schedule and you will be much more likely to go.


5. Remember to take some time off

Work is important and it certainly pays the bills, but make sure it doesn't completely consume you. It's often easier to identify opportunities and solve problems when you come back to them with a clear head. Schedule a vacation every six months whether it involves a plane ride or a short car ride. Try to keep your smart phone off for a few days so you can relax and concentrate on other passions of yours. After all, some time away may give your support team the time they need to hone their skills and learn to grow on their own. Call in periodically so you can keep an eye on things but trust in the people you have invested in that they can get the job done while you are on the beach. Hey, you've earned it!

Keeping a work-life balance can be challenging when running your own business. Often times you can feel that the entire operation is in your hands. Remember to utilize a team and stay organized to best maintain a healthy lifestyle. Treating your online business like an offline work environment can lead to high levels of productivity and a more satisfying feeling of accomplishment.

Jared Friedman helps customers stay organized as a marketer for Westy, a convenient and full service self storage facility with locations in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.


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