by Alice da Silva
If your business is affected by the challenge of load-shedding right now, and you work from home, here are 5 easy ways to better manage the situation as an entrepreneur. With just a relatively low cost compared to other options, and no disruption of your home systems, you can continue working with a smile and being productive instead of using your energy to complain, blame and feel stressed. You will also feel proud of being self-sufficient and managing your deadlines under all conditions. These small victories add up and contribute to an elevated mood, which flows into all areas of your life, enabling you to face life with a more positive mindset.
There is only one other thing I need during load-shedding to keep working happily – coffee. For this I fill up a flask of hot water so that I can have a few cups to get me through load-shedding with no distraction to my productivity.
Apart from ensuring a steady supply of coffee, here are my 5 other ways to best manage business at home during load-shedding:
Plan ahead using the load-shedding schedule or app. If load-shedding is scheduled to start at 08:00, get up earlier and start working at 07:00. That gives you an hour’s lead time to prepare.
Make sure your laptop, Wi-Fi router and cellphone are fully charged. You can still use your laptop to charge your cellphone and possibly your Wi-Fi router if needed. If you have more than one laptop, charge them all fully, to increase the amount of chargeable sources. There is really no reason to say your batteries are flat at 08:00, when the load-shedding schedule was available the night before.
Invest in a power bank, preferably with at least two USB ports, so you can charge the laptop and Wi-Fi router – the most critical to keep working on the most time-sensitive tasks. Prices vary, depending on specs. I got myself one for R760 with 30 000mAh Power. It’s well worth the investment – the peace of mind helps me feel positive and helps me cope with balancing load-shedding and deadlines. Also, on a personal note, in the evening I can use it to keep using my phone with a low battery on the couch.
Get a rechargeable LED lantern, with SB port to charge your cellphone as an extra bonus. Prices vary but average around R250.
If you know you have urgent deadlines coming up, rather work ahead if possible. Having a comfortable buffer gives you confidence that even if load-shedding or another emergency comes up, you will be in control. You can always have a break during load-shedding.
Remember to keep your power bank and LED lantern charged so that when there is load-shedding you are able to use them without being disappointed that they are flat.
Alice da Silva is a Professional Communicator with almost three decades of experience in the broadcasting, media and communications industry. She describes herself as curious, creative and with an enormous appetite for facts and information. Her passion and strength is people and communication. As an individual, Alice has had to reinvent herself many times along the way and overcome challenges – with a theme of resilience and self-motivation. She hopes through her experiences which has built her, she is able to encourage and inspire others to find the strength within to roar confidently, even when it’s difficult. Find out more on her website www.alicewrites.co.za
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