Reorganize, Update, and Refresh

Go through piles of papers, files, magazines, books, and other clutter traps in your office and discard or file to create a better work environment. Go through financial records, books, and other documents and update accordingly. Paint your office a new color or buy some new office storage and decorative items to perk up the space.

Staying busy when work is slow allows you to think and cultivate new business ideas while getting something done. Instead of sitting around or checking your email or voice mail every 10 minutes to see if new or existing clients have called, schedule time to work on tasks you’ve put off when busy. This way, you’ll be ready to go when work picks up.

Continued Education

Take a class, learn a new computer software program, attend a conference, check out your competition, network more often, or read books pertaining to your industry to become more valuable to clients. The more you know, the better you can serve clients when work starts pouring in again.

Continually educating yourself can also lead to new business opportunities you may not have thought of previously. Along the way, you will gain valuable knowledge and meet new people who may be able to help you expand your business.

Focus on Other Areas of Your Life

Running a small business takes time and energy. As a tradeoff, you may not have as much time to spend with friends or family. When works slows, reconnect with those you haven’t seen in a while. Laugh, listen, and catch up with people who mean the most to you. Take a vacation or engage in activities you usually don’t have time for.

Keep on Truckin’

As always, you need to continue to market your business, network, and ask for referrals from current clients to maintain an income – even when work slows down. Slow times are inevitable in most cases, so prepare by setting aside enough money to cover your expenses during slow periods. But remember that slow times usually don’t last long, so use this time wisely!