3 easy steps to set yourself up for success as a new entrepreneur

Writer Shannon Hennig, an experienced healthcare industry leader, was making $30,000 a year from her freelance side hustle before getting laid-off from her full-time job.

Already tired of balancing her 9-to-5 workload with motherhood and other obligations, Hennig decided to transition to full-time self-employment — and she hasn't looked back.

Now she focuses on helping others make the switch to self-employment mindfully and sustainable, and writes about it on her website.

Here, she breaks down the first steps to beginning successful full-time self-employment.

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Congratulations! You've finally done it and made the jump to being a full-time entrepreneur, or maybe you're now a creative small business owner. This is a big deal and you need to take some time to relish your accomplishment. While you're doing that, also start to consider what it's going to take to set yourself up for success right from the beginning.

While you might have traded in your commute to the office for the casual styling of your living room sofa you still need a system — and a set of 'norms' that will help you thrive in both the short and long term.

It can be tempting to think that you can sleep in a bit each day, wear pajamas while responding to your email, and leave your house only to check your mailbox, but these behaviors might not help you over the long term. You lose the divide between your work and personal life — and space — and this isn't conducive to doing your best job.