How to Make Long Nights Work for Your Contracting Business

The end of daylight savings has arrived, which means that you have some long nights ahead. Although long days are great for your contracting business, the absence of them doesn’t indicate problems. Here are a few ways you can use those long nights in your favor.

Start Early
Although the change in daylight hours happens in both morning and evening, you can still maximize your daylight hours by starting a bit earlier. Instead of waking up when it is already light outside, keep an eye on the sunrise and plan to get up at least a little earlier. That way, you are already at the job site and ready to go to take advantage of the maximum amount of daylight. If you’re not an early riser, or if you just have trouble getting up to an alarm, make minor changes in your routine. Adjusting your clock just 15 minutes earlier per day may make it much more reasonable to accept.

Switch Up Your Work Schedule
When the sun rises before you do, and sets long after you have finished work for the day, there’s no reason for you to adjust your schedule based on daylight hours. In the winter, you may be due for a change. Sometimes, coming up with a new plan to handle work during the day can give you a refresh that makes it easier to get everything done. For example, you might shift some of your administrative tasks to the late afternoon, instead of getting them done first thing in the morning.

Just make sure that you allow for enough break time. Schedule your breaks around natural transitions, especially if you’re still working after sunset. Stretch your muscles, eat a snack with protein, fat, and carbs, and adjust your work gear if it gets cold. That way, you don’t burn out and get too tired before you’re done.

Increase the Lighting
Although the sun is one of the most effective light sources you can use, it’s certainly not the only one. If you’re arriving and starting work in darkness or finishing the day after sundown, you’ll need more light. Consider different options based on the amount of lighting that you need for the space, as well as the precision that you’ll need. Brighter lights make it easier to focus, but they can also feel excessive or glaring in small spaces. Invest in a few battery-operated products, so that you can take some wherever you need to go on the job site.

Catch Up on Administration and Maintenance
The winter is often a slow season for contracting businesses, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t have anything to do. During the busy season, there are probably a lot of tasks that you find difficult to schedule, like reviewing your marketing strategy or catching up on equipment maintenance. Many contracting business owners choose to perform this upkeep during the slow season because it is easier to schedule it around other projects you have going. That way, you arrive in the spring with your business in better shape, ready to meet the needs of your clients.

Take Time Off
As a contracting business owner, you may feel the pressure to stay incredibly busy at all times. And during the busy season, it certainly is easy to let your schedule run away with you. But you need to keep it sustainable, or otherwise, you will burn out fast. Use the shorter days as an opportunity to maximize your productivity, and take breaks at night. This is also a great time to encourage your employees to take a vacation or participate in training.

Maximizing long nights takes a little practice, but you’ll get the hang of it. To get started building your construction career, visit CSLS today!

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Contractors State License Service (CSLS) is the largest school in California devoted to the Construction professional. For over 23 years, CSLS has helped its students pass the exam to become licensed contractors in the State of California, licensing more students than any other school. From our main offices in Southern California, CSLS operates over 25 locations with full-service support and classrooms. We have grown to this extent by providing quality, professional services. In comparison, this provides 7 times the number of convenient locations than the second largest contractor school. Contractors State License Services is one of the only contractor schools in the state that is run by educators, not lawyers or people mostly interested in the bonding and insurance business. Contractors State License Services formerly operated under the oversight of the State of California's Bureau for Private Post Secondary and Vocational Education. As of January 1 2010, the new Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) came into existence replacing the BPPVE. CSLS now operates under the provisions of the California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009 (CPPEA), Article 4 Section 94874(f). Our Mission is simple; We can help you pass your California Contractors License Exam. Celebrating our 25th year, CSLS has helped over 120,000 students pass the California contractor licensing exam to become licensed contractors in the State of California. Additionally, we offer complete home study and online contractor’s license programs to help you pass your California contractors license exam. CSLS offers licensing classes for all types of contractor licenses, including General Engineering Contractor, General Building Contractor, Specialty Contractor, Insulation and Acoustical Contractor, Framing and Rough Carpentry Contractor, Cabinet, Millwork and Finish Carpentry Contractor, Concrete Contractor, Drywall Contractor, Electrical Contractor, Elevator Contractor, Landscaping Contractor, Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning Contractor, and many others. For a complete list of contractor licenses, visit www.MakeMeAContractor.com and tuned for more informative posts.