10 Simple Tips for Freelancers to Stay Motivated
A round-up of simple ways for freelancers to stay on their A-game: from making the bed every morning to downloading a background noise app…
A common question I get asked as a freelancer is “how do you stay motivated?” and it’s a good one. Sure, being your own boss is great and a five second commute to a home office has its perks, but it also requires serious dedication and focus. Admittedly it’s not always easy, so I’ve rounded up some simple tips for staying ‘in the zone’. And they don’t just apply to freelance writers, but anyone who works remotely. So please read, get motivated and get your butts to work!
1. Make your bed every morning
Let’s start with this from Admiral William McRaven, author of “Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life… And Maybe The World”:
“The idea of making the bed is it’s the same sense of discipline. It’s the same sense that you’re going to get up and do something, but it’s an easy task to undertake. You roll out of bed, you just put your bed, you make it straight. Again, you get it right, too. It’s not just about kind of throwing the covers over the pillow. It’s about making your bed right and walking away and going, "OK, that’s good. That looks good. I’m, as simple as it sounds, I’m proud of this little task I did.” And that is really what I think sets the tone for the rest of the day.” - source: uk.businessinsider.com
2. Get ready. Even if you don’t plan to leave the house!
If you really are set to work from home all day, it might be tempting to simply roll out of bed and straight onto your laptop, bed hair still in tow. But ‘getting ready’ has more psychological benefits than it’s perhaps given credit for. Not much makes me feel more ready for the day than choosing an outfit, getting dressed, brushing my hair through and putting my face on (except maybe coffee). Different things work for different people of course, i.e. you don’t have to put makeup on. It’s simply the psychology of getting 'ready’ for the day. If your body is still in your pj’s, your mind will be too.
3. Reflect on each day
Make a note of how you feel after a productive day and after an unproductive one! Getting things done can make you feel accomplished, relaxed and deserving of reward. Yet a day of procrastination and distractions can spark feelings of stress, regret and inability to unwind. Look back on what you’ve achieved at the end of each day and write it down along with how you feel. Leave the notes somewhere around your workstation ready for the next day, it will remind you that productivity leads to positivity and vice versa. Now that’s the kind of cycle to get yourself stuck in.
4. Keep a tick-list
Don’t put too much time into it, or it may become more procrastination than productivity, but keep a simple tick-list of everything you need to get done; work, emails, errands, chores, texting your bff back, the lot! Everything you tick off is another achievement, but be sure to prioritise and not leave the big tasks until last; it’s often tempting to do the small, less important things first, but if you get them all done it can feel like an excuse to put the big things off for another day. Use the smaller tasks to break the heftier ones up, you’ll be surprised at how much you can get done in a day.
5. Stay in a routine (including taking breaks!)
Set your alarm for the same time each morning and GET THE HELL UP. It’s tempting not to when you’re the only one watching the clock, but work is work. Get up, have breakfast, get ready and be at your desk by 9am (or 8.30am, or 8am). Breaks ARE allowed and are important for concentration; have your coffee at 11am and take yourself away from your desk for five minutes, take some time out for lunch - find what works for you and stick to it as often as you can.
6. Use your breaks to exercise
Exercise is great for clearing the mind, re-fuelling focus levels and maintaining energy, so I try to go for a walk or a run around lunchtime (even if just for 10 minutes) and eat when I get back. On the days I plan to run, I put my exercise gear on first thing so I’m ready to just go. It makes me less likely to duck out and means it takes even less time out of the day. If you’re not a runner (trust me, I hardly am) then a brisk walk in the fresh air will do the trick. Mental and physical well-being? Check!
7. Embrace a change of scenery
Lacking focus? Get out of the house. I prefer to work with some “buzz” going on around me, which you just don’t get in the comfort of your own home, so I often sneak out to a coffee shop with free WiFi to give myself a change of atmosphere. It works like a charm every time. But pick somewhere that suits you; if you prefer quiet, find your local library. Like your own space? Find out if anyone you know could do with a free house sitter. If it’s warm and sunny (and WiFi isn’t strictly necessary), take yourself out to a park and drown out the world around you. There are plenty of options, it’s just finding what works best for you.
8. Download a ‘background noise’ app
It’s twenty-eighteen, there are a plethora of apps out there that offer various background noises depending on what gets your head down and your mind focused. From the serene sounds of the ocean to the bustling buzz of city transport or just simple white noise, there are plenty of options. My favourite (not surprisingly) is Coffitivity, which turns your home office into a virtual coffee shop. To really set the atmosphere, I connect the app to a wireless speaker and place it elsewhere in the room. It works better than you might think. Small, black Americano please barista! Oh, wait…
9. Do it for the love
Of course you need to have money on your mind to an extent (we’ve all got bills to pay), but if it’s your key motivator you may end up lacking focus and creativity, especially in the early stages as you’re building up your portfolio. Try not to get stuck into churning out content for peanuts and focus your time on projects that excite you. I mean, don’t snuff every smaller opportunity - just weigh up if the money is worth your time and if the work will be a welcome addition to your portfolio. The trick is patience; quantity is a slow earner, quality is what will pay in the long run (and you’ll have more fun doing it!)
10. Just Keep Writing (or whatever you’re doing!)
My last tip is really an extension of number nine; just keep writing. If you’ve got a slow day or two with not much on, just write for the fun of it. You could keep your own blog or find out if any of your contacts want a contributing post, schedule yourself some social media content for the next few weeks or simply note down some new feature ideas and start pitching away. Read newspapers, magazines and blogs galore for inspiration, just remember you’re still at work. It’s easy for those empty days to become an impromptu 'day off’ but in any other job someone will always find you something to do. The same goes for us freelancers, only we have to find it for ourselves.
So there you have it, 10 simple things that keep me going day-to-day, I hope it’s been useful. I would love to hear how you keep yourself motivated when working from home. Comment below and let’s continue to support each other on our freelance ventures!
These are great tips for anyone working from home.
