If you have finally decided to step into the liberating world of freelancing, you will think it can be a bit confusing and frustrating navigating the process. But be assured it isn’t. Working remotely is maybe unknown to many, but it is more than clear it has much more pros than cons altogether. Here, we’ll cover some tips and tricks on how to get started as a freelancer and get stable work.
Optimize your workplace
A key component of successfully working remotely is having a workspace. Even if you live in a small apartment or share a room with other people, it’s important to carve out a space of your own. Would be ideal to find a spade near the window as the sunlight helps with productivity and lightens the mood. Also, always try to keep your workspace clean and clutter-free. It is proven that clutter negatively affects motivation levels and state of mind. Another highly important thing is getting a desk with the right height and a proper chair with good back support. This will make working much more comfortable and will surely help you maintain a healthy back.
Create a routine
One of the greatest benefits of working from home is being able to work whenever you want. However, that doesn’t mean you should, at least not all the time. Having a structured schedule makes it much easier to keep your work and personal time separated. When setting up your routine keep the track of what times of day you’re the most productive and build your schedule based on that. Besides, you might need to modify your schedule based on where your clients or coworkers are located. If you have kids, you can also adapt your working time around their schedules. Time benefits are limitless, but only with a good organization.
Manage your time well
One of the main benefits of freelancing is that you don’t have to lose any time going to a physical office and back home every day. That doesn’t mean you should waste that extra time procrastinating. It is a killer for productivity and by working from home you’re facing a whole new set of distractions that need to be avoided. The number one hack is to turn off push notifications and sounds on your computer and phone. Another one is to set the boundaries upfront and thus let people know what times you’re planning to work and when you can or can’t be disturbed.
Stack up gigs
There’s a silent rule in freelance business – the more income you have coming in the better. So whenever possible you should aim to stack up some gigs. That doesn’t mean taking on multiple freelance projects at once, moreover, you can look at it as a side hustle. There are many different ways you can earn extra money aside without adding to your work hours. If you are not sure where and how to start searching for this extra paid work, click here and find all the details on how it works. These gigs are easy to “stack” on top of your normal work since they don’t require much effort and as a result, you get paid by multiple sources for almost the same hours.
Take breaks
It has been proven that stopping whatever you do, every 90 minutes renews your energy level and gets you ready for your next task. During the breaks, you can get up and stretch, go pet a dog, or do light exercise. You might as well go outside the house for some fresh air, eat a healthy snack, and come back refreshed. Disconnect for a short period whenever you can because it allows your mind to simply renew. Even though it may seem like you are working less this way, you’ll find that you’re actually more productive.
Have a technological backup plan
When working online, try to remember to back up your work frequently and save files in the cloud whenever possible, because ”you never know what can happen”. And it always happens that something breaks or burns out, or just simply refuses to continue working in the most inconvenient situations. It will be also good to learn how to do basic repairs and troubleshooting yourself so you can fix simple problems on the fly to get you through the day. Additionally, as long as your budget allows it, have some backup equipment, such as a smartphone, laptop, or external hard drives.
Moving into the freelance world is not as complicated as it might seem. It is the unknown mostly that is keeping us from trying new things. Hopefully, these simple hacks will reassure you and help you out on your way to becoming a successful and happy freelancer.
