LinkedIn told me I have now been freelancing for 2 years. I have no idea how this happened considering in the early stages I wondered if I could last 2 months. (If Iād been aware the anniversary was coming up I would have thrown myself a solo party.)
But it got me thinking about the way my work life has changed over the last few years – for better and worse – and I thought I would try and impart some of the lessonsĀ I have learnt along the way.
Working for yourself (and by yourself) can be a challenging, lonely experience. But it can also be incredibly liberating, empowering and good for your health. Hereās how to make the most of it.
- Define Your Work Space
Until we moved to Sydney a few months ago I had never owned a desk. I used to work mostly at the kitchen table, which was always wildly inconvenient when other family members needed to eat. It also meant there was no distinction in my house between work and play (or more importantly ā eating). If there is a way to cordon off a little section of your home, be it in the bedroom, spare room or garden, claim it for your office and this should improve concentration.
(Click here to see a vlog filmed from my home office in Sydney.)
- Make The Most Of Flexible Hours
Itās very rare for anyone, especially freelancers, to work a 9 to 5 so donāt force yourself to do the same. For my first year of freelancing I felt like I was slacking off if I went to see or friend or run errands during the working day but this is one of the main perks of being your own boss. As long as you get the work done before deadline it doesnāt matter what part of the day you do it in. Let yourself off the hook.
- Take Breaks
Along the same lines, donāt forget to chill out every now and then. When I worked in a big office my day would be broken up by conversations with colleagues, coffee/tea/chocolate/ice cream runs and trips to the loo. When I began working from home these distractions (imperative social interactions) were no longer around, so I often find myself sitting in the same position staring at the screen for hours on end. Now I take regular breaks; walks to the park, coffee runs, YouTube yoga sessions, to stop my bum going numb and eyes glazing over.
- Be Disciplined
There is work to be done here though folks, freelancing canāt be one long break or else weād never pay our bills. Being your own boss does require a certain level of discipline and determination. Set yourself daily or weekly objectives to keep yourself on track and write a to do list so you can tick tasks off as you complete them. To make this task more inspiring download and print one of the gorgeous Daily Blogging Checklists from the recently launched Blog Love Studio.
Ā Daily Blogging Checklist by Blog Love Studio
If you are in danger of getting lost in social media black holesĀ use tools such as Rescue Time to record and restrict the time you spend on these sites.
(Click here for more of my favourite resources for freelance bloggers.)
- Be Social
Confession: sometimes it gets to the middle of the week and I realise I havenāt left the house/interacted with another human being other than my partner for 3 whole days. As my partner will attest ā this is not healthy! What works better is if I schedule regular meetings with clients or potential new contacts at different points throughout the week. I also have a couple of close freelancer friends here in Sydney who I meet on a weekly basis to discuss blogging/the highs and lows of freelancing and itās so refreshing to talk to people in the same boat. When you work from home alone it takes extra planning and motivation to be sociable but the benefits (both personally and professionally) are worth it.
- Get Dressed!
This may seem a very strange and obvious point to end on but hear me out. Itās an old clichĆ© that bloggers/freelancers work from home, writing about exotic places and fast fashion, in their pjās because itās true. Although it is wonderful to not have to wake up and put on a full face of make up and choose a new outfit to wear everyday, I kind of miss doing so. Plus when I work in slobbish clothes I feel slobbish. Instead I now put on something smart (but comfortable) to get me in the right frame of mind for work. It also means I am never caught off guard ā who knows when a client might want to use video on a Skype call!
These are some of the biggest lessons I have learnt since working from home. Do you have any handy pointers to add?
Sitting in my dressing gown on my sofa with laptop working from home today. Think I would do well to heed some of your advice. Step 1: Get dressed…. (might just get another cup of coffee first….)
Hahaha I’m always conscious when I write posts with tips in them that I should make sure I follow them myself. It’s about keeping myself in check as much as helping others!
Off to smarten up now..
I needed to read something like this! Thanks a ton! š I am also a freelancer and I can relate to every bit that you have written here. I too feel that there is a lot of indiscipline that creeps in, thus, making a to-do list and ticking off would keep you on your toes. And of course, dressing up changes your mindset instantly!
So glad you agree! Writing this down has served as a reminder to myself too š
I have been working from home for the last 3 years and as strange as it may sound, getting dressed is the hardest part for me š PJs are just so comfy!!
I know!! Especially in winter. I used to get showered and then put clean pyjamas back on but am trying to be a bit smarter now I’m in Sydney š
Great list – in my working space (my office) I made sure even the flooring is different to the rest of the house so that it felt like I was in a different place and a working environment. Sounds weird but frames the mind, well mine anyway.
I would add that getting your home working space designed or just set up to get you working at your best when you’re there is crucial and not to be afraid to invest in doing so… although I have to admit the treadmill in my office in the hope of power walking whilst on client calls was definitely an error on my part.
Hahaha I love the good intention though. My boyfriend wants to get a stand up desk for his office but I worry the novelty will wear off after about a day!
Love this post! The hardest part for me is being sociable. I used to go out virtually every evening after work but when I’m already at home I find it hard to muster the energy to wash my hair and go out.
I also struggle with the flexible working hours. I work best after 10pm and I’m really not a morning person but I find I get really antisocial if I don’t work 9-5. I try and stick to the same working schedule as my partner 8am-5pm and then it’s easier to define work time and relax time. When he goes away I’m screwed and I find myself working 14 hours a day and I don’t know when to stop.
Having a dog is good too. My little pooch starts nagging me for a walk at lunch time and again in the evening. Sometimes I need a gentle reminder to get dressed and get out of the house!
I have thought about getting a dog so often for that very reason. And also because it would give me someone to talk too..
This is so interesting. I’m thinking of freelancing once my current mat leave ends and your post touches on some of my worries in particular the social, or lack of, aspect of working from home.
How do you replace the chats in the kitchen with colleagues when you work from home?
To be entirely honest I am not sure you can. I belong to a number of online blogging groups which are great for bouncing ideas around with people but it’s not really the right arena for the watercooler conversations – what are you having for lunch/did you see Homeland last night – which I do sort of miss. Seeing friends regularly helps but I guess not having colleagues is one of the sacrifices we make to live a life of flexibility/being the boss.
Definitely agree with the rule about getting dressed! When I first started freelancing, I would regularly stay in my PJs until later in the day and realise it was nearly dinner time and I hadn’t even had a shower yet! Like you, I kind of miss having the need to get dressed and put on makeup every morning, because it somehow makes you feel a little more human! So now I try and at least get dressed before I start work to make it a little more formal. And I also miss the interaction with colleagues – not mention the Christmas parties!
Totally agree. Working from home on your own around Christmas is not nearly as festive as in an office I think
Um, I guess I should go get dressed then. And go hang out with other people? What? Thanks for the nudge, Jayne!
Yes! And I should take more of my own advice…