As a freelancer, you have the benefit of being your own boss. In most cases, that means you can set your own hours, work when you want, and enjoy some freedoms that you might not get from a typical 9-to-5 job.
But, one of the struggles freelancers often face is having productive efficiency.
Whether you hit a creative wall, you’re feeling unmotivated, or you just keep putting your assignments off, it can be hard to stay productive every day.
Whether you hit a creative wall, you’re feeling unmotivated, or you just keep putting your assignments off, it can be hard to stay productive every day.
When you’re working in the gig economy, however, productivity is huge. In 2020, in the U.S. were doing freelance work.
Needless to say, you’re always going to have competition, and if your success is based on attracting clients to work with you, it’s important to be as productive as possible.
Thankfully, there are ways to have efficiency that you can integrate into your everyday life that can boost your productivity, keep you motivated, and allow you to produce more quality work. Let’s take a look at a few.
Keep Things Organized to Boost Efficiency
Clutter can be a productivity killer and quickly get you to lose your efficiency when you start your freelance projects.
Keeping your workspace as clean and organized as possible will help you to stay focused throughout the day without getting too distracted. It’s also important to realize that as a freelancer, you’re running your own business.
So, no matter how small your home office or workspace might be, keeping it organized will make your life easier. Try some of the following organizational hacks to stay as productive as possible:
- Use digital documents instead of paper
- Color-code your filing system
- Store things in containers
- Make labels
- Utilize wall space
Not only is it important to keep your physical space clean and organized, but your files and documents, too.
Keeping everything in its place will help to ensure that you’re up-to-date with your clients and not missing any deadlines. Staying organized will also help you notice things that need to be updated regularly, like your website, portfolio, and resume. Continuously updating your hard and soft skills, as well as your experience will make you more appealing to potential clients.
You don’t need to be a “neat freak” when it comes to your workspace and efficiency, but organizing a little bit each day can make a big difference in your productivity levels.
If you need ideas on creating a small workspace, check out these small work office ideas.
Practice Self-Care As a Way to Be Productive Easier
Self-care is more than just a marketing term that gets thrown around a lot lately. When done correctly, it’s a wonderful way to manage your physical and mental health. Some of the benefits include:
- Reduced stress
- Better sleep
- Improved focus
- Boosted immune system
All of those things can help to improve your productivity on any given day. When you’re feeling especially stressed, self-care becomes even more important for your productivity levels. The self-care triad consists of sleep, nutrition, and exercise.
If you don’t know where to start when it comes to taking better care of yourself, focus on those three things. Make sure you’re fueling your body with what it needs to function properly, get plenty of exercise, and try to get enough sleep at night.
If you’re having trouble sleeping or it’s causing you to feel pain in the morning, consider your sleep position. Back sleepers often deal with snoring and sleep apnea, while stomach sleepers can put stress on your joints and actually cause you to wake up feeling more anxious.
Beyond the basics, make sure you’re taking breaks throughout the day, and do things that inspire or motivate you. Spending time outside, journaling, or even catching up with a friend are all forms of self-care that can give your mental health a boost and increase your energy so you’re ready to get back to work.
Join a Community of Other Freelancers That Get It
Remember those 59 million freelancers across the country?
You might not be able to connect with all of them, but chances are there are some in your community that you can reach out to.
One of the potential drawbacks of working for yourself is a lack of social interaction.
That can create feelings of isolation which often contributes to stress, depression, and anxiety. These issues were exacerbated in the last year. But, now that things are slowly starting to return to normal, you can fight back against isolation anxiety by connecting with other freelancers.
There are several options you can choose from, depending on whether you want to get together with others in-person or online.
If you want to meet other freelancers in your area, consider starting a community group and hosting events. It’s a great networking opportunity and a chance to learn what other freelancers are doing to stay healthy and be more efficient with productivity .
You could also sign up for online groups or digital forums with other freelancers, asking questions and talking openly about experiences.
Even though there are millions of others across the country, feeling seen and heard in a group can make you feel like you’re not alone, and can give you the motivation you need to get your work done.
Productivity is important as a freelancer wanting to make a consistent living.
Keep these habits in mind so you can make the necessary changes to boost productivity in your work life. As a bonus, you can improve your mental, physical, and social health along the way.
Let me know how you stay efficient when creativity is gone and you need to boost your productivity!
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