Working from home as a freelancer can go one of two ways — you find yourself wasting hours in front of the TV, running errands or other distractions that take over your productivity, or you find that you are more productive than ever. More likely than not, you’ll have to go through the first option to get to the latter. If you are a freelancer who works from home, here are a few tips to make your days as productive as possible.
First and foremost (this can’t be stressed enough), get rid of distractions. Create a workspace away from your TV, video games and, if you don’t live alone, an area of your home where you’re likely to find some solace and be left alone. You should also avoid social media and any other time-consuming websites during your work hours.
Next, it might be time to update your technology. Old and slow devices will only get in the way of your productivity. If your current laptop or computer is causing delays, think about how much time will be wasted just waiting for your device to load over the course of a month or a year.
Then, make sure you have set work hours. Of course, one of the major perks of working from home is the ability to work whenever you want. But this can also begin a downward spiral of procrastination. Even if those hours are late in the evening, make sure you stick to them to ensure you complete your work on time.
At the beginning of each day, get yourself organized by creating a to-do list organized by your priorities. It also helps to decide how long each task should take you, and stick to these allocated times. Then begin working on your tasks with your most urgent tasks first and your least important tasks toward the end of the day.
Don’t forget to maintain a balanced lifestyle. If you stretch yourself too thin, your productivity will go right down the drain. Make sure to take regular breaks and make time for your health — cook your own healthy meals and exercise. Having a healthy mind and body will give you the ability to breeze through work and the energy to sustain your work hours.
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