5 Tips for Staying Motivated as a Freelancer

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You are on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who will decide where to go

- Dr. Suess

Undoubtedly, motivation is the ultimate key to any job, but when it comes to working like freelance, its significance cannot be overstated. Given the case, you are your boss working from the comfort of your home on your own chosen timings. You have the sole authority to select your workload, your hours, your clients, ethics and even your dress code.  You have the creative freedom to express yourself in ways not feasible for others.

However, working as a freelancer has many benefits, but it is possible that you will procrastinate and eventually lose hope in your work if you lack self-discipline. Let us look at ways how you can instill motivation in your job as a freelancer. Here are five techniques that can positively influence your productivity hence enable you to stay competitive.

Prioritize Your Goals

Setting goals are the first step towards any successful career where schedule serves as a map of your business objectives for the entire week. Set specific, measurable and smart goals that you can accomplish on a daily basis. Start with jotting down what you have planned to achieve by the end of the week and divide those tasks accordingly into do-able tasks. Do not overburden yourself by trying to do multiple things in a single day instead align work by setting standard business hours.

To get an expert advice, I contacted the creatives and I found Daniel Shane’s advice to be a perfect fit on our topic and worth trying. He’s the branding expert at a well-reputable logo design firm, LogoOrbit. He said, “Freelancing is not as easy as people think of it. For freelancers, I’d advice to increase their productivity and improve the working framework by implementing the task management tool in their daily work cycle. It will automatically help in keeping up the motivation and goals management.”

Work in a Designated Place 

The place you choose for work impacts significantly on your productivity level. Fortunately, you do not have to sit for 8 hours straight in a cubicle in an office. However, you need to ensure the place you choose to work at home is not where you sleep or place near to your living room and kitchen, as this will cause a distraction to your work. Assign yourself a dedicated workplace preferable in a bright, sunny and cheerful area to help you boost idea generation and mood stabilization. 

Don’t Forget to Upskill Yourself

Remember you need to challenge yourself to embrace learning. Make a practice of taking an hour a day to learn something new that can add value to your work. Education will keep you updated of the knowledge and motivates you to keep going. For instance, you can learn about in what ways you can rapidly boost your business online such as building a website or upgrading social media pages. However, you need to ensure that you learn according to your industry trends so to remain competitive.

Stay Focused 

Excessive use of social media, mobile phones and internet are the biggest distractions that modern-day freelancers suffer. Keep a habit of putting your phone away while you are working to avoid responding to every notification beep. Set the alarm on the device you are working to ensure you take short breaks after every 1 to 2 hours to stay productive and to avoid getting frustrated.

Socialize With Others

Freelancers working from home are prone to isolation, as you no longer have co-workers around you to socialize. Making yourself isolated will lead to adverse outcomes that will undermine your productivity and eventually lead to depressive symptoms. Your mind needs to get relaxation to work at its full capacity. Therefore, socialize with people who share the same profession as yours as it will stimulate ideas and boost your knowledge.

Wrapping Up 

“I do not think there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature.”

John D. Rockefeller

Following the tips mentioned above will help you stay motivated as a freelancer and earn maximum revenue with little effort.  It is crucial for you to have self-discipline and the ability to manage your work timely and efficiently from the comfort of your home. Remember the key to success in freelancing lies in the consistency of efforts.