One of the most frequent questions I get asked as a freelancer is “how do you stay motivated working for yourself?”
It might sound strange to some people but I actually have more motivation working for myself than I did working in a busy studio. Knowing that I am representing my brand and that the work I do reflects directly on that brand is incredibly motivating. There’s no room to slack off or do an okay job when your reputation is on the line!
However, there as been a few things I’ve learnt along the way that help keep me alert, organised and motivated as a solo worker.
Coffee, coffee and more coffee: I know, it sounds cliché. But good coffee is the signal to my brain that it’s time to get fired up and work. I recently invested in a fantastic coffee machine so I don’t get distracted from my work by running out to the local café!
Water! Something has to balance out all that coffee and in the humidity of Darwin and in air conditioning all day, it’s really easy to get dehydrated. Our brains need water to function.
Eating a healthy balanced diet. I am always prepared with lunch and snacks to make sure I can keep my energy levels high. I find that if I don’t have heavy carbs before lunch I can avoid wanting to nap under my desk all afternoon.
Exercise! I have to go to the gym in the mornings before I can do any work. If I miss a session, it makes me more tired and less motivated to do anything! Plus, all that blood pumping around the body is great for the brain and helps counteract the negative effects of sitting all day. True story!
Focus on one thing at a time. Sometimes when that deadline is approaching and I am super focussed on the task ahead, I have to put my phone on silent, close my email program and just get to work. It’s too easy to get distracted and be completely unproductive with all those notifications!
Making time for self-care. Self-care isn’t just about expensive massages and pedicures, self-care can be as simple as stopping to get some fresh air or finishing work early one day to spend some time with a friend. It’s important to take those breaks and switch off. It’s also something to look forward to when I’m buried in my to-do list!
Practicing gratitude. It only takes a few seconds a day but every day I remind myself how grateful I am to be working for myself doing something I love and helping other businesses. Every deadline is someone asking for my help and I am grateful I get to do it!