It can be difficult enough to juggle work and the rest of your life when you have a typical nine-to-five job. When you work as a freelancer, finding such a balance can be even more challenging. When your job involves a supervisor and coworkers, you have a built-in structure of sorts. You generally have clear deadlines and people to whom to report, who often give you regular performance reviews. You have meetings on your schedule and agreed-upon work hours. Sometimes, if you’re fortunate, you develop a friendship with one or more of your colleagues that, whether or not it extends beyond your job, enhances your hours at the office. However, as a freelancer, you set your own schedule. You have only yourself to be accountable to. You decide how much or how little you work. You evaluate the quality of your work. And you are often your only company throughout much of the day. Many, if not all, of these items may be major reasons why you opted for the freelance lifestyle. However, they can also contribute to a lopsided and stressful life, unless you take steps to create and maintain a healthy work/life balance. Some tips to help you on your way: Regularly (at least once a week), remind yourself why you’ve chosen the freelance lifestyle. Was it the ability to set your own hours? More time with family and friends, or for other activities and hobbies? Greater earning potential? Chance to utilize your creativity? The ability to work from anywhere, even when traveling? Determine your “why”, and keep this in mind. Put aside some time for meditation and quiet time at the beginning of each day. Even if it’s only five minutes, sitting quietly before launching yourself into your daily activities will help you to settle your thoughts and calm your body. At such times, ask yourself what qualities you’d most like to embody this day, no matter what else you accomplish. Honesty? Courage? Patience? Kindness? Try to remember your intentions as you move through the day’s projects. Choose your top three priorities for the day. What do you absolutely need to take care of today? What can wait? Why are these goals important to you? When beginning a task, ask yourself: Does this activity or choice support the kind of life I’m trying to create? Proceed accordingly. Create a daily schedule. Know when you’re at your best. Are you a morning lark or a night owl? When are you at your best mentally? Emotionally? Creatively? Physically? Schedule blocks of work accordingly. Set work hours for yourself. Do you work better with four 10-hour days? Five 8-hour days? With several big breaks throughout the day? Make use of technology to manage task lists. Google Tasks & Calendar can be your friend, allowing you to free up your mind for more creative endeavors. Batch – group similar tasks into blocks of time. Similar to mindfulness, batching allows us to put our full energy into one type of task, […]
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