How to Get Work Done When Your Family is Quarantined With You

Completing a Job While Family on Quarantined With You

We understand that everyone has been affected differently by the recent pandemic. If you do freelance graphic design work or work as a freelancing content writer, you may have been barely affected at all. You may be used to working in sweats from home, and the only change that has occurred over the last few weeks is that you have ordered your groceries online instead of going into the store.

Others of you may be feeling as if your life has turned topsy-turvy. Whether you are a member of the freelance marketplace or a member of the workforce now required to work from home, you may find yourself surrounded by your babies, toddlers, school-aged children, teenagers, college-aged children and (gasp) your spouse.

How in the heck is anyone supposed to get any work done with all of these distractions? Here are some tips on how to be productive when your family is quarantined with you.

Get up early.

Sorry. We would love to give you a magic formula that would promise an increase in productivity without any pain. That’s just not feasible. Instead, get up as early as you can to take advantage of a quiet house before your kids and spouse awake. Of course, your labradoodle will get up with you, thinking that he is in for some extra playtime, but at least everyone else will be quiet while you are productive.

Dust off your noise-canceling headphones.

You were excited to get noise-canceling headphones because you thought they would work great the next time you were on a late-night flight. Little did you know, that those headphones would be just the trick to block out the constant whining of your teenaged daughter.

Do you not have noise-canceling headphones? Just use your earbuds and classical music to try to block out the extra sound.

Tag-Team Parenting

Some of you having whining four-year-olds instead of 14-year-olds. If that is the case, you can’t ignore the screams coming from upstairs because they could actually be screams of pain instead of screams of irritation.

If you and your spouse are both trying to work from home, you may need to work out a system of tag-team parenting. You can keep the kids quiet throughout the morning, and he can do the same for you in the late afternoon and evening.

Use Screens to Keep Your Kids Quiet

We know that your parents and pediatrician have warned you about the detrimental effects of your kids having too much screen time. But during a global pandemic, let’s all give ourselves permission to bend the rules. You have to be on a conference call, and you can’t be interrupted. This means that it is video game time for your grade-school kids. You know that your kid playing video games is the only way you can get guaranteed silence for any length of time. You can go back to normal parenting when the world returns to normal.

Hang a Stop Sign on Your Door

Perhaps the problem isn’t kids. Maybe your spouse has a chatty personality and is excited to spend extra time with you. If this describes your situation, you may consider printing out an image of a stop sign to tape to your office door. Lovingly remind your spouse that when the sign is up, you cannot be interrupted.

Run Your Household as Efficiently as Possible

Think of the next month or two as boot camp. You know it’s going to suck, but you don’t have a choice in the matter. While you may be tempted to grab the remote and a bottle of wine each night, instead try to run your household as efficiently as possible. Plan meals, keep the house tidy and do a bit of laundry every day. You will feel better, and after a few months, you may not even return to your slovenly ways.

Pay Attention to Your Mental Health

We are all feeling stress right now. We are frightened about our health, the health of our loved ones, and the economy.

To relieve some of the stress you may be feeling, remove yourself from social media for a time. We know that this takes social distancing to a whole new level, but it may help keep you calm and focused until this all goes away.

Limit your exposure to the news. You don’t need to watch your county’s medical expert’s daily report. You don’t need to know how many more cases of the virus were found in your community, and you don’t need to be updated every day about the number of deaths.

Instead, stay home, wash your hands, try to work as much as possible, and stay healthy.

This article was originally posted at Freelancing Buzz.

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How freelancing can make you stay productive during lockdown

Freelancing has become one of the biggest industries for earning and generating money. You only need to have few analytical skills, good know-how of English, and a laptop with Wifi connection and that’s it. Pakistanis are well-aware of the online industry today. According to the eRozgar website, Pakistan is considered to be amongst the top five countries, ranked fourth in the Online Labor Index published in 2017 by Oxford Internet Institute, where people earn approximately $0.5 billion from freelancing. Similarly, the average salary of a freelancer is Rs. 28,909 per month in Pakistan. This means that Pakistan has the potential to compete with the world’s biggest markets such as the US which according to the Global Gig-Economy Index, generated 78% of freelancer earnings through gig economy in 2019, followed by U.K (59%), and Brazil (47%). While Pakistan stood fourth with 47% of the increase in its freelancer revenues in the previous year and stood among the top 10 countries of Asia that enjoyed generating money through the online industry. However, from the very beginning of the year 2020, the world has experienced major economic crises due to COVID-19. Even, the biggest economies of the world such as the US, the U.K, Italy, Spain, and France have encountered havoc due to this pandemic. Despite taking all the possible measures from increasing medical staff to complete lockdown in the country, they have been unable to overcome this catastrophe. Then how could a developing country like Pakistan be expected to control the coronavirus cases which has its 40% population living below the poverty line. Certainly, the current lockdown situation in our country is creating panic and distress in nearly the people of all ages. The mainstream and social media are thoroughly engulfed with the news of increasing coronavirus cases and the number of casualties daily. This created anxiety, suffering, and perturbation among the youth. Schools, colleges, and universities are closed which has limited the students to stick to their homes. Many institutes came up with the idea of arranging online classes using online media forums which have badly failed in our country. Teachers and students are not satisfied with the unplanned mechanism that is adopted for online classes. As a result, most of the institutes canceled the online classes and thus looking forward to June for resuming the semesters. In current circumstances, the youth of Pakistan seems to be directionless, completely bored with having no physical and mental activity. I have heard many students complaining about their monotonous and dull sort of routine. They seem to be perturbed for not having interesting and thought-provoking activities nowadays. Those who are interested in working as freelancers find no direction of where to start. Especially, the ones having social and technical writing skills find no reliable site where they could articulate their talent. Because, where there are many benefits of online earning, certain cases of frauds have also been reported by the writers who work with full honesty and dedication but fall victim to fraudsters. […]

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Out Of Work Because Of Coronavirus: Full-Time Freelance Writer

“It just seems like the whole system was set-up to fail us.” Name: Dan Epstein Age: 53 Location: Greensboro Job Status: Full-time freelance writer, unsure of where his next paycheck will come from. His writing is primarily on music, pop culture, and baseball. In good years Dan has made $70,000, more recently it has been about half that. Healthcare: Coverage through his wife’s job at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro Most worried about: His parents, in New York State: “I’m checking in with them every day. And my worst nightmare is they get ill and I can’t go see them or be with them.” His dad and stepmother are both in New York City, “Both are pretty high-risk, dealing with chronic and critical ailments.” His mom lives in Upstate New York. Cash flow: “As far as we’re concerned, just not having any income coming in. I’m just trying to take it day-by-day because that’s really all I have control over. But when I start thinking about what this could mean, in the bigger picture a month, two months, six months down the road – it’s a pretty scary rabbit hole to go down … Right now we can afford a roof over our head, and we can afford to keep the fridge filled. Six months from now, if things continue, I don’t know that that’s going to be the case.” Experience seeking unemployment benefits: “So far that hasn’t gone well.” Dan’s unemployment application was rejected. North Carolina does now provide unemployment to self-employed, independent contractors, or gig workers, among other classifications of work. “Self-employed individuals are not considered full members of the economy, which I think is ridiculous,” Dan explains. He may be eligible for up to $600/week of federal unemployment benefits, from the $2 trillion Cares Act. However, “I have no idea. I don’t know if I need to re-apply, or if my initial application will be reconsidered. “There are emails I’ve sent that are getting no response. I’m not sure where I’m supposed to be applying. I would definitely classify it as frustrating. It’s maddening. I understand that this is an unprecedented situation, but any system is going to feel the strain. But it seems like even so, the bureaucracy was caught with its pants down.”

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COVID-19: Freelancing in the UAE – here is how you can make money

Picture used for illustrative purposes only. Dubai: If you were considering a stint as freelancer, a question that you may have is: Will I make as much as I did working for a company? As precautionary measures for COVID-19 affect businesses in the UAE, many workers have had to take temporary salary cuts or go on unpaid leaves. But is it really possible to earn well as a freelancer? To get a realistic answer it is important to understand how the freelance sector works in the UAE. This is our guide to better understanding how you can bid for projects as a freelancer and make it work for you. Picture used for illustrative purposes only. If this is your first try at going freelance, the prospects can be quite daunting. However, before you take the plunge, you need to plan out a few things: 1. Which authority will you register with to get a freelance permit? 2. How will you charge (per project, per hour or per task) and how much? 3. What are your expenses? Make a yearly budget. 1. Which authority will you register with to get a freelance permit? According the UAE’s Labour Law you can work as a freelancer as long as you have a freelance work permit. Part-time work is also a possibility, particularly in the current situation where businesses have been affected by the precautionary measures taken to curb COVID-19. To know more about how the UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has issued a decree regulating the work professionals can do for another company, read this . There are certain professions and sectors that lend themselves easily to freelance work. Many free zones offer freelance permits to people in the media or education sector, for example. Consulting, too, can be done on a freelance basis. So, it is important to check the list of professions provided by the authority which is issuing you the freelance permit. What is the cost of getting a freelance visa? Picture used for illustrative purposes only. The cost can vary significantly based on the authority you apply to. Ras Al Khaimah Free Zone, for example, offers a two-year freelancer work permit with a UAE visa starting from Dh17,105. Other free zones may charge on a yearly basis as well. It is important to shop around before you settle on a particular free zone authority to work from. Regardless of which authority you apply to, it is crucial that you get a freelance work permit, and abide by UAE’s Labour Laws. You can apply with a number of free zones in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah. However, depending on the free zone authority you approach, you may face limitations on the type of professions that can be registered, as mentioned above. The freelance permit under gofreelance.ae, for example, is for professionals within the education and media sector. The package, which comes for Dh7,500 a year is inclusive of the freelance permit and access to a […]

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18 Freelance Sites to Find Your Next Gig

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Consider this: Freelancers are expected to become the U.S. workforce majority in the near future. That means we can expect to see more and more freelancing job boards appear. That’s not to say we need them. Take a look at the Google search results for “freelance jobs.” You’ll find hundreds of websites that can connect you with prospective clients. The problem, however, is that not all job boards are created equal. Some are a bit suspicious, causing both freelancers and businesses to question their legitimacy. Others are meant only for seasoned veterans. There are also boards capable of finding work quickly for freelancers, but they won’t get paid very much. Consider it the “price of entry” to the freelance realm. These obstacles make finding freelance work more complicated than it has to be. That’s why I’ve put together a list of 18 freelance sites to help entrepreneurs find their next gig. Each of these sites is reputable and can be used by freelancers of all experience levels, empowering people to make the most of their skills in a shaky economy. 1. Toptal If you’re a freelancer designer, developer, financial expert, product manager or project manager, you can find hourly, part-time or full-time work at Toptal. The catch is that Toptal has a rigorous screening process, meaning typically only the top 3 percent of freelance talent that applies is accepted. This is better suited for talented freelancers who have some previous experience under their belt. However, if you’re accepted, you can be certain that you’ll receive competitive compensation. 2. Fiverr There are a couple of things that make Fiverr stand out from other leading freelance marketplaces. Users get to list the specific jobs where they excel. When I started podcasting, I hired someone on Fiverr to design my cover and another person to create the intro. When I had trouble getting the podcast listed on iTunes, I enlisted another expert to help solve the mystery. Secondly, because most gigs start at $5, this is a great place to launch your freelancing career. After you land some clients and build up your portfolio, you can start charging more for your services. 3. PeoplePerHour For more than a decade, PeoplePerHour has been helping freelancers land web-based projects. This site has areas like marketing, SEO and software engineering. What makes it so appealing is that it streamlines the process of signing up. Client communication, project management and payments are all handled in one dashboard. You can send 15 proposals to clients before having to sign up for the paid plan. However, you can still browse listings and get notified of new openings, even if you don’t sign up for the paid plan. 4. Upwork Upwork has been around in some form for years. Elance and oDesk were formed in 1999 and 2003, respectively, and merged to found Upwork. Today, Upwork is one of the largest freelance marketplaces in the world, hosting millions of freelancers in […]

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The Big Freelance Skills Needed As Companies Rebuild After COVID 19

Getty Over twenty two million Americans lost their jobs in a little less than a month due to COVID 19. It took the Great Depression more than four years to achieve an equivalent level of unemployment. Millions of freelancers around the world have also lost critical project and consulting work; many clients have closed up shop. Gigsters have struggled to make a living as companies focus on conserving cash, reducing non-essential expense, and planning for an uncertain post COVID 19 world. So, it made sense to ask freelance platform CEOs and thought leaders this question in our series, the freelance revolution during COVID 19 : What freelance skills / professional specialties are likely to be most in demand on your platform as the global economy begins to emerge out of COVID 19? What guidance are you sharing with your platform members and clients? Chandrika Pasricha, CEO of Flexing It (India) reports, “We see demand for seasoned strategy consultants to help companies revise plans and market scenarios; digital skills are critical in reaching customers and for business continuity; finance expertise to help plan cash flows and cut burn; HR talent to manage employee morale, and guide how to manage pay cuts/employee separation. It’s an important time for freelancers to assess their strengths, sharpen their skill profiles and think about new products and services they can offer.” Florent Ogoutchoro, CEO of Thetechguys.io (Africa) notes, “”Since we are specialized in IT and software development, I’ll first bet on those. But I think more generally that there will have more demand for people with digital skills, finance expertise, and business development.” PROMOTED Seb Robert, CEO of Gophr (UK) mentions, “The demand for home delivery during lockdown has created extraordinary opportunities for couriers and delivery services, especially those that support last mile delivery. Whilst it is not a specialised skill, I think the shift in customer expectations around home delivery created in lockdown will continue post lockdown and remain in high demand.” Layla Lynn, Co-founder of AceUp (US) adds, “As the economy emerges out of COVID-19, the coaches most in demand are skilled at helping managers to facilitate change, and support them in developing the leadership skills that are so clearly important during this crisis.” Chris Keene, CEO of Gigster (US) notes, “Freelancers need the ability to work effectively as part of a distributed workforce. No matter how long social distancing is with us, the pandemic has underscored the need for workers to thrive outside of traditional office settings. We’re advising our clients to become adept at managing distributed workforces.” Edgar Mwampinge, Founder of Worknasi (Africa) tells us, “ COVID-19 has forced African businesses to embrace technology. Everyone is learning technology tools, and wants an online presence. Many businesses will reduce workers and automate processes. We advise freelancers to sharpen their skills to prepare for a future which will be different.” Jennifer Napier, Marketing VP at BTG (US) points out, “Creativity, resilience, and high EQ are demanded for the urgent special projects we are […]

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How to find online writing work during COVID-19 pandemic

Freelance Writing Job During COVID-19 pandemic

Have you lost your job due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic? If so, you are in good company. Many highly-skilled, hard-working Americans have found themselves signing up for unemployment for the first time in their lives as a result of the economic downturn caused by the corona virus.

While we are sorry that you find yourself in this situation, we would like to remind you that this, too, shall pass. The world has faced drought, disease, war, and natural disasters before now, and our ancestors re-evaluated, re-tooled, and recovered. We’re not saying that it is going to be easy, but we need to face this moment with a calm focus instead of hysterics. You’ve got this, America.

As for our part, we would like to help those newly unemployed to become a part of the gig economy. We, at Freelancing Buzz, have been a part of the gig economy for quite a while now. In fact, each of us views ourselves as a freelance teacher. We want to share what we have learned navigating the top freelancing sites, so we can help you earn some extra money to tide you over until normal life resumes.

Today, we would like to give you a list of what we think will be the best freelance writing jobs. You may already have the necessary writing skills to take on some of these projects, or you may need to do a bit of retraining. But if you have solid communication skills and the ability to learn quickly, you will find that there is work out there for you.

Resume Writer

Assist others who have recently lost their jobs in writing their resumes.

Even though many of the unemployed workers are highly skilled in their particular fields, they may need help describing those abilities on a resume or curriculum vitae.

Although you may utilize some of the best freelancing sites to find clients, you may have just as much success looking for clients on your local community’s social network pages. Everyone knows someone who has lost his or her job.

This is the perfect job for writers with additional human resource experiences. Those in HR know how to read a job listing and understand what keywords should be used on the resume to get noticed. You may also be able to help individuals if you have expertise in a particular industry, either from your experience of based on the experience of a family member.

Of course, some technology skills are a must too. Make sure you understand how resume-scanning software reads text so you can properly format your client’s resumes.

Resume writing is a great freelance work from home job that allows you to make money while helping those in your actual and online community find employment.

Freelance Profile Writer

There are plenty of other people out there who are turning to the freelancing marketplace to find employment right now. They, like you, are turning to Upwork, Fiverr, and other freelancing websites, and they realize that one of the first steps they have to complete is to create a profile.

This profile is a written description of your educational background, job history, and skills. Unlike a resume, those writing a freelance profile must be able to describe in several paragraphs why they would be the perfect candidate for the job.

As a writer, you can face this task head-on after looking at a few examples and listening to instructional videos. Others may not be so lucky, as many find they don’t have the communication skills to describe their technical or creative skills.

This is where you can help. Become a profile writer and help others enter the gig economy.

E-Commerce Product Description Writer

In an attempt to stay in business, many retailers are leaning more on their e-commerce websites. This means many business leaders are analyzing their product descriptions, making sure they include the appropriate keywords and phrases that will enable their product to be found through a Google search.

If you have experience writing product descriptions, especially if you are particularly knowledgable about a particular industry, you may be able to help small business owners while at the same time earning money for yourself.

Entering the freelancing world may not be easy. In fact, it may take time to get your profile completed. It may also take time before you land your first job, and you may find yourself working for less than you imagined until you get more freelancing experience. Regardless, don’t get discouraged. You’ve got this!

This article was originally posted at Freelancing Buzz.

 

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