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Even the most diligent of us struggles with motivation at times. But for freelancers, a lapse in motivation could result in a loss of productivity, and thus a loss of income. Something that no freelancer can afford in these financially precarious times where many have lost clients and more have lost work, finding it hard to find new clients to plug the gap. At the same time, however, it’s important to remember that you’re only human and accept your own limitations. The current climate is exhausting for many of us, and the remote nature of freelancing coupled by months of uncertainty and panic are enough to sap the will of even the most determined freelance professional.
Nonetheless, it’s up to you to set up an infrastructure that keeps you motivated, no matter what each working day brings. And that goes beyond making yourself a really strong coffee in the morning. Here are 5 ways to keep yourself motivated as a freelancer…
Consider a change of working environment
If you’re working from home, there may be times when this isn’t the right environment for peak productivity. The home is full of distractions and responsibilities that can easily ensnare a mind that’s already flagging in motivation. Before you know it, you’re on the sofa watching animal videos on YouTube or folding a bumper crop of laundry.
It may be worth investing in a shared business space for some hotdesking, or at the very least setting up shop in your local library for a few hours.
Follow inspiring people
One of the best ways to give your motivation a perk is by finding inspirational people like Declan Kelly online and staying in touch with their social feeds for regular insights. Spend the first 15-30 minutes of your day sipping your morning coffee and reading the words of inspirational people’s blogs or Twitter accounts online. You may find that by the time you’ve finished your coffee, you’re raring to go!
Network as often as you can
It’s hard to remain at peak productivity when you’re working in a vacuum. Which is why it’s so important to network and establish good relation ships with contacts you meet at networking events. They can provide a sounding board for your ideas, help you to approach old problems in new ways, and lend you practical insights based on their differing experiences.
Break down projects into smaller tasks
A big project can be seriously intimidating, especially when it’s for a prestige client who demands nothing short of perfection. This can result in procrastination followed by rushing blindly into the project in a state of panic.
Take a step back, take a deep breath and break the project down into a series of smaller tasks within an allotted timeframe. It will make the project seem much less imposing and allow you to make an earlier start so that you can be assured of the quality of your work.
Never stop learning
Finally, as a freelancer it behoves you to keep building on your skills and empowering yourself through learning. Read voraciously, take online courses, learn anecdotally from others in the same boat. This will give you the self-assurance and confidence to ensure that you’ll never be cowed by a project, no matter how large or complex.
