There is no doubt that the life of a freelancer is not easy. Being a freelancer requires dedication and discipline, but it also has its perks. Working from home is one of them. This can be difficult, though. It’s easy to get sidetracked and not feel motivated.
On the surface, it might look like you have all sorts of time to work on whatever you desire, which you do. But this does not mean that you should sit back and relax. Rather than considering your habits destructive make sure to harness them in the right way.
You might be tempted to get up and make yourself a cup of coffee, only to realize that you haven’t drank anything in hours and you’re not even thirsty. Or you might find yourself doing all sorts of busywork just because you need something to do that makes you feel productive.
The good news is that there are lots of simple tricks you can use to keep your energy up and your motivation high, even when it feels like your couch is trying to swallow you whole. Here are 17 of our favorite tried-and-true ways to help you stay motivated while working from home:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Set Clear Goals: Define specific objectives to stay focused and motivated. |
| 2. Establish a Routine: Create a daily schedule to maintain consistency. |
| 3. Create a Dedicated Workspace: Designate a space for distraction-free work. |
| 4. Take Regular Breaks: Allow yourself time to recharge and prevent burnout. |
| 5. Celebrate Achievements: Acknowledge milestones and reward yourself. |
| 6. Seek Inspiration: Surround yourself with motivational quotes or images. |
| 7. Stay Connected: Engage with online freelancer communities for support. |
| 8. Set Realistic Deadlines: Break tasks into manageable portions with deadlines. |
| 9. Limit Distractions: Minimize social media use and other distractions. |
| 10. Practice Mindfulness: Stay present and focused on the task at hand. |
| 11. Embrace Self-Reflection: Learn from setbacks and use them to grow. |
| 12. Stay Organized: Keep track of tasks and deadlines with tools or apps. |
| 13. Engage in Physical Activity: Incorporate exercise to boost energy levels. |
| 14. Cultivate a Positive Mindset: Practice gratitude and positive thinking. |
| 15. Seek Social Interaction: Schedule virtual meetups with colleagues. |
| 16. Mix Up Your Work Routine: Add variety to keep work interesting. |
| 17. Prioritize Work-Life Balance: Set boundaries and take time for yourself. |
Tips To Help You Stay Motivated While Work At Home
Here are tips to help you stay motivated while working from home as a freelancer
1. Make Sure You’re Getting Enough Sleep
Sleep and work are two of the things that most freelancers struggle to get enough of. If you’re working from home, one of the key ingredients in your success will be how well you’re able to balance your sleep schedule. For me, sleep has been a major challenge, as I have switched between staying up all night, sleeping during the day, and everything in between. Some will do great with this kind of inconsistent schedule, but for me, the most important thing is to make sure that I get enough sleep every single night, regardless of when I go to bed or when I wake up.
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2. Work In A Room With Natural Light
When you work from home, it can be hard to get motivated, especially if you’ve set up your office in a dark corner of your house. Although it’s easy to stay inside and keep out of the sun, go outside for a bit and give yourself some natural light. It’ll make you feel more energetic and happy, which will make it easier to work from home.
3. Set Time Limits For Checking Email Or Social Media
It’s so easy to get distracted by messages from clients or social media notifications when you’re working from home. In order to avoid this, set a time limit for checking your email or social media accounts and stick to it. Explain to your clients that you won’t be checking emails outside of these times, and be sure to log out of your social media profiles once you have completed all the promotional work required for the day, to avoid temptation.
4. Listen To Music That Makes You Feel Productive, Engaged, And Inspired.
When you’re working at an office, there’s natural background noise to help you focus: the chatter of others on the phone, soft chatter of coworkers, or even things like a keyboard tapping in the distance. The quietness at home or in a remote setting can get overwhelming and lonely pretty quickly. If you find it too distracting to work in silence, look for a good playlist that encourages your focus and helps keep you motivated while working at home.
5. When You Get Stuck On A Task, Go For A Walk
It’s really easy to get stuck and frustrated when you can’t figure out how to get something to work. When that happens, go for a walk around the block, or just get up and move around your house. Your brain can use the change of scenery to help your creativity flow and get your thoughts flowing again.
Or try giving yourself a time limit: if you’re working on something frustrating, try setting an alarm for 30 minutes and just work on it until that alarm goes off. I think you’ll end up surprised with what you can accomplish when you eliminate distractions and set a time limit for yourself.
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6. Establish A Workspace And Make It Your Own
One of the best tips for freelancers working from home is to establish a dedicated workspace and make it yours. If you have an office, great. But if not, a simple desk in your bedroom or the dining room will suffice. You don’t necessarily need much space, just enough for your laptop or desktop computer, with a few gaming peripherals if you prefer. Add your favorite posters and pictures, or even plants and candles if that helps to set the mood and relax you during work time.
7. Set Regular Hours And Stick To Them
This is a very important tip. Try to set the same work hours, just as you would in an office. Write down a list of things you need to accomplish and schedule your hours based on that list. It’s easy to be distracted when you work from home, and the best way to avoid distractions (like social media, TV, or household chores) is by staying focused and sticking to a schedule.
8. Focus On Getting Work Done Before Anything Else
Research has shown that it takes an average of 11 minutes to refocus after being pulled away from a task. That is a lot of time lost! So before you start your workday, avoid checking your email, social media, or taking any non-work-related calls. Once you get sucked into something else, it can be hard to get back on track. Set up designated times throughout your day to respond to emails and check social media and stick to them
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9. Start Your Day With A Workout
To start the day, workouts are a great way to get your adrenaline pumping and get you out of your drowsiness. And it doesn’t have to be much, or even very involved. Going for a jog is easy and available to most people. If you want to try something that gives you more structure, there are several online apps that provide workout videos either through their website or through an app on your phone. If you are looking for something quick and easy that requires little more than a place to sit, then Yoga might be right up your alley.
10. Create Boundaries Between Work And Life
It’s easy to get caught up in a freelance lifestyle, especially if you’re working from home. When you’re your own boss, there’s no one watching to make sure that you’re not just putting in a half-hearted effort. But it’s important to create boundaries between your work and personal life.
One way to do this is by keeping your office space clean and organized. Set aside an area of your home that is entirely dedicated to work—an area that is free from distractions and everyday clutter. This will help you keep focused during the day and turn off when it’s time for relaxation.
11. Dress For Work, Even Though You Aren’t Going Anywhere
A lazy Saturday can be a delightful day, but a lazy workday isn’t quite as relaxing. As a freelancer working from home, you’ll need to stay motivated and productive during your work hours and one of the best ways to do that is by dressing the part. I know it’s tempting to hang out in your pajamas all day long, but if you do, you’ll find it much harder to keep yourself on task.
Putting on a pair of jeans and a shirt will help you be more aware of your workday and get into the right mindset so you can be as productive as possible.
12. Schedule Social Time With Friends And Family
When you work from home, it can be easy to stay glued to your computer all day. But making time to socialize is vital to keeping your mind sharp and focused while still feeling connected to the outside world. Try scheduling lunch dates with friends, or setting up a weekly game night where you can get together with friends or family and play games over Zoom.
You can also set up virtual coffees with clients or colleagues to help you feel more connected and supported during this difficult time.
13. Create A List Of Achievements To Look Back On When You Need Help Staying Motivated
You’ve made the decision to be a freelancer and have gotten your business off the ground. Now you’re faced with a new challenge: staying motivated when you’re working from home.
There are plenty of ways to stay motivated, like creating a list of achievements to look back on when you need help staying motivated, and making sure your workspace is well-organized and free of distractions. But sometimes you need something else—something that gives you that extra boost when you’re feeling sluggish in the afternoon or at the end of a long day.
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14. Reward Yourself For Accomplishments
It’s easy to stay motivated when you have a tangible reward insight, especially when it’s something you wouldn’t normally get. Set up small incentives for yourself, such as a new book or video game or, better yet, a day off. You’ll be surprised at how much more eager you are to get your work done if you know there’s a treat waiting for you at the end of it.
15.Set Regular Hours
You don’t want to become a slave to your work, so set up regular hours and stick to them. Work-life balance can be hard to achieve when you work from home, but it’s important not to burn out.
16. Set Goals
When you’re working on something that doesn’t have a clear end goal, it’s hard to know when you’re done. So set some goals for yourself before you begin on each project or task. What should your finished product look like? Write this down so you know what you’re working toward. You’ll find it’s much easier to stay motivated when you know what success looks like!
17. Drink Water
A lot of people forget to do this when they work from home, especially because they don’t have a water cooler to remind them to hydrate. But drinking water is crucial for staying motivated while working from home.
Proper hydration helps your brain work at its best, and being dehydrated can cause fatigue, headaches, and irritability. So drink up!
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Takeaway
Staying motivated can be difficult when you work from home because there is no manager or supervisor to kick you out of the house and tell you to go to work. The tips and tricks that we have offered below will help you stay organized so that your business runs smoothly, you meet all of your deadlines, and you are able to strike a good balance between your home life and business life.
Further Reading
How to Stay Motivated While Working Remotely Freelancing: Discover effective strategies to maintain motivation and productivity while freelancing from home.
10 Ways to Stay Motivated When Working from Home: Explore practical tips to stay motivated and focused while working remotely.
10 Ways to Motivate Yourself When Working from Home: Learn various ways to self-motivate and thrive in a remote work environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Can I Stay Focused On My Work?
Working from home can be so tempting because it allows you to set your own hours. However, this can quickly lead to you getting distracted and losing focus. It’s important to keep a schedule for yourself so that you know when you need to work, and when you can take breaks.
What If I Get Distracted By My Pets?
You can create a separate space in your home where you’ll do your work, and then train your pet not to enter that space during certain times of the day. You can also set up a treatment schedule so That They Know They’ll Get Treats At Certain Times If They Don’t Bother You While You’re Working.
Is It Okay For Me To Take Breaks Throughout The Day?
Yes! Breaks are important for productivity, especially when working from home. Set aside time each day for a longer lunch break, where you can go for a walk or read a book. This will help your mind relax and give you something to look forward to during your workday.
How Do I Keep Track Of My Schedule?
Creating a calendar is an easy way to keep track of your schedule. Color-coding different tasks help even more, so that you know what is most important and can prioritize accordingly (i.e., red = urgent, blue = not urgent). It is also helpful to jot down any ideas that come up during work hours—this way they won’t distract you later on when you’re trying to focus on other tasks at hand!
What Do You Do To Stay Focused When Working Remotely?
To stay focused I have a few things that I do. First, I put my phone on airplane mode so I don’t get distracted by notifications or calls. Then I create time blocks on my calendar as well as daily tasks in Asana (my favorite project management tool).
The time blocks are like a To-Do list but with specific times attached. I also love using the Pomodoro Technique which breaks up your workday into 25-minute chunks with 5-minute breaks in between. And lastly, an awesome podcast or some music really helps me stay focused and in the zone!
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.
