Like many of you, I’ve spent most of my career as a freelancer working from home. At first it can be daunting, but with some self-discipline and the right tools and resources from the start, you’ll be able to stay organized and efficient.
| Takeaways |
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| 1. Understand the essentials of freelancing and how it can be pursued from the comfort of your home. |
| 2. Learn practical tips and strategies to kick-start your freelancing career in a month or less. |
| 3. Gain insights on how to manage freelancing while traveling and staying connected on the go. |
| 4. Discover ways to avoid agency fatigue and maintain a healthy work-life balance as a freelancer. |
| 5. Explore health insurance options available specifically for freelancers to ensure proper coverage. |
| 6. Find effective methods to save money and make informed decisions when hiring freelancers. |
Choose Where You’ll Work
Choosing the right place to work is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when starting your freelance career. You want a space that is quiet, free from interruptions, and free from distractions. Make sure it’s comfortable, well-lit, safe, and secure (with a good internet connection).
Looking to jumpstart your freelancing career? Our comprehensive guide on 12 Tips to Kick-start Your Freelancing Career provides valuable insights and practical advice to help you establish yourself in the freelance industry quickly.
Get A Good Chair
When you’re working from home, the quality of your chair is going to have a big impact on how productive and comfortable you are. Your chair should be comfortable enough that you can sit in it for hours without getting sore, but also sturdy enough that it doesn’t wobble when you lean back or shift around.
Make sure the chair fits your body type too don’t buy a huge desk chair if you’re only 5’2″, or a tiny one if you’re 6’6″.
You might want some extra padding if sitting down all day makes your backache, but avoid overinflated cushions and spongy armrests which will make it harder to move around comfortably. In general, stick with simple designs that won’t distract from work (and won’t break within months).
Create A Dedicated Desk Space
Creating a dedicated workspace is important because it helps you focus. If you want to get your best work done, then you need to be able to sit down at a desk and dive into the project without being distracted by anything else going on around you.
You can use this space for anything related to your freelancing business: working on websites or apps, writing emails, taking notes about projects in progress, and so forth.
The key is having a comfortable place where there are no distractions from other people coming in and out of the room or from television shows playing in the background or from music playing too loudly (or even worse someone talking loudly on their phone).
Having your place means not having anyone tell you what they’re doing every second of every day; it’s yours to do whatever as long as it doesn’t interfere with anyone else’s time (for example, if someone else has an appointment at that time slot).
You can designate any spare room as your office if possible but if this isn’t possible then consider renting out an unused room at home when necessary (if living with family members). If neither option applies then find somewhere quiet outside where children aren’t likely to run up behind them while working away on their computers!
Know Your Hourly Rate
One of the most important things to know is your hourly rate. You should have a good idea of how much you charge for different tasks, clients, industries, and locations. If you’re just starting, it can help to break down your hourly rate into two or three categories:
- Standard rate. What you would charge if you were working full time for a company
- Above standard rate. What you would charge if you were doing something more specialized or difficult than usual (like writing code)
- Minimum/introductory rate. This is just an estimate based on what other freelancers in the industry are charging right now (if any). It may change over time as your business expands and grows.
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Make Room For Distractions
Dedicate a space in your home for work. If you have a space that is dedicated only to work, it will help you stay focused and more productive.
Make sure your chair is comfortable and supportive. If you are sitting in an uncomfortable chair all day long it will start to take its toll on you physically and mentally.
Be sure that the lighting in the room where you are working is good enough so that it doesn’t cause eye strain or headaches when working at night time hours when there isn’t much natural light around outside of windows (if they aren’t blocked out by blinds).
Having fast internet access available nearby (or even better having wireless internet setup throughout your entire house) makes everything easier when trying to get work done online.
Such as uploading files from other computers onto yours over an FTP server host’s website where clients can then download them later on using their software client program developed by us here at [company name] who specializes in such services like this one specific task where successful completion means getting paid $150/hour rate per client file size.
For example: if we were uploading something called “test” but only one side needed updating which would be about 20MB worth.
Separate Business From Personal Devices
- Use a separate email account for business.
- Use a separate phone number for business.
- Use a separate social media account for business.
- Use a separate credit card for business.
Use a separate bank account for business (if your state won’t let you open more than one bank account in your name). If that’s not possible, try to keep the two accounts at different banks if possible. That way, if something happens with one of them, it doesn’t affect both at once.
Create your website specifically dedicated to freelancing so you have no confusion about where people should go when they need help from you or want more information about what services you offer!
Create A Regular Working Schedule
Set a schedule. Your days will flow more smoothly if you can make it a habit to get up at the same time every day, and wind down with some activity in the evenings.
Don’t Overwork Yourself
The goal is to earn extra money by freelancing on your schedule not to end up so tired that you have no free time at all! Make sure not to work too many hours in a day or week, especially when you’re starting and getting used to how much work goes into being an entrepreneur.
You should also try not to take on too many projects or responsibilities during this period: keep the projects limited until your business has grown enough for them not to be overwhelming anymore!
Don’t Work Weekends (Or Holidays)
It’s easy for freelancers who aren’t employed by someone else’s company culture and often even those who are to spend their entire weekend working from home when they have some downtime between clients’ jobs/projects/assignments…
But as tempting as it might be sometimes, remember that taking breaks now and then is important for our mental health as well! Even if no active assignments are going on at the moment—which usually means nothing new coming up either?
Build Yourself A Good Home Office Network Of People
As a freelancer, your network is one of your most valuable assets. It’s more than just a group of people that you can rely on when you need help or advice; it’s also a group of individuals who can assist in the running of your business and help boost its success.
When building your network, it’s important to have an idea of what sort of people would be beneficial for you to know. Many different kinds of relationships may arise from these contacts some will be informal friendships while others might be more formal business contacts but all should help promote growth within yourself and/or your business.
Agency fatigue can be a challenge for freelancers. Discover actionable tips and techniques in our guide, “How Freelancers Can and Should Avoid Agency Fatigue,” to maintain your motivation, well-being, and work-life balance while freelancing.
Create Boundaries Between Work And Home Life
Creating boundaries between work and home life is important because when you are working remotely, there is no one else around to remind you that it’s time to take a break. It is easy to become so focused on the tasks at hand that you forget about yourself and what you need for your mind and body to function at their highest level.
Set aside specific times during the day when someone else can call or text (if they have access) so they can check in on how things are going. Create a schedule with blocks of time dedicated solely to working or relaxing.
You should also set aside specific times where this schedule changes drastically, such as mealtimes or social occasions after work hours.
This way, no matter what happens during those blocks of time dedicated towards rest/relaxation; there will always be some sort of activity planned after them where both parties can relax together without feeling guilty about doing so!
Keep A Journal Of Your Working Hours
Keeping a journal is one of the most important things you can do as a freelancer. It’s great for tracking your progress, setting goals, and making sure you’re on track. As well as keeping track of your finances, health, and relationships but it’s also great for fitness too.
A time tracking app will help you keep track of how much time you spend working on each project but if you don’t have access to one then just use a simple pen and paper journal instead!
Learn To Say No To Requests That Aren’t Relevant To You Or Your Profession
To avoid getting overwhelmed by the amount of work you’re taking on, learning how to say no is an essential skill.
It can be challenging at first because we all want to appear like we’re willing and able to help others, but you have a business that needs attention as well, and saying yes all the time could mean turning down paying customers.
The best way to learn how to say no is by looking at what your job entails. How much time does each task take? What does it do for your business? Is there someone else who could do this better than you? If so, let them!
Don’t Be Afraid To Challenge Yourself, But Be Realistic About What You Can Do
If you’re new to freelancing, don’t be afraid to challenge yourself, but be realistic about what you can do. Setting unrealistic goals won’t help your business grow and will only make it harder for you to keep up with everything else in your life.
It’s important that you set realistic goals and a realistic schedule. You need to measure your progress so that when things aren’t going as planned, you know where the problem lies and how best to fix it.
Don’t feel bad if any of these things don’t go according to plan: if something isn’t working out for whatever reason (i.e., too much work or not enough work), then adjust accordingly!
This goes for all of the above points adjusting is key when starting on your own because there will almost always be unexpected bumps along the way.
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Always Have An Up-To-Date Resume Or Portfolio On Hand
You should always have an up-to-date resume or portfolio on hand, in case you need to send it to someone for a job opportunity. Make sure that your resume is in a format that is easy to read and understand, and make sure it’s formatted so that it can be easily shared with employers if necessary.
Don’t Let Work Creep Into The Rest Of Your Life
Don’t take work home with you. It’s easy to think that checking email once or twice a day on your phone is fair and won’t affect you too much, but trust me: it will. When I first started freelancing, I thought it was fine to read emails at night and on weekends as long as I got all my work done during the day.
That quickly became unsustainable I found myself waking up in the middle of the night, trying to get back into bed but unable to sleep because thoughts about pending projects were racing through my head;
I’d wake up early on weekends with a sense of dread because there was just so much work waiting for me; and even when I did manage to relax on the weekend (or what used to be called “weekends”), those feelings would return when Monday morning came around again.
Nowadays, if something comes up that prevents me from working during regular business hours (like a doctor’s appointment or errand), then I’ll tell my client ahead of time so they know why we’ll have some downtime before moving forward again with our project(s).
If something comes up unexpectedly that still requires immediate attention (like an emergency) then yes I’ll respond right away if necessary!
Always Meet Deadlines
If you can’t meet a deadline, let the person know immediately. Don’t go into a project thinking that you’ll make it work, then have to scramble at the last minute. It’s always better to be transparent with your clients and tell them what’s going on than try to trick them into thinking you’re ahead of schedule when they find out later that all your time estimates were wrong.
You should always have enough time in your schedule for a project and give yourself some buffer space by asking for an extension if needed.
If an extension isn’t granted or isn’t sufficient, offer to do additional work (like revisions) for less money that way everyone is still making money from the project but both parties will get what they need out of it without feeling like someone got cheated on price or quality of work done
Want to optimize your freelance budget and find high-quality freelancers? Our article, “Save Money and Find Better Freelancers with These 15 Tips,” offers practical advice and proven strategies to help you maximize your resources and make smarter hiring decisions.
Conclusion
I hope these tips will help you to be successful in your new career. Whether you decide to take the plunge into freelance life or not, remember that it is a choice and you should never feel pressured into doing something that doesn’t make sense for you.
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources you can explore to deepen your understanding of freelancing:
The Big Guide to Freelancing: This comprehensive guide provides valuable insights and practical tips for freelancers looking to navigate the freelancing landscape successfully.
How to Freelance: The Ultimate Guide: Discover the essential steps and best practices for freelancers in this ultimate guide, covering everything from finding clients to managing projects effectively.
How to Start Freelancing: A Step-by-Step Guide: If you’re considering a career in freelancing, this step-by-step guide will walk you through the process of getting started, finding clients, and building a successful freelance business.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Freelancing?
Freelancing is the practice of selling services directly to clients without having a formal employer-employee relationship. As a freelancer, you have total control over your schedule and can set your rates and work from home or anywhere else there’s an internet connection.
Do I Need Any Specific Skills?
No! Some people think that you need a degree or previous experience to be successful as a freelancer, but that’s not true! You can teach yourself the skills you need to be successful in any field by taking online courses or reading books on the subject matter.
Do I Need To Have A Website?
It depends on what type of work you’re doing. If you’re just offering your services as an independent contractor.
Then no, but if you’re looking for clients who will hire you full time or want to start your own business, then yes you’ll want a website where potential customers can learn more about what it is that makes them different from other freelancers out there (and how much they charge).
Can I Still Work From Home If I Am Not A Computer Expert?
Yes. You do not need to be an expert to start freelancing. All you need is a computer, internet connection, and some basic skills. You can learn more about IT-related jobs here.
How Much Money Can I Make As A Freelancer?
It depends on the type of work you do and your experience level. You can earn anything between $20-$1000 per hour depending on your skillset and expertise.
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.
