At first, it just feels so nice. The freedom to work in your pajamas, lounge around with a computer on your lap, and catch up on Netflix while you wait for the phone to ring. But when you really think about it, there are tons of reasons working from home can be challenging: setting boundaries with your family about what hours you’re working (and when you’re not); the struggle to stay motivated without coworkers; finding the best way to communicate with clients; and more.
But being a freelancer doesn’t have to be a struggle, you just need to make some adjustments. So we put together a list of tips for freelancers looking to boost their productivity, stay focused, and make the most of every day.
Here Are Tips: Set Boundaries With Your Family About Working Hours
| Takeaway |
|---|
| 1. Define your working hours and stick to them consistently. |
| 2. Communicate your availability and boundaries clearly to clients. |
| 3. Prioritize self-care and incorporate breaks into your daily routine. |
| 4. Learn to say no to non-essential tasks and avoid overcommitting. |
| 5. Create a dedicated workspace to enhance focus and productivity. |
| 6. Set realistic goals and manage your time efficiently. |
| 7. Avoid checking work emails or messages outside of your working hours. |
| 8. Delegate tasks when possible to reduce workload and stress. |
| 9. Utilize productivity tools and time management techniques. |
| 10. Establish boundaries with friends and family during working hours. |
| 11. Take regular breaks to recharge and avoid burnout. |
| 12. Seek support and accountability from fellow freelancers or mentors. |
| 13. Set clear expectations with clients about project scope and deadlines. |
| 14. Learn to recognize signs of burnout and take necessary actions. |
| 15. Continuously reassess and adjust boundaries to maintain a healthy work-life balance. |
1. Take Breaks When You Can And Join The Family
I love to take a break, get up and go play with my kids. I’ll take breaks in the afternoon and go to the park, or I’ll take them to a movie. It’s one of my favorite parts of the day. I also make sure that when I’m working, I’m not checking email constantly, so if someone emails me, they know it might be two or three hours before I respond.
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2. Set Limits On Your Work Hours
I try to keep my hours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., but that doesn’t always happen because sometimes clients are in different time zones or have emergencies. But if it’s not urgent, I don’t answer emails after 6 p.m., and I don’t check them on weekends either unless there’s an emergency or deadline coming up (which is rare). It helps me be more productive during the workday — without being on call all the time — and it helps me feel like I have downtime in my schedule too.
3. Set Your Working Hours
If you don’t start the day knowing that from 9 am–5 pm, for example, your time is yours only, then it will be all too easy for others to take advantage of your good nature. Let people know when you’ll be available for them, and when they have to go elsewhere for their needs. Don’t feel guilty about it either — just because freelancing from home means your office is in the same building as their living space doesn’t mean they can intrude on your time any more than they could if you were at an office on the other side of town
4. Stick To A Schedule
Discuss your working hours with your family and make sure that they are aware of your work schedule. If you’re working part-time for another company, then you should also let them know about your work hours there as well. You can even write down your work hours on a calendar and pin it up somewhere where everyone can see them. That way, they will understand when you are available and when you are not available.
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5. Find A Dedicated Workspace
You need somewhere quiet where you can get away from distractions, including family members looking to chat while you’re trying to work. A spare bedroom, a corner of the living room, or even a closet can be turned into a comfortable home office space. The important thing is that it’s somewhere that is associated with work and not leisure time so everyone will know better than to disturb you when you’re there.
6. Set Boundaries At Home
Make it clear that while you are working, you expect the same level of respect that you would get at an office or any other workplace. You should be left alone while you’re working unless it’s absolutely urgent. If someone needs to ask you something, then they should try to contact you through other means such as text messages or emails, if possible. If not, then they should knock on your door and wait for a response before entering the room.
This is important because freelancers usually work from home and their family members might not understand how serious their job is until they set some ground rules.
7. Don’t Be Afraid To Say No
It’s very difficult to say no when your child or spouse needs something, but they will learn over time that you have things to do just like they do. They will learn when it is appropriate to ask for something and what types of things need immediate attention.
Again, this is a skill that needs practice. The first time I said no to an offer was more than three years ago, and my heart skipped a beat. Today, I’m still not a pro at it — I’m still learning how to be able to say “no” without feeling bad about it by making up excuses or providing elaborate explanations.
The key here is confidence: You are a professional and can’t accept every job that comes your way. You need to evaluate your circumstances and decide whether or not you can take on more work. If you can’t, then say so — politely and firmly.
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8. Put A Sign On Your Office Door That Says “Do Not Disturb: Working!”
Sometimes your family will understand that you are working and will not disturb you. However, it is good to have a sign on your office door that says “Do Not Disturb: Working!” This will help them remind them not to disturb you when you’re working. You can also put a small bell on the door and make it a rule that when the bell rings, it means do not disturb.
If you don’t want to use signs or bells, then you should use whatever method works best for your family.
You must also remember that if your work requires you to be on the phone a lot of time, then the sign may not be enough. If this is the case, then it is important that you set aside sometime every day to answer your phone calls and emails.
9. Set Up An Email Auto-Responder
You said you can’t tell your family when you are working, but this is going to be key. You need to set up an email auto-responder, or even a voicemail message (if you have a work phone) that says something along the lines of “Thank you for your message! I will get back to you within 24 hours during my regular business hours of Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm. If this is an emergency, please call 555-555-5555 and I’ll be happy to assist you as soon as possible.”
This way they know they won’t hear from you on weekends or after 5 pm during the weekdays, and hopefully, this will stop them from expecting an instant response from you every time they email.
10. Make Sure Children Are Supervised At All Times
When children are young and learning how to behave themselves around others, they need constant supervision. This doesn’t mean sitting on top of them every minute of every day, but rather making sure that someone is always nearby in case there’s an emergency or something bad happens.
Having a babysitter available during these times will help keep them safe while also giving you peace of mind knowing there is someone there who can look after your kids when necessary.
11. Give Them A Heads Up
You should give your family members a heads up before starting work so they can prepare themselves accordingly. If possible, tell them about it the night before or even earlier than that so it doesn’t come as a surprise when they see you at home but still working on something else instead of spending time with them like usual.
This will help them understand better why their regular routine might change a bit during these hours because they know what’s going on beforehand rather than being caught off guard without knowing anything at all about it beforehand and feeling confused about whether or not they should still try interacting with someone who seems busy doing something.
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12. Inform Them Of The Decision
You should tell them that you need some alone time in order to work on your projects and make a living. Be straightforward and explain why this is important for you to do. This way they will be less likely to interrupt or bother you while you’re doing what needs to be done.
13. Explain What Happens When They Interrupt
It’s hard for some people to understand that “interruption” is a bad thing. To them, it seems like a good thing. But though you might not mind a quick interruption from your spouse or roommate, it’s hard to get back into the groove of work after you get interrupted by other family members.
Don’t just tell them to leave you alone — tell them what happens when they interrupt you. Explain that you have to stop working and get your mind back in the right place before you can start working again, and that takes time away from your workday.
14. Get Some Noise-Canceling Headphones
For those who work from home and have children, noise-canceling headphones are a must. I always keep a set of headphones on my computer, and when I am working on something that demands my full attention, I put them on.
This is an effective visual cue to your family that you are busy and not to be interrupted. It also allows you to drown out the ambient noise in the house, so you can concentrate better.
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15. Decide What You Will Do With Your Pets
If you have pets, the first thing you need to do is decide how much time your job will require you to spend away from them. If it’s a lot of time, make arrangements for them to go outside or be taken care of elsewhere. If your work requires minimal attention from you, then it may be possible for them to stay with you as long as they don’t distract you from your work.
Takeaway
I hope you enjoyed our list of 15 tips for setting better boundaries as a freelancer. Remember that these are just a starting point—the more you practice setting realistic boundaries and sticking to them, the easier it will become. After all, when you stop working overtime and start saying no to more work, you’ll be happier, more productive, and less burned out.
Further Reading
Freelance Tips: How to Set Healthy Boundaries as a Freelancer: Discover practical tips and strategies to establish and maintain healthy boundaries while working as a freelancer.
4 Tips for Better Work-Life Balance as a Freelancer: Explore four valuable tips to achieve a better work-life balance and enhance your overall well-being as a freelancer.
Setting Boundaries with Clients: Learn effective techniques for setting clear boundaries with clients to maintain a professional and balanced freelancing experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Do I Need In Order To Start Working From Home?
A computer, an internet connection, and good communication skills.
What Are The Benefits Of Working From Home?
There are many benefits to working from home. One of the biggest is that you get to work on your own schedule. You can set your own hours and work at whatever pace works best for you. Another benefit is that it saves money on transportation costs since there won’t be any commuting involved.
How Many Hours Per Day Should I Work?
This depends entirely on your situation and what type of job you have, but generally speaking, most people who work full-time jobs should expect between 40 – 50 hours per week with breaks throughout the day.
I’m A Freelancer, And My Family Members Don’t Respect My Working Hours. How Do I Set Boundaries?
It’s hard enough to work from home, with all of the distractions that come along with it—and when your family members don’t respect the fact that you’re trying to get work done, it can feel like an impossible task. But it doesn’t have to feel that way.
Share your schedule/working hours with your family and make sure they understand that you’re not available during those times.
- Ask them to let you know if they need something from you during those times so that you can plan ahead and know when to leave a little bit of room in your schedule.
- If you have kids, make sure they understand that you still need quiet time for yourself even when you’re at home—just like their teachers do!
- Give them a list of things they can do (or help them get started on some projects) while you are working so that they don’t interrupt too often.
- If they have questions or needs during your work time, explain why it’s important for them to wait until after work hours
Is It Possible For A Freelancer To Get A Day Off Every Week?
Yes, it’s absolutely possible to have a day off as a freelancer! But you do have to be honest with yourself and know that if you take one day off, the other six days will probably be longer and more demanding than they would be if you only worked five of them. And that’s okay—it’s part of balancing the workload!
How Can I Tell My Family That I Need Some Alone Time?
The first step is to talk about how you’re feeling with your family members before there’s an issue. Maybe ask for a favor: “Hey, I’m going to be working from home on Tuesday this week, and I’m really hoping to buckle down and get some stuff done! Could we maybe schedule any errands or meetings for another day?” That way, everyone knows what’s up from the start, and you should feel more free to work in peace.
What If My Work Destroys My Family Life?
If you’re working so much that you barely have time for your loved ones, then you need to stop and take a serious look at your schedule. It’s not worth it to burn yourself out and potentially lose the people who matter most to you.
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