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Freelance Writing Cafe - Community & Resources for High Income Remote Writing Success 4

Freelance Writing Cafe

Launch & grow your freelance writing career... even if you don't have experience!

Our Community's Top Work From Home Tips for Freelance Writers - Freelance Writing Cafe

Our Community’s Top Work From Home Tips for Freelance Writers

March 31, 2020 · In: Freelance Work-Life Balance, Grow a Freelance Writing Career

Remote working is a dream to many, but, spoiler alert: It’s not always easy! Distractions are abundant, from dishes in the sink to family members knocking on your door. Then there’s that whole willpower thing. Like, do you reeeeally need to finish this task now, or can it wait until after you binge Tiger King?

Work from home problems, as we call them, exist because many of us have a hard time merging the concepts of “home” and “work” without ending up pantless in front of a computer with Netflix playing in the background. 😉

In fact, if you ask an experienced remote writer how they manage their day, they’ll likely give you a list of habits, routines, and tips they’ve developed in order to stay on track and get their work done.

Many remote writers will tell you they don’t even work from home! Some prefer a coworking space, where they can channel the focused energy of those around them. We don’t have that luxury now that we’re partaking in the #StayAtHome movement (which needs no introduction). In light of this, we thought it might be the perfect time to gather up some work from home tips for freelance writers like yourself.

Luckily we have a community full of seasoned experts on working from home effectively. When I reached out to the community to source some tips, they stepped up in a big way! Below are some of our favorites.

 

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Structure your day for success

Tip from Monique Wise, travel writer, digital content developer  (Wanderlust My Way)

Create a routine that works for you—and stick to it. When I had a 9-to-5, I would sleep until the last minute and rush to get ready for my commute. Now with more time, I start my day with breakfast, watching YouTube videos, meditating (very important to me), and sometimes working out—all before I sit down to work. I’m very much into my routines.

Regarding habits, a common tip is to get dressed even if it’s casual. Just brush your teeth, wash your face, and get out of those PJ’s. I don’t work in bed either. It’s solely for sleeping. If you can, set up your work area outside of the bedroom so it stays your resting sanctuary and not a space you associate with work.

If you have a hard time staying productive, allow yourself to take a break. For me, my breaks are YouTube. Work for one hour and then take a 10-minute break. Whatever works for you! It’s all about giving yourself something to look forward to.

Also, remember to eat!

 

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Keep the little ones happy

Tip from Hannah Michelle Sandoval, author & ghostwriter (Purple Pen Ink | Blog)

If you’re working from home with a small child on your hands, my best advice is to get them in their “happy place” before you sit down to work. A lot of people tell you, “work when they nap,” but one or two hours usually isn’t enough to get everything done. Also, your kid may not actually nap anymore.

I personally dedicate my morning to getting my toddler settled and content. She is fed, watches Sesame Street, gets dressed, has some mommy time, and gets to wander the house and stretch her legs while I get myself dressed and caffeinated.

By that point, she’s babbling and singing contentedly. She is far less likely to fuss when confined to the office with me and a few toys. She usually entertains herself for about two hours, and then it’s time for lunch and nap, when I get another burst of work in.

If it’s just one of those whiny days, headphones, lo-fi tunes, and some kisses on the forehead are another tip to get you through.

Having a routine helps both me and my daughter out, giving me designated hours to work while making sure all her needs are met on a comfortable schedule.

 

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Designate time and space for work

Tip from Clem, remote work & travel expert (Travel With Clem)

Set specific blocks of time to do your work. One of the best ways to cultivate discipline when working from home is by creating routines. This involves doing the same task at the same time, every day. This is why setting specific blocks of time to work (when working from home) is crucial. Your body and mind will progressively get accustomed to your new rhythm, and you will be consistent at getting more things done.

To limit distractions, set a timer before you can move to the next task. Two of the main challenges of working from home are accountability and focus. In order to limit distractions and stay focused, avoid multitasking. Don’t move to a new task unless you are done with the previous one. You can also set a timer on your phone (or computer) to keep you on track.

Define a working space. Because the home environment is naturally designed for relaxation, it can be difficult to associate it with a place where you can work. Defining a working space is crucial when working from home. It puts you in a “work mindset”, and this automatically activates your brain and helps you to switch from relax mode to work mode. For instance, if you were at work, how would you set up your office? Your desk? Your work station? Think about it when re-creating your working space at home.

These tips have consistently worked for me, and I hope they will work for the next freelancer too.

 

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Manage multiple tasks & deadlines

Tip from Debdut Mukherjee, B2B copywriter (LinkedIn | Twitter)

If you ever feel overwhelmed by a huge number of tasks with strict deadlines, this one’s for you:

First, list all the tasks on a physical notebook in no particular order. Then, write the deadlines beside each of them and account for the number of days at hand. Let’s say you’ve 5 days. Allocate time for each task every day. You’ll work on a piece of each task every day for the next 5 days.

Be sure to stick to your task’s allocated time with the timer on your phone. It may sound a bit mechanical, but it works! I’ve found great results with this hack. The idea is that our mind gets bored after a certain time if we’re continuously engaging in the same task over and over again.

So, simply switching it regularly (but not too frequently), can help you stop getting bored and save you from procrastination.

 

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Decide on your priorities in advance

Tip by Marina Girgis, travel expert (Livin Vivaciously | Instagram)

Being self-employed and entrepreneurial means we are constantly learning new skills and adding things to our to-do list. I find that I end up with a long to-do list and staying up late or working really long days if I’m not intentional with my daily schedule.

My tip is to write a new to-do list daily with 5 main priorities to tackle on that day. I make sure they’re in order of highest importance to lowest. That way I feel productive at the end of my day and not as easily overwhelmed or distracted. If I don’t get to tackle all 5 tasks, I simply add them to my 5 priorities for the next day.

*

As the near-global lockdown continues and we ride out this pandemic, we hope you’ll be able to use some of these work-from-home tips to keep your freelance writing career chugging along!

Do you have a work-from-home tip to share? Drop a comment below and let us know! And don’t forget to join our Freelance Writing Cafe Facebook group to hang with other writers and get support when you need it. We’re here for you.

 

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By: Michelle Christina · In: Freelance Work-Life Balance, Grow a Freelance Writing Career · Tagged: Freelance work from home tips, Freelance writers work from home tips, How to be productive freelancing from home, how to be productive while working from home, Work From Home Tips for Freelance Writers

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Worth a re-post considering the wild volume of the Worth a re-post considering the wild volume of these requests coming in lately: 

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🍁 NOVEMBER FREELANCE WRITER CHECK-IN 🍁 A fe 🍁 NOVEMBER FREELANCE WRITER CHECK-IN 🍁

A few questions to ask yourself as we transition into a new month:

☕️ How are you feeling about your goals so far this year? If you're feeling behind or overwhelmed, remember that while we're nearing the end of 2022, it's not over yet!

☕️ On a scale of 1-10, how strongly do you feel that you'll hit your goals this year? What needs to happen in order for you to hit those goals?

☕️ Write down 1 thing you'll take action on for each remaining month of 2022 to finish the year strong.

☕️ Write down 1 thing you'll do each week to ensure you stay on track. This might mean: booking a weekly discovery call, writing a niche-specific blog post, reaching out to past clients, etc.

☕️ It's not all about hustling! How can you take better care of yourself through the end of 2022 so you FEEL good and can show up as your best self in your freelancing career?

Wishing you a productive, healthy November!

#freelancewritingcafe #freelancewriter #freelancewriting #freelancewriters #freelanceinspiration #freelancewritertips #freelancewritingtips #freelancewritingsuccess #freelancewritingbusiness #freelancingfemales #womenwhowrite #writersofinstagram #freelancesuccesstips #freelancesuccess #upworkfreelancer #freelancelifestyle #freelancelife #writerslife #remoteworker #remotefreelancer #remotewriter #workfromanywhere #workhardanywhere #mobileoffice
Are we getting desperate? ⚠️ There's a hint o Are we getting desperate? ⚠️

There's a hint of panic in the freelance community re: decreased workloads, low-paying clients, inflation... These fears are valid, but is this energy we can rise up and ✨prosper✨ in?

I won't say it's impossible to build a career out of desperation. That "oh sh*t" moment can lead to extraordinary results. But if you stay in desperate energy, you'll operate from there (which clients see as a red flag).

Like it or not, being an energy match for a client is a big deal. They want focused problem-solvers who can get results. When your stress seeps into your interactions, you could be scaring those high-quality gigs away.

It goes like this...
📌 Freelancer: *Panics about money*
📌 Client: *Senses desperation, doesn't hire them*
📌 Freelancer: *Confirms fears, continues to panic*
(The cycle perpetuates!)

A subtle mindset shift can help:

☕️ Be aware of inner dialogue and how it leads to self-sabotage. Are you sending sob stories with pitches? Alluding to needing money immediately in ANY way? Cutting corners to get paid faster?

☕️ Flip the script. Yesterday's failure doesn't mean today will be the same. Society's panic doesn't mean you need to spiral. This is a new day full of new opportunities, new clients, and new ways to collaborate. 

☕️ A recession means clients are more eager than EVER for ways to reach their own customers... and that's your specialty! This is your time.

☕️ Give yourself a break. If nothing's been going your way, remember: nothing is permanent. Take a day off and ease up on yourself. You can't pour from an empty glass.

Chin up, writers. You won't only "get through this", you'll thrive! ✨

#freelancewritingcafe #freelancewriter #freelancewriting #freelancewriters #freelanceinspiration #freelancewritertips #freelancewritingtips #freelancewritingsuccess #freelancewritingbusiness #freelancingfemales #womenwhowrite #writersofinstagram #freelancesuccesstips #freelancesuccess #upworkfreelancer #freelancelifestyle #freelancelife #writerslife #remoteworker #remotefreelancer #remotewriter #workfromanywhere #workhardanywhere #mobileoffice
Why become a freelance writer in 2022? 🤔 ☀️ Why become a freelance writer in 2022? 🤔
☀️ YOU DECIDE THE SCHEDULE. Rather avoid the "Sunday scaries" by taking Mondays off? No prob! Wanna schedule client calls on Wednesdays only? Do it. Prefer to get your work done before 11am? Why not? Craving midday naps? Go for it! 

☀️ YOU DECIDE WHO YOUR CLIENTS ARE. Learning who you work well with is a process—and it usually comes with a few blips along the way—but it's one of the most liberating aspects of freelancing. You have the power to turn down anyone who doesn't fit your ideal (or close to ideal) client avatar.

☀️ YOU DECIDE YOUR RATES. How much are your services worth? You make that decision based on your niche, value, and income goals. That means you decide how much money you're making this week/month/year. That also means you get to tweak your rates until they're working for you.

☀️ YOU DECIDE YOUR RULES. Your policies will shape the way you work. You get to create/change them as your career evolves. Examples? Don't text with clients or accept unplanned calls. Don't do endless revisions. Don't do rush jobs without a rush fee... etc. Your choice.

☀️ YOU DECIDE YOUR LOCATION. I decided to freelance because being in an office was killing my creativity, productivity and nervous system. The freedom to work from a home office or anywhere in the world means I can deliver work I'm proud of and build a career that works FOR my life, not against it.

Can you think of any other reasons being a freelance writer is awesome? Let's hear them! 👇👇

#freelancewritingcafe #freelancewriter #freelancewriting #freelancewriters #freelanceinspiration #freelancewritertips #freelancewritingtips #freelancewritingsuccess #freelancewritingbusiness #freelancingfemales #womenwhowrite #writersofinstagram #freelancesuccesstips #freelancesuccess #upworkfreelancer #freelancelifestyle #freelancelife #writerslife #remoteworker #remotefreelancer #remotewriter #workfromanywhere #workhardanywhere #mobileoffice
What keeps you going when freelancing gets tough? What keeps you going when freelancing gets tough? 🪫

So many of us are struggling right now because of the economy's steep fluctuation and clients cutting back on budgets (on top of summer being a dry season for many). 

But we both know you're NOT just going to throw in the towel when faced with a challenge, right? 🤔 You're a problem solver, after all. That's one of the reasons you're such an awesome freelancer. ✌️

The truth is, in any economic situation, regardless of the season or circumstances, there are ALWAYS ways to thrive. 

There are clients who need writers. There are opportunities to uncover. The sheer number of businesses and organizations who need recurring marketing copy and content on a weekly basis is wild (with new ones popping up all the time). Just one example. There's 💵 to be made! 

So while you seek those opportunities out, grow your network, and polish your optimism, here's one more thing you can do to battle the "woe is me" energy that's bringing down your vibe:

✨✨ Remember WHY you started freelancing in the first place!

Remember why it's so important to you. Remember why you're made for this. Remember previous challenges you've overcome because you weren't about to give up on your ultimate goal. 

✈️ For some that's location freedom. 
📋 For some it's schedule freedom. 
💰 For some it's uncapped income. 
💓 For some it's "I'm the boss" energy.

Maybe all of these! Whatever it is for you, call it forth. When you're clear on your goal, your creative problem solving and resourceful nature will shine as a natural result.

And, as always, we are here to help! 🤓 What's one challenge you're facing in your freelance career right now? Any tips for fellow freelancers? 👇👇

#freelancewritingcafe #freelancewriter #freelancewriting #freelancewriters #freelanceinspiration #freelancewritertips #freelancewritingtips #freelancewritingsuccess #freelancewritingbusiness #freelancingfemales #womenwhowrite #writersofinstagram #freelancesuccesstips #freelancesuccess #upworkfreelancer #freelancelifestyle #freelancelife #writerslife #remoteworker #remotefreelancer #remotewriter #workfromanywhere #workhardanywhere #mobileoffice

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