{"id":1908,"date":"2019-03-17T21:36:08","date_gmt":"2019-03-17T21:36:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/?p=1908"},"modified":"2023-04-18T14:52:24","modified_gmt":"2023-04-18T14:52:24","slug":"how-to-stay-focused-productive-as-a-freelancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/business\/how-to-stay-focused-productive-as-a-freelancer\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Stay Focused & Productive as a Freelancer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For some freelancers, churning out work and keeping focused comes easy. For others, it\u2019s a living nightmare. If you find yourself struggling and wasting hours on social media, all hope isn\u2019t lost. Before you give up on freelancing and go back to that office job, try these tips to get back on track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Establish Structure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Many people choose freelancing for its freedom. What\u2019s better than waking up at noon and working in pajamas? But just because you don\u2019t have someone looking over your shoulder or a tight schedule doesn\u2019t mean you don\u2019t have deadlines to meet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t let your laziness get the best of you. You\u2019re allowed to make your own structure, so design a schedule that works for you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to have a 30-minute coffee break in the morning, then feel free \u2013 just make sure that you do<\/em>start working on those terms. Don\u2019t let 30 minutes turn into an hour. A lack of discipline is the downfall of many freelancers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Work with Your Energy Cycle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Every day has high and low points, and this cycle is different for everyone. Some find it easier to start right away, and struggle to focus as the day goes on. Night owls may need to spend the afternoon relaxing and ride on their nightly burst of energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Figure out when you feel most active and put those times to use. Save your recreational time for when you\u2019re feeling lazy. If you work best in the morning, don\u2019t get up and waste that potential energy on video games. Change up your routine if you must.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rest and Reward<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The best way to get motivated is to use positive reinforcement. If you force yourself to work without a break, you\u2019ll only begin to dread your job. Our brains aren\u2019t wired to sit still and stay focused for hours on end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Break your work into smaller tasks. When you hit those milestones, take a break to do something enjoyable. Wrote 1,000 words? Play your favorite game for a while. Finished up a web page template? Treat yourself to some ice cream. Even if it\u2019s just to get up and stretch your legs every 30 minutes, make sure to give your brain a break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may find it easier to take frequent mini-breaks throughout the day, or work for hours and take longer rests. Just don\u2019t reward yourself unless you\u2019ve earned it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it\u2019s also important to know your limits. When these small break’s stop working, take a long shower or do something that requires little mental energy. Get relaxed, then get back to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Take Care of Yourself<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nothing does more wonders for your productivity than a good night\u2019s sleep, lots of exercise and a few healthy meals. If your job is getting in the way of this, it may be time to step back. Know when you\u2019re overloaded, and when to say \u201cno\u201d to a client. Don\u2019t work yourself into the ground. Sleep and proper rest should always be considered. In lieu with this, a comprehensive guide to selecting a home hospital bed<\/a> will result to better sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Create a Comfortable Workspace<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It may not seem that important, but comfort can do wonders for your productivity. Work in a quiet room with no noise or distractions. Invest in a comfy office chair or a nice, spacious desk. Make it yours with posters, plants and your own personal touch. Decorate to create a casual or professional environment, depending on where you work better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Use Tools<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are many apps, websites, and programs out there that can help you stay focused. Desktop calendars, virtual sticky notes, and time management tools are great at keeping everything straight. If you\u2019re desperate, Parental Controls can keep you off Facebook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apps like Habitica, Fabulous, Mindbloom or Fighter\u2019s Block! \u201cgamify\u201d your life and reward you for staying motivated \u2013 helping you build better habits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Do What Works for You<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

More important than any advice a stranger can give you is this: Figure out what\u2019s best for you. Articles like this can point you in the right direction, but they\u2019re no replacement for experimenting. Keep trying and find what keeps you motivated, what\u2019s best for your situation and what methods keep you focused and on track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For some freelancers, churning out work and keeping focused comes easy. For others, it\u2019s a living nightmare. If you find yourself struggling and wasting hours on social media, all hope isn\u2019t lost. Before you give up on freelancing and go back to that office job, try these tips to get back on track. Establish Structure Many people […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1912,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[3,131],"tags":[79,132],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/focused-freelancer-04.jpg","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7FQPL-uM","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1908"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1908"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1908\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6462,"href":"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1908\/revisions\/6462"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1912"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1908"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1908"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1908"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}