With so many distractions coming your way, it can be hard to focus on the task at hand. If you’re a freelance writer or work in any writing capacity, you know how important it is to meet deadlines efficiently and consistently. Juggling this while working from home only makes things that much harder. But it doesn’t have to.
While finding a remote work-life balance between managing projects for your writing position and keeping your personal life in check can seem complicated at times, there are a lot of tried and true tips and tricks to help you out. You’d be surprised how some tweaks to your routine and adding on smart home technology devices can completely revolutionize your work-day flow.
As a freelancer, you are well aware that the challenges of finding a happy medium between working from home and fulfilling household duties are a timeless matter. With the end of the year approaching, finding ways to stay productive during the holiday season can also add to the pressures of working from home. Luckily, there are also a lot of positives that make working from home worthwhile.
Freelancer Smart Home OfficeTech Ideas + Tips for Remote Work-Life Balance
Pros of working from home
Part of the answer to greater efficiency in a remote job starts with reminding ourselves of what are some of the benefits that come along with this type of work. Read below for a list of scientifically-backed impacts of switching to a remote position.
- Eliminating commutes from your weekday has been highly correlated with the reduction or complete elimination of high blood pressure and BMI.
- If you are still leaving the house to go work at your favorite coffee shop or co-working space, shortening your commute time can help you have a better night’s sleep.
- Since COVID-19 and the increase in options of working from home, workers are less likely to experience burnout over the long term.
- One report showed that over 80% of adults in the workforce agree that a remote job can influence their ability to deal with stress.
- Studies indicate that holding a remote job can boost productivity by over 70%.
3 keys to a successful remote work experience
When it comes to finding what works for you, the truth of the matter is that living in the internet era allows you to take advantage of some of the best resources available. See below for a list of some of the best ways to successfully maintain your freelance remote job.
1. Add on a fake commute
It’s true that long commutes can be stressful and time-consuming, but rolling out of bed and going straight to work isn’t exactly the best for your productivity either. The good thing about commutes is that they provide you with a buffer time between your personal life and clocking into work. So take advantage of your mornings and evenings by adding in personal activities.
Examples of a fake commute include:
- Listen to podcasts, audiobooks, or read the news
- Speak to a loved one over the phone
- Clean the house and tidy up your workspace
- Cook your lunch ahead of time
- Take a morning stroll around your block
- Practice yoga or another form of exercise
- Meditate for 15 minutes
Although the idea of a fake commute may seem silly at first, it provides a lot of ways to manage personal and professional priorities, while also giving you the opportunity to do something you like before diving into your daily work assignments.
2. Focus on one thing at a time
There is a lot of push from society to be able to take on multiple tasks at a time. However, the reality is that this type of mentality can contribute to writer’s block, exacerbate mental health issues related to stress, and quickly lead to burnout.
Let go of the illusion of multitasking and instead adopt the principle of deep work.
Ways to switch to deep work:
- Block off time in your schedule
- Mute your notifications
- Keep any distractions to a minimum
- Let your coworkers and family members know
Switching over from the multitasking mindset to a deep work mode is ultimately going to enable you to perform better and ensure that you stay on top of things with less accumulated stress.
3. Create a routine
Making a schedule for yourself is the best way to ensure that you are budgeting your time according to each aspect of your work and personal life. This will empower you to maintain more rigorous boundaries with yourself and the necessary time to accomplish anything from submitting a first draft to putting away the laundry.
Things to include in your routine:
- Time for daily or weekly exercise
- Personal time for rest or self-care
- Dates to spend with friends and family
- Time to work without any distractions
Technology to make you work smarter, not harder
From video doorbells to ergonomic keyboards, there is so much out there that can assist you with being more healthy, focused and productive on and off the clock. Read below for some examples of some of the gizmos and gadgets that are trending in the world of remote work life.
- Video doorbell: Save yourself the walk and answer the door without having to leave your desk.
- Standing desk: Preserve your back health by allowing you to adjust your desk to the height that provides you with optimal vision and comfort.
- Ergonomic keyboard: Reduce your risk of carpal tunnel syndrome and having to take prolonged breaks due to cramped up hands and fingers.
- Smart windows: Minimize outside distractions and street noise so you can focus on completing your assignments and not have to worry about your neighborhood construction.
- Smart lights: Sync the lights in your house with your smartphone and adjust them to enhance your mood and productivity.
At the end of the day, having a job as a freelancer and being able to work from home grants you a lot of flexibility in how you live your life. Although there may be distractions, all it takes is a little bit of planning and dedication to take your work-life balance to the next level.
About the author
Rebeca Camacho is a content creator who focuses on weaving in insightful perspectives into various forms of communication. Her deep enthusiasm for digital marketing and crafting perceptive narratives has led her to write about various subjects from entrepreneurship to mindfulness. You can learn more about her on LinkedIn.
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