When your motivation has just taken a nosedive, it’s difficult to get back to work. As freelancers, we know how easy it is to postpone our tasks and do something fun instead. And we know that procrastination is a trap!
So, here are our good and tested tips on how to get out of the slump.
1. Count your money
The beauty of a freelance job is that you get paid for the work you do. If you aren’t working, you aren’t earning money. So, the next time you catch yourself looking at cute cat pictures instead of working, count how much money every hour of procrastination costs you. This technique should jolt you right back to your project.
2. Try pomodoros
The Pomodoro Technique helps you divide your time into manageable chunks. The idea is that you work for 25 minutes straight and then get a 5-minute break. You can use an online pomodoro timer, or set an alarm in your phone. After three cycles called “pomodoros”, you get a longer break.
Why does it work? It’s a psychological trick: when you think “I have to work for only 25 minutes and after that I can have a break”, it’s much easier to start working and keep at it.
3. Get moving!
Physical activity is an excellent tool to give you more energy and motivation. A walk, a jog, or a workout at home will raise your blood pressure, release endorphins into your system, and make you feel more self-confident and energetic. And if you’re procrastinating because you lack inspiration, sports can do wonders! I get the best ideas when I’m taking a shower after an intense workout.
4. Juggle tasks
If you’re procrastinating because you dread one of your projects, try taking turns with your jobs. Work on one project for an hour (or for two pomodoros) and switch to another task. This way you won’t get bored or stuck, and you’ll get the dreaded project done much faster than if you were procrastinating.
5. Dress for the office…
…even if you don’t have one. It’s tempting to sit down to work in your pajamas or old yoga pants and a T-shirt, but this comfy, homey feel of your clothes may translate into your work. If you’re dressed for watching TV series, you may end up doing just that. So, better choose an outfit that you could wear to the office. If you look like you’re at work, it will be easier to act like it.
6. Clear the desk
By clearing the desk I mean removing all temptations and distractions in advance. If you often check your social media while working, do that right before you start. Give yourself 5 or 10 minutes to play with your distractions and then forget them until your next break. This technique works great with Pomodoro: you can check Facebook during your 5-minute break, but not during your working time.
7. Reward yourself
If your budget allows it, you can set aside a small percentage of your daily earnings for your own pleasures. Working to pay the bills isn’t as fun as working to get a new video game or a book! Set yourself an achievable goal, and if you reach it, you get the money for your creature comforts. You can also reward yourself with a hot bath, a nice meal, or anything else you like.
These seven tricks require little effort and you don’t have to use them all – choose one or two that really speak to you and try them! You’ll see a difference soon!
Now, remember these are the tips for a short-term loss of motivation for working. If you’ve been feeling down about your freelance job for a long time, you might be burned out and should consider counseling, taking a vacation, or changing your job to a more fulfilling one.
Final thoughts
How did you like our tricks? Do you think you’ll use them? Or do you have your own tips on dealing with procrastination? If so, share them with us in the comments below!
Great ideas! I occasionally have to turn off my internet connection so that I’m not distracted. I keep a list of everything I need to do that requires a connection and then do it all at once.
Great tips I agree. One of the toughest things about being a freelancer is keeping yourself motivated and working for a full work day. Seems easy but with no one watching over you distractions are everywhere. From sleeping in too late, surfing the net, or taking longer than needed breaks. I find pomodoros effective also to keep momentum going.
The Pomodoro technique is good but I prefer the Kanban method. Have you heard of it? It’s pretty simple, you just need a board divided into 3 categories (to do, in progress, done) and then put each of your tasks into one of the categories. Thanks to it, you can always see clearly where you are with the tasks and what you need to do at the moment. If you want to read more about the method, check here: https://kanbantool.com/kanban-library/introduction
Great tips, Ania. I’ll have to implement them all. 🙂 One more thing that helps me is to start the day working on your most difficult project, so that you can get the toughest job done first.