Today is a difficult day. It's cloudy, you're groggy and nothing seems to be coming to you. No matter how successful your business is or how much you like what you do, you will inevitably run into days where being self-employed is more like pulling teeth than a walk in the park. In fact, as a freelance illustrator, I'm having one of those days today! By looking over this list of things I do to motivate myself, maybe I can get back on track while helping someone like you find your inner drive.
1. Dress to impress.
It's often too easy to stay in your cozy flannel pajamas all day long. No one's going to see you, so why should you brush your hair or put any make-up on? Why should you take a morning shower and shave off the 5 o'clock shadow from the day before? Because studies show that when you look good, you feel good, and when you feel good, you do better work. Sometimes throwing on some slacks and eyeliner, or even just some jeans that you'd wear to the store, can improve your performance when working from home. It's easy, it doesn't take much time and it's motivating!
2. Lists are your friend.
It's like walking into a heinously messy room: sometimes the problem isn't "I don't want to do anything," but rather "I don't know where to start." Making a weekly, daily or even hourly check-list can help you focus your energy. Try any number of programs like Sticky Notes or Daily To-Do List, or simply create a traditional to-do list. Remember to take the items you need to accomplish and break them down into smaller, obtainable tasks. By doing so, you can have a clearer vision of your day.
3. Naps and frequent breaks are okay!
Studies how that a nap or some quick breaks can actually boost performance. Don't feel guilty - the average worker spends 17 of his 45 hours at work being unproductive. It's okay to take a quick 15 every hour or two. If you're halfway through the day and can't keep your eyes open, set your alarm for a fast nap. Not only will you be refreshed after your break or nap, but you'll find that the quality of your work will improve when you're not pushing yourself through the grinder for it.
4. Reward yourself.
Sometimes, just striking a task off your to-do list can be all the reward you need. If you're looking for something more, however, try to fit it in to your breaks. It can be as simple as, "If I complete this project, I can play a flash game for 15 minutes." Make it something non-disruptive but satisfying and you'll find yourself aching to complete your task just to get your reward.
5. Add some background noise.
We've all heard that music can help you study, but did you know it can improve worker productivity? And it's not just music. What most Nine-to-Fivers have in an office, freelancers often lack: the sound of keyboards tapping away, phones ringing, chatter among employees. Ambient noise, music or nature sounds can have a fantastic impact on your motivation. Sites like Pandora, Rainy Mood, Simply Noise, and Ambient-Mixer all offer ways to improve the sound of your work environment. Yet another easy way to find some drive and inspiration.
6. Visualize where you're going.
Vision boards are a great way to see where you want to be and are a useful tool to motivate yourself. What is a vision board? It's a combination of notes, photos, magazine clippings and trinkets that "identify your vision and give it clarity, reinforce your daily affirmations and keep your attention on your intentions." You can easily make a vision board with either poster board or a bulletin board, or you can this online vision board maker. However you do it, make sure it fully represents pictures and ideas that motivate you and remind you of what you see for yourself and your business in the near future!
7. Change your environment.
Sometimes a certain color, setting or even amount of people can give you energy that you can feed off of to motivate yourself. For those of you with laptops, this is a simply pick-up and move. Try working from your dining room table or even your coffee table for a day, or head down to your local coffee shop. If you can't pick up your workstation and move, try giving it a good cleaning. Give your desk some small additions like a plant or photos for a small burst of motivation when you need it. Adding light to your office can actually increase your productivity, so try opening your windows or adding a clear light lamp. If you're experiencing a particularly long lull in motivation - upwards of weeks or even months - try recreating your office by adding new furniture and a coat of paint. For more information on what colors actually increase productivity, check out this article.
8. Your diet may be your detriment.
If you're still sluggish and unproductive after making multiple changes, the problem may be with your lifestyle outside of work. We all know that getting a full night's rest will improve your drive, but what about the food you eat? Things like caffeine or sugar can help you run fast in the morning, but you may find yourself experiencing a sugar crash when you need to be productive the most. Sugar can actually even make you sluggish later in the day or even in the days ahead. The solution? Protein wakes us up, Omega-3 fatty acids improve our memory, and foods like soybeans, yogurt, walnuts and cheese give us a boost of dopamine that makes us feel better. In fact, a healthy diet all around can increase our productivity. How about that!
9. Get moving to motivate.
And while we're already talking about health, exercise can also increase your drive. Not only does exercise release endorphins which makes us less stressed, but shedding the pounds can boost self-esteem - and we've already talked about how feeling good about ourselves increases our motivation. The CDC has a guideline for the amount of activity you need in a week, but most experts agree three thirty-minute exercise sessions are enough to do the trick. So bust out the weights and build your cardio, because sweating could be the key to turning around your drive.
10. Find a coworker.
It's a proven fact that support from your coworkers can reduce your stress, which results in increased motivation. There's nothing like having a shoulder to lean on when things get stressful, or having a friendly competition with the guy in the cubicle next to you. However, when you're self-employed, you might find yourself coworker-free. This is why networking is essential to a freelancer. But exactly how does one who spends all their time alone in the confines of their home office discover self-employed coworkers? Facebook, Twitter and Linked In offer a variety of options to network yourself. Websites like Meetup and Groupspaces offer the chance to find local meets with like-minded and like-employed individuals. Not only can finding coworkers and friends keep you motivated by sharing stories and releasing stress, but you can share in the friendly competition and accountability that is present in a 9-5 situation. Even better, you might find that your friend can push some new clients your direction. Double bonus!
What every self-employed individual needs to remember is how to forgive themselves. No one is productive 100% of the time and you are bound to have off days. When you can afford to take a few days off and regroup, try the strategies above to rediscover your workday passion.
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