3 ways to stay motivated as a freelancer

I wrote this article as a quick little read for a friend in Melbourne. Not too long ago, he left his office job to work full-time from home as a trader. Like most people crossing into the freelancer, self-employed world, he is struggling to stay motivated.

I’ve worked as a freelancer my whole adult life. It’s all I know. So I understand where he is coming from. There are advantages to this way of working, but the challenges certainly are real.

It’s not for everyone. But there are ways to navigate the challenges of freelance life and stay motivated. Here’s just a few ideas that continue to help me stay on track. I hope they are useful to you, too.

1. Enjoy what you do

There are many reasons to work freelance – no supervision, choose your own hours, work the way you want to work, the perks of autonomy go on… However, one of the most important reasons to work freelance is to enjoy what you do. 

But… the spark can dim, or even go out completely.

Then what? What can you do?

*

 Or, as Mr Draper so eloquently puts it: 

And that’s just it. If you don’t change anything, you can’t expect to feel any different about it.

Change up your routine, add a new service to your business, branch out to a new market. Renew the passion you had when you first got into the game.

If you’re not enjoying it, you may as well find a regular office job. At least then your misery comes with holiday pay.

Find a way to enjoy your work and results will follow.

*Now, I know there has been debate as to whether Einstein actually said this. Or was it Mark Twain, Max Nordau, or Narcotics Anonymous? It doesn’t matter. The point is that it helps people. And that’s alright.

2. Set consistent work hours

One of the hardest things about working freelance is working from home. With so many distractions, it’s often hard to focus on getting the job done.

No one is supervising you, saying “get off Facebook” or “stop watching Netflix.” (I say as I’m actually watching Scott Pilgrim on Netflix)

Discipline is up to you, and you alone!

Don’t forget that. So, what can you do?

Try sitting at your desk at 9am to begin work just like everybody else. Take a lunch break. Finish at 5pm.

If this doesn’t work, try more frequent short breaks (Pomodoro technique is working pretty well for me right now). You may be surprised how productive you can be once you’re in a routine.

Now, if you’re anything like me, you’ll be up all hours of the night working, too. But make sure you are still sitting at your desk at 9am ready to begin work.

Reward yourself with at least one full day off over the weekend. It will make a huge difference to your motivation to keep working come Monday morning.

3. Set specific goals

Set short and long term goals. What are you striving for next week? Next year? Five years from now? Plan these for growth. Celebrate as you achieve your goals. If you’re feeling down, look back at what you have achieved. Stay focused.

If you’re unsure of how to set effective goals, you may find it useful study the path of someone you admire in your field.

Map out a course to get yourself there, focusing on specific short-term goals to achieve long-term ambitions. It’s not a sprint. Take this marathon one leg at a time.

There are some effective frameworks out there to help with setting short and long-term goals. And while they may be effective for some, it’s certainly not a one-size-fits-all scenario.

A framework I’ve tried (and taught at university) with relative success is SMART Goals. It’s been essential to the success of many individuals and businesses around the world. But, it’s also been criticised by some for being a bit rigid when it comes to long term goals. That’s ok. If it doesn’t work, don’t use it.

Here’s the basic rundown from UK company Project Smart:

SMART Goals

Specific

• Well defined
• Clear to anyone that has a basic knowledge of the project

Measurable

• Know if the goal is obtainable and how far away completion is
• Find out when you have achieved your goal

Agreed Upon

• Agreement with all the stakeholders what the goals should be

Realistic

• Within the availability of resources, knowledge and time

Time-Based

• Enough time to achieve the goal
• Not too much time, which can affect project performance

Here’s a little clip to further explain the process:

Bonus-round boogie:

You’ve come a long way, baby. Now get your dance on to celebrate your journey so far. Enjoy!