There are lots of “perks” you enjoy as a self-employed artist, designer, web designer or in any self-taught capacity, really. No commute, no schedules designed by someone else, the freedom to work from nearly anywhere in the world. Even though you’re self-employed, you still need to recharge so that you can make the most of what time you do work. No more 9 to 5 is fabulous – but if you don’t take time for yourself, your work may suffer.
Here are 5 productivity tips that will ensure the time you are working will end in amazing results!
Indulge yourself by playing more. After all, the point of entrepreneurship is to spend more time doing what you want to do, isn’t it? Don’t let “real life” slip through the cracks in your effort to complete your to-do list, which never ends. When you are truly happy, you work better – it’s as simple as that. Take time to enjoy a picnic with your family, even go to the beach for the weekend.
Take lots of breaks. Self-taught individuals are often driven – sometimes too much so. Even when you aren’t working, your mind is still going. When you start to feel overloaded, your productivity suffers. Take a break every 45 minutes, stretch, enjoy a cup of coffee.
Consider how your environment affects productivity. The space you occupy affects mood; a cluttered office isn’t the best place to be productive. When you do work in your home office, make sure it’s clean and uncluttered. You will focus better! If the majority of your work is done on a computer, the beach of even a park is a great place to enjoy the outdoors and give you a different perspective. Sounds and scents can also affect how your mind works, so consider some soft instrumental music and a candle or incense in a favorite scent.
Get less connected. In a day when Facebook and Twitter can consume half a day’s time before you know it, sometimes it’s important to get disconnected. Social media can be a huge distraction when you’re trying to get things done. What to do? If you don’t use the internet in your work, stay off of it. If you do, consider a tool like StayFocused which essentially blocks sites like Facebook and others that may be distracting from your browser.
Get plenty of sleep! Nearly every self-taught entrepreneur has been guilty of burning the candle at both ends, but this can seriously disrupt your productivity and the quality of your work. A lack of sleep may not affect you too much for a brief time, but eventually it will affect your perception, motivation, judgment and mood according to a study performed by Harvard Medical School. Think of a time schedule that will work best for you to get in eight hours a day, whether it’s 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. or midnight to 8 a.m. Since you set your own schedule, your 8 hours can be anytime that works best for you!
Those days that have been productive leave you feeling good about your work and fulfilled at the end of the day. Now you know how to be even more productive!
