The WMF Archives: Tips for Freelancers: Don't Get Distracted from Working at Home

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Tips for Freelancers: Don't Get Distracted from Working at Home

6:00 AM

By Pam Houghton

After I returned to work full-time (after working a part-time schedule when my children were young), I was able to telecommute from home two days a week. How I looked forward to the days I did not have to fight traffic on I-696. And how convenient it was to throw a load of laundry in the wash in between projects.

Once a corporate reorganization eliminated the business unit in which I worked, along with my job, I thought I'd try and turn a long-time writing hobby into a career as, yep, a freelance writer. Working from home. Would I have the discipline? The motivation? Could I be free enough from distractions to actually get things done?

I've learned it's harder to work from home when you don't have a defined workload. As a corporate telecommuter, I knew what I had to do every day, whether it was releasing products, or teleconferencing with colleagues (neither of which had much to do with writing).

As a "freelancer", it's easier to get distracted: you essentially work for yourself, alone and without anyone's expectation that you will perform a set amount of work each day. Which makes trips to Target for pretty paper towels all the more tempting.

So, as I do in times of crisis (heh-heh), I turned to the Internet for advice. If you are currently a work-from-home freelance writer, or considering making the transition, here are a few tips for freelancers (thanks to Google) that can help keep us all on track.

1. Set a working schedule. Don't be afraid to mold it to your natural schedule, especially if you are likely to be more productive at certain times of the day. So set it, and stick with it.

2. Establish a functional workspace. Make sure it has everything you need to get the job done - i.e. supplies, software, fast Internet connection - and represents a separation of work from home. (Or in my case, the laundry room.) You will be freer from the natural distractions of daily home maintenance.

3. If you have young children, consider putting them in daycare for a few hours each day.

4. Get dressed as though you are going to work. Or at the very least, shower shave and dress appropriately. Don't stay in your PJs lest you be tempted to turn on The View.

5. For those times that require sustained focus, turn off your phone, e-mail and IM privileges. And don't go on Facebook! (Oh, the self-discipline required here.)

6. Take breaks. Your brain needs a little refreshing after a couple hours of intense concentration. Reward yourself with a quick walk around the block or a game of "fetch" with your dog. Or whatever you define as a welcome break.

7. Since you won't have colleagues around to motivate you, you must rely on self-direction and self-motivation. Figure out ways to keep yourself motivated whether it's a long-term goal you are trying to achieve, or a sense that the work itself has its own rewards. Whatever works to keep you going.

How do you stay focused? Feel free to share your ideas with our readers in the comment section below.

Labels: avoiding distractions, freelance writing, Pam Houghton, self employed

8 comments:

Liza said...: I keep myself to a similar routine to the one I had when I worked in an office. I get up at the same time, eat a similar breakfast, and after I drop my daughter off at school, I "drive to work" albeit in this case, work is my work cubby in the family room at home. I do give myself a break to walk in the early morning, but then work straight through, with a short break for lunch. I find I get more done without the distraction of coworkers, and can end the day earlier than 5:00 most times, feeling like I accomplished more then if I was in the office 8:30-5:00. It is important to stick to a routine, and to hold yourself accountable.; December 26, 2009 7:41 AM
barcintl said...: Facebook has become my watercooler, to help me with the isolated feeling of working from home. Your tips are great.; December 26, 2009 2:04 PM
Kerrie McLoughlin said...: while i love the idea of a routine, i'm at a point in my life (homeschooling with 5 kids 8 and under) where it's not always possible, so i mostly just write when i can. like when the kids sleep in (we keep them up late so they can sleep in so i can get stuff done alone in the mornings). i think even if i didn't have kids at home i'd probably just be writing whenever the mood would strike. if i'm in the middle of a project i love, it strikes often. as for motivation, i like having assignments from mags for that. and when i was working on my ebook i tried to just get in 3 hours a day somehow ... the motivation being that i wanted to put something on the market that would be truly helpful. now i'd love to work on some fiction but am scared, so i'm sure i'll put it off. good piece with good tips; i've just turned into a slacker since having kids!; December 26, 2009 2:39 PM
swati1012 said...: I have a set schedule to write in the early mornings. That is the best time as there are no distractions at that time of the day.; December 26, 2009 4:45 PM
Angela Atkinson said...: I recently had an office built in my home and have noticed a significant difference in productivity. Before, I worked in a corner in the living area of the house. Not only did I find myself more consistently distracted by family and the evil talking box (TV), but I also found myself playing one too many FB games. ;) Since the erection of the office, I still get occasional family distractions, but game-playing and TV distractions have fallen by the wayside.; December 26, 2009 5:16 PM
swati1012 said...: Tips on The WM connection are practical and really helpful. Thank you ladies.; December 26, 2009 5:23 PM
Alyssa Ast said...: One of the first things I learned about working from home is it's sometimes much harder to remain productive. With all the distractions surrounding you, it is vital you have serious motivation and determination before deciding to become a work from home writer.; December 26, 2009 7:24 PM
Pam Houghton said...: Thanks for the additional comments everyone. It's nice to see how others stay focused. Kudos to those who are writing with young children around. That's a challenge!; December 27, 2009 8:37 AM