Work at home and don't get wild. How? We'll tell you!

Freelance, as a type of employment, is becoming increasingly popular every day. Indeed, for many people, it represents not only an additional opportunities for self-realization, traveling and earning more, but also a lot of other advantages, such as the pleasure of work. However, freelancing is not suitable for everyone, nohow.

We won’t point out social package and insurance policy, paid vacations and public holidays, FSA, 401К, maternity leave, different employee assistance programs etc. We only mention inner psychological issues. On the one hand hyperactive extroverts can spend more time on networking and online presence, so they could gain a huge clients base and useful kith with ease. But on the other point of view such communication won’t replace live one anyway and an extrovert by nature may begin to waste away. Introverts, in turn, can easily close in their home-working world and literally get wild.

Lets go over how to avoid the error of ‘getting wild’ and burnout in our today’s article!

1. First of all, it is necessary to divide working and personal time. Of course, one of the main advantages of freelancing is that you create and control your schedule personally. The main thing is to avoid the mistakes of almost all freelance beginners and not to get into work 24/7. Clearly highlight hours that you can devote to work without compromising your life and health, and notify your clients at what time you can be on call, and at whether it must be paid additionally. Do not forget to leave time for family and friends, as well as your hobbies and rest.

2. The same goes for working space. Many freelancers prefer to rent a place / time in co-working or a small office, work from a cafe or a park. Others can only concentrate in silence and go to the library or special anti-cafes. And someone stays at home. With the first options, everything is simple: you are dressing up and going to a special place, you are walking and you are among people for a while one way or another. But those who prefer to work from home are compose the biggest risk group. How to be? Do not stay in bed for the whole day! Buy yourself convenient but beautiful home clothes and put it up during working hours. Be sure to wash and brush your hair before starting work. It won't be extra to do some exercises and have breakfast. If you can, make a separate workplace in the house and don't 'take the work beyond it'. Buy yourself a comfortable chair and table, so you will save as working attitude, as posture!

3. Don’t forget to take pauses and change the activity at this time. For example, you can meditate, listen to music or read the news. And walk every day, regardless of the weather and the presence / absence of the company! Fresh air and looking at passers-by can help to reboot yourself and not feel lonely. Moreover, do not rob yourself of weekends. The freelance was invented to free up more time for life, and not vice versa. And the availability of work schedule will only raise your rating in the customers’ eyes.

4. Returning to leisure, friends, family and hobbies — it will be better to switch completely from the working mode at this time and change the type of activity. Let your body and mind relax. So, if you sit at a computer for a long time and translate scientific texts, in your free time pay attention to creativity — go dancing, to a drawing lesson or a cooking workshop, arrange a cycling trip with friends or an evening of comedies with your family. And if you are a person of a creative profession, try in your free time to scale up your financial literacy or read news from the world of science.

5. Getting back to work — take it seriously. If you not live alone, explain to your family that from such to such a time you are not there and you cannot be disturbed. This is especially important in the moments when of contacting the client via video call. Take care that the frame don’t get anything and no one extra.

6. Make progress! Take professional classes and workshops, listen to webinars, pump up theoretical knowledge and practical skills. The main thing is to do it during working off-hours in order not to miss deadlines, lose income and reputation. Bear in mind, freelancing requires constant controlling, strength of will and self-development! Freelance is an unstable job, even if today your customers dote on you, it doesn't mean that it will always be like this. And if you fall behind the trends today, your chances of finding a good job tomorrow are low.

7. Expand the circle of 'real' friends. These can be a seller in a supermarket, a barista in a coffee shop, a person next to you at a professional master class, even your customers! Don't be afraid to make new acquaintances in your off-work real life or take your online friends to offline. Even the most avid introvert needs communication! In addition, you never know which acquaintance will come in handy at work!

On freelancing, as in any other work, it’s important to balance and allocate your resources properly, both time and energy. Clearly set your priorities and adjust the possibilities. You may be full of strength and desire to work more, or you may need more money today. As well, you may need to take a pause tomorrow. Don’t be afraid to listen to your feelings and change the life-working rhythm depending on it!