Although these tips may seem like common sense, it’s amazing how often we don’t do the things we should to ensure we are happy freelancers. Sometimes, we convince ourselves we don’t need to do these things, ignoring conventional wisdom. Other times, we know we need to do them but we repeatedly put them off, until suddenly years have gone by and nothing has changed.
So, with that in mind, here are some practical things you can do to help ensure your happiness as a freelance writer. You probably know at least some of them already, so consider this your reminder.
1) Have a comfortable chair that fits your body.
This chair is vital to my future health and happiness
Often, we make do with whatever chair happens to be around. I know I did for a while. But a good quality, comfortable chair that can be adjusted to fit your height is vital. Sitting in an uncomfortable chair, or one that doesn’t fit you, can result in strain on your back, neck hips and knees. It can also make the day go by much more slowly.
If possible, have a couple of chairs that you can rotate. Or, if you have a laptop, don’t be afraid to get up and change locations, so your body isn’t stuck in the same position for hours on end. In addition to my adjustable chair, I have a stool under my desk that I sometimes use and cushions that I can throw on if I start to get stiff. Trust me, one of the best things you can invest in is a proper chair. I don’t think it’s something you’ll ever regret.
2) Have an office with a view or, if not possible, have pictures up around your workspace.
This is important for two reasons. First, having something nice to look at makes your workspace that much more enjoyable. But, perhaps even more important, having a view or having pictures up gives you something other than your computer screen to look at periodically. One of my Douglas College instructors mentioned that when we write, we stare at our computers for hours at a time. However, staring at the computer screen apparently results in blinking less frequently and in engaging certain eye muscles all the time.
Giving our eyes a break from the computer screen allows them time to renew their moisture (how many of us suffer from dry eyes at the end of a long day?), works the eye muscles by forcing them to focus on something else at a different distance from our computer screen, and provides a bit of an energy boost (okay, I don’t have the scientific evidence for that last one, but how many of us feel energized after watching the squirrels play outside or after staring at a beautiful picture? Maybe I’m the only one.)
3) Keep your work area organized.
I have to remind myself of this every couple of months. It starts off with one paper out of place and after a few weeks, I’m searching through a mound of papers to find the one I need for whatever I’m working on, which takes up time and energy. Not only that, but I always prefer approaching a clean workspace to a disorganized one. Even my brain feels less cluttered when my desk is organized. Plus, it makes income tax time a lot easier (my first income tax time was an absolute nightmare because I was so disorganized. I stored receipts in places receipts should never be stored. Never again!)
4) Set boundaries with others.
It’s a hard thing to do, but if you have people in your life who think that because you’re home all day, you have time to run errands for them, take them to the doctor or answer personal calls, you need to set firm boundaries as soon as possible. Explain to them that this is your work time and, although there is some flexibility with freelancing, any time you take out of your workday is either money lost or time that must be made up on evenings or weekends, during your personal time.
Obviously, you can make exceptions where you feel necessary. But, if you get repeated phone calls from people constantly assuming that “freelance writer” means “will take me to all 35 of my appointments and will water my plants daily while I’m at work,” you should probably to tell them otherwise. If you don’t, you might find yourself bombarded with requests for help during your work time. Plus, if you don’t treat yourself as a professional, people around you won’t treat you like a professional, either. And there are few things worse than having your freelance career treated by others as though it’s just your hobby.
5) Maintain a schedule.
This might not be true for everybody, but I think it’s true for most people. Setting a schedule helps to establish a professional image and helps others to see you as a professional. The schedule doesn’t have to be hard and fast, but setting up a routine will help you get into a flow and could actually help with your writing. A schedule will also make it easier for you to separate work time from home/family time. This isn’t to say they won’t sometimes run together, but having a schedule will help you to maintain some of those boundaries.
Bonus tip: Believe in yourself. It may sound corny, but it’s true. You can be a happy, successful freelance writer but, above everything else, you have to believe you can do it.
