Being able to work from home sounds like a dream right? No more de-icing your car in the morning, or walking to the bus stop in the rain, or having to endure small talk in the office. Just think of all that freedom? Well, contrary to popular belief…it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. In fact, without the proper balance, what was once the dream can all too quickly turn into some cabin-feverish nightmare.
In this article, we’re going to talk about how to find balance when working home as a digital marketer (from a freelance perspective).
1. Try and stick to a routine
Especially as a freelancer or starting your own business online, one of the best aspects of working remotely is being able to manage your own time. Of course, just because you can stay in bed all day, it doesn’t mean that you should.
It might sound like it’s defeating the purpose, however, our best advice is to try and stick to a fairly strict routine anyway. This means waking up at a similar time each morning – even if you don’t have any calls booked or urgent work to do.
In the same breath, try to avoid too many distractions. Just because the Xbox is in the next room, it doesn’t mean you should give in to temptation. Work first > play second.
2. Set up a proper workstation (and have the right tools)
If you are sitting on your sofa working from your laptop it isn’t going to be sustainable. If you wish to avoid those aches and pains – and indeed remain motivated – you need to set up a proper workstation for yourself.
If you have a spare room that can be turned into a home office, great. Otherwise, find a quiet spot in your home and repurpose it into a bright and comfortable nook for you to work in.
3. Take regular breaks
When you work in an office your day is structured for you so you never forget to take breaks. However, when you are working from home and ‘in the zone’, it can be easy to forget – often to the point where you’ve been working for several hours solid without stretching your legs.
Set a reminder on your phone and step away every 30-minutes, even if only for a 1-minute bend and stretch! This is a great way to maintain productivity, without compromising your long-term health.
4. Make time to exercise
It may not be immediately apparent, however, you will notice how little exercise you get if you don’t make time for it. For example, simply walking to the bus stop, pacing around the office, going for a walk on your lunch break, and laughing with your colleagues is a reasonable amount of exercise. It adds up.
When you work from home however, unless you make time to exercise, your body will feel stagnant.
Keep your mind and body healthy and give it what it craves!
5. Eat healthily
Don’t fall prey to laziness and snack from the fridge just because you can. Set aside a proper lunch hour and make yourself some delicious food. The best part is that you can cook and food prep quite easily when you work from home so don’t waste the opportunity.
6. Compromise on time differences (but don’t be a pushover)
This is a big one and something that many freelancers fail to control: time differences. Remember, your time is just as valuable as the next person, so don’t let them dictate your calendar as well.
For example, if you do SEO in Melbourne and you have a prospective client in the UK, there’s no reason why you should have to jump on a call at 10-o’clock at night just because they have a ‘busy morning’.
Yes, there will be times where you need to make sacrifices, however, you have to stand your ground now and again.
Conclusion
By this point you are likely dreading the sound of working from home. Rest assured that it really is all it’s cracked up to be! Being your own boss and enjoying a flexible work environment has some incredible benefits, but you must be disciplined – otherwise it can get messy.
Prioritise your to-do list, tackle the crappy jobs first, keep your network secure, use the right tools, and remember to take good care of yourself.
