Introduction:
Do you know? Around 54% of people are freelancers, and 46% have permanent posts. This portrays that the percentile of freelancers is greater. Freelancing follows a self-employment format.
However, the misconception of freelancing as an easy profession breaks down the day you start it. Compared to the traditional approaches, the professional working process has undergone a drastic transformation. Mind that freelancers do not spend their time on ‘Netflix and chill!
Freelancers And Their Truths
The truth is freelancers hustle harder than permanent employees. This is because they work from home flexibly. Moreover, the 9-5 job gives you rest at night at least. Moreover, you can also spend a reasonable amount of time with your loved ones. However, it becomes more challenging for freelancers to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
To begin with, work-life balance means taking time for your health and needs. This increases your productivity and creativity at work. A perfect balance for everything might take time. However, if you put in your best efforts to achieve a minimum work-life balance, you can save yourself from 24-hour burnout.
According to the surveys, the primary concern of a freelancer is time and project management. Work-life balance leads you to a happy future and outcome.
What Is Work-Life Balance?
As visible by the name, work-life balance is the equilibrium between your private and work life. Your work life and private life shall complement each other. Work-life shall not burden you nor push back your personal life. The aim is to find the appropriate timings for both areas of life.
In addition to this, work-life balance targets both the mental and physical health of a human. It minimizes psychological stress and anxiety. If you keep this unreported, it can lead to severe physical brain damage.
Furthermore, work-life balance is also about personal and professional priorities. This means you must prefer your work time to be equal to your family time. Contrarily work and life balance varies from person to person.
For instance, one person may have the work-life balance concept as not working at a specific time during the day. For some people, it may be a flexible working schedule to equally prioritize their home and personal duties.
An ideal work-life balance is about creating harmony in every area of your life. Moreover, defining every hour of the day with specified tasks with your health is a primary concern.
Importance Of Work-Life Balance?
The topic of work-life balance is being discussed more often now. This proves that people are suffering from work-life trauma. People are not enjoying their work routines and have increased stress and poor work-life balance.
Besides that, as a freelancer, work-life balance has to be a priority for your satisfaction. If equally loyal to your work, you will have a better quality of life and handsome earnings.
Additionally, being a freelancer, you must keep yourself over-motivated and efficient. However, a good work-life balance will motivate you as a freelancer.
Undoubtedly the world is now a global village. There is connectivity everywhere. In this case, you need to blend your work and personal boundaries well. This can be challenging but profitable for you in every aspect.
A perfect work-life balance means enjoying and making the most of every little chunk of your life. You can have a successful professional life and a peaceful personal life with a work-life balance. Conclusively, you will be able to appropriately put your time, energy, and effort in the right places.
How To Achieve The Right Work-Life Balance As A Freelancer?
Proper Working Hours
If you always keep yourself available, this can be stressful and unhealthy. If you want to become a successful freelancer, you have to customize your working hours.
Moreover, only work in the available hours. It means you can work less than 8 hours or more. However, you need to schedule your day according to the nature of your work. List down the regular and weekly tasks separately. Moreover, create a monthly or weekly report of your tasks.
Consequently, it depends on whether you are morning or night. You can arrange your tasks accordingly. For example, if your official clients reach you by 8.30 am, you can wake up by 6.00 am to complete the passive tasks.
Fixed Working Plans
When you document your work, you can work more productively. As a freelancer, you can divide your time according to your work. Moreover, you need to label the importance and priority of all your tasks.
Besides that, you are always aware of what is pending and what is done. This way, you easily design fixed work plans for all your projects. Whenever you are the most productive, work on the high-demand tasks at that time.
Remember, if you build the habit of fulfilling your deadlines before everything else. You can avoid pressure and burden by the end of the time limit. Consequently, you can have a peaceful working environment.
Take Mini Breaks
It is psychologically proven that breaks and rewards are the best reinforcements. If you start overworking without any breaks, your productivity starts dropping. If you spend more than half of the day on a task, you will lose concentration after a certain period.
Moreover, you must take a deep relaxing breath after a complicated task. These are known as stress breaks. You can walk, watch a Netflix episode, or do exercise or yoga during this break. This helps freshen up your mind and improves your concentration.
Stop thinking about your work in the breaks. In addition to this, try to take lunch and dinner breaks away from your workplace. Reward yourself and create a self-motivation plan.
Minimize the pressure within the breaks. Most freelancers keep Sunday as their free day. On the contrary, you should take a day off in the week to energize yourself for the next week.
Have A Separate Workspace
According to the personal interests of freelancers, separate workspaces induce more productivity. Moreover, you can focus entirely on your work. The concentration level is high when there are no distractions around you.
Besides that, if you work from home, you must create a reality-based home office or a work corner. When you work separately, you prepare your right working mindset. Additionally, you feel committed to your work. Once you are done, you can move from that area toward your comfy couch.
Fix Your Availability Hours
The most significant stress factor is always staying around the clock. If you want to create a perfect work-life balance, you have to define your boundaries. Try to keep separate business and personal numbers.
Furthermore, you need to clearly outline your working hours at which your clients can interact with you. Learn to switch off your phone or switch on the ‘do not disturb mode after working hours. Moreover, you need to maintain your business and private account list separately. This shows professionalism and keeps your life peaceful.
Prioritize Your Health
They say a healthy body has a sound mind. If you are healthy enough, it is possible to work productively. You have to save yourself from mental and physical illnesses for productive work.
Moreover, recognize what possible risks you can face as a freelancer. You harm your health if you stress a lot or sit in a poor posture. However, keeping your health on top before losing it would be best.
Besides that, to become a successful human being, you must take care of your health. Take out time for your well-being and work productivity. Involve yourself in physical sports activities to reduce stress.
Pros Of Work-Life Balance
Why do you think work-life balance is a matter of utter attention? Here are the key points:
- It reduces stress and anxiety during work
- You can save yourself from excessive burnout and mental illness
- You can see an increase in your productivity and, ultimately, creativity
- You can have a reasonable amount of time for yourself.
- There is a higher retention rate when you lead a healthy professional and personal life.
A Few Suggestions For Work-Life Productivity
As a freelancer, you need productivity in your life. To keep yourself motivated, remember a few things before sitting on your work chair. Some suggestions are :
- Realize What the goals you’re Working For
- Keep room for improvement
- Make time for your loved ones
- Mark your professional and personal calendar
- Build a daily routine
- Outsource your tasks to reduce the burdens
- Keep a clear focus
- Learn to say no
- Eliminate all distractions
Conclusion
To summarize, there is no magic spell to find the perfect work-life equilibrium. Every person has a different work style. Your productivity depends upon the nature of your work and priorities.
Moreover, nobody is going to choose a proper work-life balance, and it is you who is going to do it. There might be complexities and tough decisions that you’ll need for productivity. If you need help keeping the right balance, it’s time to change.
Conclusively, you have to reprioritize your personal and private life factors. Moreover, you have to work as a freelancer with flexibility and freedom. In this way, you can build career satisfaction and prosper in your personal life alongside.
Are you a morning person or a night owl? Leave a comment down below
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
As a freelancer, you can increase your productivity by 1) setting practical goals, 2)keeping things simple, 3) Creating a schedule, 4) Working in a particular space, 5) Managing time accordingly, 6) Taking small breaks, 7) Rewarding yourself, 8) Prioritizing your health.
If you want to enhance your production rate, you have to minimize procrastinating, review your daily goals, schedule and set project reminders, and motivate yourself for a better tomorrow.
Your working time may vary if you have fixed contracts and projects. According to experts, an average freelancer shall work 50-60 hours weekly. However, it can be an average of 40 hours a week if you shift clients.
The best way to boost your work-life balance schedule you can use the 52/17 rule. This means an average person shall work for 52 minutes and take a break 17 minutes later. The 52 minutes shall be highly productive, and the 17 minutes shall be highly relaxing.
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