Let’s be honest, “the gig economy” is the buzz-phrase of the moment. And while it might be hip, it’s also real. More and more people are leaving traditional corporate world behind and creating their own careers, 2 or 3 jobs at a time. Fast Company notes that “The annual report from Upwork and the Freelancers Union found that more people than ever are choosing to freelance, up to 55 million this year, or 35% of the total U.S. workforce.”
Working from home sounds great, but anyone who has done it for an extended period of time knows there are traps big and small lurking around every corner. At Junction we love the flexibility that working remotely brings us, and we have learned some key lessons to ensuring we are using the opportunity to it’s full benefit, for us and our clients.
Follow a schedule
This is crucial. It is so easy to lose minutes and hours to small distractions , and all of the sudden it’s 6pm and your to-do list is longer than when you started. Be organized with your time, and you can avoid this. Block out chunks for specific tasks, and work only on those projects during that period. Creating mini time blocks for writing, content building, strategy & planning, answering email, social media engagement and even continued learning will help keep your mind clear and focussed on the task at hand. Don’t forget to include your non-work life too. Need to meet with your accountant? Or maybe your favorite yoga class is 2-3pm. Simply schedule that in and work around it. Stay diligent and you will be more productive than ANY day you ever had in an office.
Identify your favorite places to work
Not all coffee shops are created equal. Some are great for meetings, some for writing. Some for a quick caffeine shot, some perfect to settle in for the afternoon. Get to know your spots so you can plan your time out of the house in the places that are most conducive to the kind of work you are looking to do that day.
GET OUT and talk to people
One downside to not working in an office is the lack of human interaction. I have been known to see no one but my mailman for days at a time. Once, while working on a website, I hit three full days without seeing another person. This is not recommended. These days I make it a point to seek out people to chat with. Energy is contagious, so don’t be afraid to venture outside your house and chat with your favorite barista or meet your neighbors. You never know what inspiration they might give you. Just don’t linger too long, you have work to do!
Set aside a workspace in your house
Not everyone has an extra bedroom or office to work from, but creating separation in your physical space is important. Designate a work desk and chair and try not to use that space for other things. Being able to turn your work brain off when the day is “over” will help create balance.
Embrace technology
At Junction we LOVE Slack, Google Drive, Evernote, Time Out and Spotify. Let technology work for you, for a change. Slack helps us manage internal conversations by client and project. Google Drive is excellent for storing and accessing documents from any location. Evernote is great for continuous note taking and joint to-do lists. Time Out - Break Reminders is perfect for creating balance, letting you set up pre-planned break reminders throughout your workday. And Spotify keeps the creative juices flowing with constant music and collaborative playlists.
Take walk breaks
It’s important to take time to reset during the day. It’s easy to get lost in your computer, and look up at 6pm realizing you have created a permanent dent in your chair and taken 112 steps for the day. I make it a point to get up at least once an hour and walk around the house. Additionally, I take at least one walk a day. If I can’t make the time to check out completely, I will take my afternoon conference call on the road and get my steps in while I chat.
Schedule time to meet up with other home-preneurs.
We have a crew of small business owners that we enjoy working with, lovingly referred to as “our creative mafia”. It doesn’t matter whether or not we are working on a project together at the time, grabbing the community table at the coffee shop and Getting together is a great way to get creative juices flowing, bounce ideas off your most trustworthy confidants and no doubt add a few laughs to your day.
A few don’ts we have learned along the way too
Don’t stay in your pajama’s all day
Don’t multitask with house chores (too much)
Don’t watch TV
Don’t forget that its okay to stop working too