COVID-19 has changed the way the world works. People are self-isolating and working from home in vast numbers. But working from home is nothing new for freelance and independent writers. We always work from home, or a cafe, a plane, the park. It’s part of the job description.
After two decades, I have come up with some tips for making the transition from a traditional work environment to a solo venture a bit easier. Here are my best tips for surviving a work-at-home situation:
Set Up Your Space
Find a spot in your home where you can work. It should be quiet and away from the main living areas, if possible. Furnish it with a good chair, desk, computer, printer, phone and writing supplies. I always have pads of paper and pens around to jot down new ideas and capture project details when clients call.
Only Use Your Work Space for Work
This isn’t always possible, but having a dedicated space helps a lot if you can manage it. I have a work computer and laptop that I use on the road. I only use my work computer for work at home, never my laptop. I reserve my laptop for travel and for personal stuff. This is a great way for me to separate my work and private lives. I never use my office unless I am working, which helps me from forming bad habits in that space.
Clear Distractions
Clear your work computer of distractions. This means no games, no Netflix or other streaming services, and a ban on YouTube except for work-related research. (Though I tend to use my tablet for online video research so I can use the break to jump on the exercise bike or treadmill while I watch videos and learn new skills. That helps me get my butt out of the seat for a change.) Clearing distractions also means choosing a spot to work that is far from the television and gaming systems. The reality is that when you work at home, there will be distractions, especially if you don’t live alone. Do what you can to minimize the distractions from others and invest in a good pair of noise-reducing headphones. They will save you from noisy family members, barking dogs and lawn services, which are the bane of my existence.
Get a Work Phone Number
This is essential. I use my cell phone for existing clients and a Google Voice number for prospects and on my website. This helps me manage my calls. I keep Google Voice muted and check the app regularly for messages. I keep my cell with me and unmuted to take client calls.
Mute Your Home Phone
If you have a separate home line (and I do recommend that), mute it during work hours. There is nothing more disruptive to writing than interruptions. Phone calls are the worst. I can’t tell you how many times I started writing the perfect sentence only to have a telemarketer force it from my mind. I started muting my phone and haven’t regretted it. Family can always get hold of me through my cell or via text. Everyone else can leave a message and I will get back to them on my break or at the end of the day. If you use your cell phone as your main line, use the Do Not Disturb feature and designate clients and certain family members as the exception. This will cut down on your interruptions.
Stay Organized
The biggest waste of time outside of distractions is not being able to find the right file. Stay organized. You may find that you are more productive at home without the disruptions of co-workers, but only if you can organize your tasks and files. I use tracking software to keep my calendar and tasks in order. Notion is helpful when juggling projects and multiple tasks. Todoist keeps my day organized. I love checking off the items and knowing I am closer to being done for the day.
Set Hours or Goals
If you are working on an hourly or contract basis, set your hours and maintain them. If your employer or client is paying you for eight hours, you need to abide by that (with appropriate breaks in between). But if you are working as a freelance writer, set daily goals instead. These goals may require more or less hours than a typical work day. If you manage your production calendar carefully, you should be able to easily identify what needs to be done each day.
Set Reasonable Goals
It is too easy to set unrealistic goals. Don’t put too many items on your task list for one day. Track your time for each task so you can figure out a reasonable time estimate for various tasks. This will help you plan better in the future. And always plan for the unexpected.
Set Rules for Friends and Family
As I mentioned above, interruptions are the worst. Let your mom, friends, and family know that you are working, even though you are at home. Educate them about what you do and how you need your work hours to be respected the same as anyone else’s work time. This will help minimize the interruptions. They won’t disappear completely, but it will help.
Set a Routine
Working from home requires discipline. I covered this in a previous blog. You can read about it here.
Look for more tips for working at home in the next blog.