Though there are multiple benefits to freelancing, there are definitely downsides as well. Being your own boss means that you also have to be your own motivator. There’s nobody to hold your hand and badger you to meet deadlines. Some days, you may struggle to get anything done at all. If you want to find success as a freelancer, it’s critical you find your rhythm and know how to motivate yourself. And there’s no better time to figure out how to do this than at the beginning of a new year! Let’s dive into how you can up your motivation in 2022.
How Do You Keep Writing During Tough Times?
They say writing is therapeutic, but those of us who write for a living know very well that it is not always the case. In fact, it could be the opposite. Deadlines — looming and past — can throw all semblance of therapeutic out the window.
Why Freelance Writers Should Learn the Art of Doing Nothing
As I was looking into existing articles about “The Art of Doing Nothing, ” I came across two phrases how they described it in Italy and in India.
The Italians call it “La Dolce Far Niente” which means “the sweetness of doing nothing.” And it was a concept one author learned while watching Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love. The scene was set in a barbershop in Rome. Julia and her newfound friend are scarfing down napoleons while the men of Italy are educating them on the ways of the Italian. [Read more…]
How to Motivate Yourself in Four Easy Ways
The “how do I motivate myself” question has probably been asked – and answered – a trillion times.
Why do we still hear it? Why do we still ask it?
It’s because there are always going to be periods in which we need all the help we can get to climb out of that well of demotivation.
I’m an expert – at experiencing low periods, that is. As for motivating myself…that’s a whole different story. I’ve learned quite a few things, though, so I’m going to share them with you today.
They’ve worked for me (at different times), and I hope they work for you, too.
How to motivate yourself
Use the carrot on a stick principle.
You all know the story about the donkey and the carrot dangling in front of him. Do the same with yourself when you’re feeling demotivated.
What can you use as a carrot?
Anything you know you’ll look forward to:
- getting paid
- soaking in the tub after you finish X articles
- taking a day off once you finish a project.
Set smaller goals.
If you’ve got a huge project, you might be demotivated because there is so much to do that you feel overwhelmed. If this is the case, break things down.
Instead of always thinking of finishing the entire project (and the deadline), make smaller goals for each day. This way, you can focus on each task better, get things done faster, and feel a sense of achievement every day.
Take advantage of (de)motivational posters.
Motivational posters and funny (de)motivational ones can do you a lot of good. If you prefer serious, then get posters with quotes that will encourage you.
If a dose of humor does it for you, then look for posters like these.
Get a bunch of them, so you can hang up different types on your wall whenever you feel like it. Alternatively, use them as desktop wallpapers.
“Waste” time reading things like…
I wrote “waste” because it isn’t really wasting time when you read articles like “Top 10 Famous Motivational Speeches“.
Other kinds of articles I recommend are those that “restore faith in humanity”. It’s an overused phrase, but it does work to uplift one’s spirits.
What do you do to motivate yourself?
So those are the things I do when I am demotivated. Most of the time they work. Sometimes I need to simply get out of the house. (Read: Why It’s Good to Occasionally Work Outside)
What about you? What would you recommend?
