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I mentioned in today’s job posting that it’s a beautiful day here (or at least shaping up to be one). It’s sunny. Not too hot. Ideal day to go hiking in the park. Technically, I could hop in the car and go. A flexible schedule is a perk of freelance writing from home.
Today I won’t. I have client work to take care of. That doesn’t mean the little birdies won’t be calling to me all day though. Working from home includes distractions normal 9-5ers don’t imagine – the ability to just go without having to punch a time clock, the television in the next room, the refrigerator seducing us towards a snack break, kids and pets that want attention. It takes a lot of focus to be a freelancer.
That’s especially true this time of year when it’s easy to catch “spring fever.” So tell me. How do you cope with it? I’ll admit I’m more of a fall person than a warm weather lover, so that’s when it hits me hardest. What tips can you offer other freelancers to stay focused on work when Mother Nature’s calling them to the great outdoors? Personally, I sit next to a window when I work, so it helps to close the blinds so I don’t see the lovely weather all day. I also only work until noon, so I always know I can get out in the afternoon if I want to (another reason to love waking up early). What about you? What do you do?
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About the Author: Jennifer Mattern
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Hey there Jennifer – Like you, I make sure to work diligently through the morning, so that my afternoon can be more relaxed. I mean, there’s still work to be done, but it’s not nearly as pressing.
Besides, I feel that it’s important to schedule in a least one fresh air break anyways. When you know it’s coming, staying in the rest of the time to get your work done doesn’t seem so bad.
Like you, I’m more of a Fall person too… but it’s such a beautiful day today, and my dog is giving me those eyes that say “I want to go run around in the grass ALL DAY mom!”
So yeah… that makes it a little hard to focus!
Thankfully, I’ve been up since 6 am so my workload will be done about two hours earlier than it normally is. I’ll have the afternoon to enjoy the day, which is what I try to do daily. If I get all of my work done during the morning, I’ll have the rest of the afternoon to do whatever I’d like.
I’m still struggling with the schedule somewhat. I think I should start getting up earlier so that I can be done sooner in the day because I’m eating into my real creative time on projects that don’t demand as much of my creativity. It doesn’t help that my favorite spot in the house faces the sliding glass doors, and I’ve been taunted for the past month with day after day of beautiful blue skies. I might take a Friday off and just run around in it.
Ugh, this has been plaguing me for about a week. I think Mother Nature and I have reached some sort of agreement, though. At about 2pm I will head outside to fetch the mail. This is a work obligation, and well within my rights to to do it. Right? I will sit on the front steps while I go through the mail, separating the bills from the checks from the rubbish. This gives me a few minutes of much-needed Vitamin D from the lovely warm sun, while still getting something accomplished.
Then it’s back to my dreary basement desk!
W
I had one of those days yesterday – I just couldn’t stay focused, even with the shade down. Finally, about 3:30 p.m., I took my laptop outside. Then I got in two solid hours of good work. It might be counter-intuitive, but it worked. I might even try it again today!
I know exactly what you mean. Spring for me means flowers outside, sparrows building nests in my roof – lots of distractions. Since I have two dogs, I get my outdoors fix by walking them several times during the day. That gives me a long enough break and dose of the outdoors to then be able to focus for another hour or two.
Oh, the lure of a beautiful spring day! I tend to do one of two things. I either 1) work hard early in the day (like steph, above) so I can enjoy the rest of the day, or 2) I take breaks to head outside and get a little fresh air so I can come in and feel less deprived. I know that some people like Hazel take their laptops outside to work and have success, but I just can’t seem to get anything done like that.