5 THINGS SUCCESSFUL FREELANCERS DO AT HOME

As a freelancer, having complete control over your daily schedule is both a boon and a burden if you want to do your best work.

Harvard University conducted a 20-year study to determine the factors that contribute to an employee's success in the workplace. They found that employees who found meaning in their work, had some degree of autonomy in their daily tasks, followed a regular schedule, and spent time both alone and with others were more productive. It is crucial that your routine and methods set you unique and get you ahead, since freelancers report better degrees of autonomy and connection to work than those who operate in a planned environment. Since you are responsible for approving your own salary, it is to your financial benefit to get your process down pat. 

If you want to maintain your day job, you should adopt these five habits of successful freelancers:

1. Recognize when it's safe to hang around home and when it's best to get out

The same Harvard study also indicated that coworkers are more likely to be flourishing than their office-bound counterparts. It's been suggested that this is so because it allows you to learn from the experiences of others around you who are not your direct competitors. The rise of the coworking movement throughout the world has brought with it a number of perks not seen in traditional workplaces (hello, onsite coffee and yoga lessons!).

Workers who use a co-working environment are more likely to be flourishing than those who work in a conventional workplace, according to the same Harvard study.

Free alternatives might exist in your location. To provide just one example, the Good Copy writer's studio in Melbourne's Collingwood provides a space for freelancers to work, as well as creative services, grammar workshops, books, and a drop-in area. On their website, successful freelancer and co-creator of The Good Copy, Penny Modra, explains that the idea for the company came from her desire to create a public space where writers could go without feeling self-conscious about staying in the same place for three hours while only drinking one coffee. Look around for a place to work for free; some options are Campus Cafe on London's Bonhill Street or Wix's free co-working space in New York's Midtown.

Two, automise:

With the rise of the #digitalnomad hashtag, there are several digital tools available to help you in your freelancing endeavours. If you want to keep track of how much time you spend working, you may use a programme like Harvest. After entering your work hours, it will automatically generate an invoice. Nothing wrong with making things simple for your customers, since Xero will send them invoices with a "pay now" button right up top. Your invoice will be opened for viewing and further bills will be issued automatically if payment is not received. To succeed in your own business, you'll find this assistance invaluable.

3. Exercise in the AM

The prominent businessman Richard Branson is quoted as saying that his morning exercise gives him an additional four hours of productivity each day. And why do it so early in the morning? Because the advantages of increased attention and mood will be with you all day, and you will have crossed exercise off your to-do list, while the majority of others are still pouring coffee with their eyes closed. Because the benefits of improved concentration and mood will be with you all day.

4. Make the rules

Working for yourself does not give you the right to "not" set rules; rather, it gives you the ability to mould such rules to meet the working lifestyle you choose. Create them on your own, and be sure to follow through with them. For example, no social media or humorous cat videos until after 7pm. You certainly do not need to go through that listicle at this very now. It is something that can wait till you are not at work, unless you are reading a listicle on how to be successful as a freelancer.

5. Wear a uniform

You may not have as many high-stakes choices to make in a day as Mark Zuckerberg, but that doesn't mean that you won't appreciate the extra mental space that you'll have now that you don't have to make a decision on what to wear every morning.

This is your website, therefore whatever works for you personally should also work for your company. You might decide to go for an appearance that is a little more put together than that of Mark Zuckerberg, but a little less formal than that of the President of the United States of America. The important thing to remember is that you are in charge of this situation; therefore, if you want to wear a leotard and leg warmers, go ahead and do so if that's what feels comfortable to you. And if you do decide to wear it, be sure to tag us in any photos you take with the hashtag #myuniformisaleotard.