The laptop lifestyle became more popular in recent years as a lot of companies started to work remotely. So, taking a laptop to an exotic location or working from home became the norm for a lot of users.
However, freelancers are known for working for themselves long hours, and they can have a hard time imposing their boundaries around their work or getting regular breaks during their work-day. For this reason, we have compiled a list of tips to help you optimize your schedule and enjoy your lunch break every day.
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The Pomodoro Method
img source: entrepreneur.com
If you feel overwhelmed with your tasks or you procrastinate a lot before you jump in and do your work for the day, then the Pomodoro Method is a good way to stay consistently productive and achieve better results.
Based on this method, you maintain your focus and work undisturbed, without any distractions for a set of time on one task. Then you have a 5-minute break. Generally, you are expected to work at least 25 minutes before you take a 5-minute break. But you can obviously adjust the method to fit your preferences and your schedule.
For example, you can work for an hour and then have a 15-minute break and continue to work in four productive sessions before taking a longer break. There are mobile apps as well as widgets that you can install on your device and keep track of your tasks and productivity sessions. Essentially, the Pomodoro method is a good way to manage your own time and remain productive for the rest of the day without being burnt out.
Fun Lunch Break
As we mentioned earlier, regular breaks should become part of your routine. However, it is equally important what you plan to do on your break and how you’re going to spend it. For instance, if you’re regularly eating your lunch in front of your computer still working more or less, that can actually have a detrimental effect on your productivity levels because you don’t give your brain a chance to process your previous assignments or events.
So, if you can, make sure to have multiple breaks where you actually do something that’s not related to your work and fun for you. For example, you can play mobile games on your smartphone. There are many mobile games that you can add to your gaming selection, such as RPG games, first-person shooter games, strategy games, and games of chance, among other options.
If you’re interested in casino games, for instance, according to uudetkasinot.com, you can find many mobile-optimized online casinos, which feature a selection of offers, bonuses, a library of mobile-friendly casinos games in many variations, and many other options.
Of course, you can also play anything else that suits your preferences, but the main goal is to do something which isn’t directly connected to your job. So, you can listen to your favorite music while you’re eating your lunch, or you can have a chat with your friends, have a walk outside, play with your pet, read a book, among many other enjoyable options.
Digital and Analog Calendar
Whether you opt to use a digital calendar on your smartphone or you actually use a bullet journal as your calendar, adding and removing items from it needs to be a part of your day-to-day routine. It’s important to have a good overview of your monthly tasks and projects so you have a better understanding of your income streams and responsibilities on a monthly, weekly, and even daily level.
Also, if you’re using a digital calendar that you share with your clients, you can block time when you’re unavailable and actually take some time off work for chores, meetings with friends, and anything else that you want to do.
It’s a good tool in the long run because it will help you reach a better work-life balance and help you get organized. It should be noted that the digital calendar might be more suitable when you’re working with clients, even if you have one for personal use. When it comes to an analog calendar that you write down on your bullet journal, for example, it can help you get a better grasp of your to-do lists on a daily basis.
Exercise
If you’re just starting out as a freelancer or you’re in the midst of an overwhelming week, a short workout session and light exercises are good ways to remain healthy and to move your body as well as to improve your posture.
One main advantage of working from home is you can actually use your break to improve your mood and your overall health. For this purpose, you can downland a mobile app like the 7-minute workout that motivates you to have an intense workout for at least 7- 10 minutes or just do some light stretches, and yoga poses.
There are many tutorials on YouTube that can help you with this goal, including Yoga with Adriene, Yoga with Casandra, and other options. Overall, a good workout can have a great impact on your concentration productivity levels and actually make a positive difference in your schedule.
Distractions-Free Environment
If you’re working in a cozy, enjoyable environment that is distraction-free, you have better chances of completing your goals for the day. In comparison, if you are working in an environment that has a lot of distractions, loud noises, or you’re sharing your space with your roommates and family members, this can also have an impact on your productivity.
Although there are some people that can work in noisy spaces, most of us do require some kind of separate, quiet work environment where we have a chance to concentrate on our goals. So, if you can’t create your perfect home office, it’s a good idea to communicate your boundaries with your roommate or family members and create a small nook that supports you in completing your goals.
For example, you can purchase an ergonomic chair, a great notepad where you write down your ideas, or you make sure you have tasty snacks nearby. In addition, you can also create a playlist that will motivate you to so stay focused on your work. In a nutshell, the way we interact with it can improve our overall performance, which is why it can be beneficial to make small adjustments in your area.
