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Freelancing is an incredible opportunity for many people, one which hasn’t historically been an option for anyone outside of a select few industries. But, with the creation of the internet and all the vast improvements in communication, as well as all of the jobs which have been created as a direct result of the flourishing tech field, there are now a whole host of jobs that can be completed for very good money from the comfort of your bedroom. There’s no doubting then that freelancing is an excellent thing. However, while many people who are engaged in office-based 9-5 employment might look on enviously, freelancing does have its considerable downsides, one of which is difficulties relating to mental health. As a career path that is, in most cases, quite isolated, freelancing can also amplify any problems an individual might have already had with their mental health. Knowing what problems you might face and how to deal with them can also be challenging. So, without further delay, let’s look at the issues you might encounter as a freelancer concerning your mental health. Screen TimeAs mentioned above, so much of the reason freelancing has bloomed in the past 20 years is due to the development of technology that has paved the way for more opportunities. From internet and tech-oriented jobs like web design or software development to jobs as seemingly analog as writing relies on working with technology. This mostly means interacting with online bosses, third-party employment sites, and your work tools are a laptop or desktop monitor screen. Now, office work usually relies on computers as well. Still, there is a turn in the corporate world of actively encouraging and enforcing healthy attitudes and behaviors amongst employees in the office that doesn’t exist in the freelancer’s bedroom. Plus, the dependency on computers as the only way to interact is an enormous part of the freelancer’s life. Screen time has been seen to affect anything from eyesight to, you guessed it, mental health. Screen usage has been linked to impacts on the body clock, the brain's addiction areas, and the brain’s overall chemistry. This can be very damaging for freelancers in the long run since so much work depends on screen usage. If at all possible, you should be looking to limit how much you look at and use screens. Even if you have to work on them all day, maybe cut out the nightly movies or Netflix binges and replace them with listening to music or going for a walk. IsolationFreelance work typically involves not being in an office, it’s the very nature of it. This is a massive advantage for certain people, and I’m sure many office workers can attest to how annoying they find their co-workers. However, most people aren’t consciously aware of the massive psychological benefits of interacting with others. For a freelancer, who isn’t married and lives alone, maybe who even get groceries delivered to their door, there is a high chance that what starts as a perk of the job turns into a cripplingly isolationist outlook. This, in turn, can easily become crippling loneliness, which can sometimes turn to depression. This is not to say that this is guaranteed at all. Some people enjoy being alone, and freelancing lets them choose their interactions. Still, some may perceive this as their natural introversion, but it is actually the effect of being alone so often. If you’ve opted out of weekend get-togethers or actively avoid calls and texts from friends and families, it might be worth stopping and asking yourself if the freelance lifestyle is causing you to shrink away from the world and look for what you can do about that. No Work-Life DivideNot having to go to the office is great, there’s no denying that. Putting on your slippers and working on the couch is comfortable, easy, and takes the edge off the work you have to do, making it all the more palatable. But there is a downside to smudging the home life and work divide. When you work from home, the work day never ends unless you regiment yourself. It never really begins either, and the weekends can become the same as weekdays. If you’re not careful, you can start to feel trapped by your work, with nothing to look forward to beyond an overwhelming amount of work. The structure that normal office life can afford can be a valuable tool without most people realizing it. It divides your life in a way that stops you from becoming burnt out from too much work or lethargic from too much leisure. Lack Of Job SecurityOne of the obvious downsides to freelancing is that you constantly have to make your own opportunities. Some people like being able to take their careers into their own hands like that, but for others, it’s a significant burden that anyone employed at a company with a regular schedule and a monthly paycheck doesn’t run into. For most freelancers, there will be dry seasons and fruitful periods. This can bread a lack of career security which, in turn, can lead down the road towards anxiety. Fear can creep in about failing, about not finding the work to pay the next month’s rent, which can be a terrifying spiral for some people. ConclusionDespite the rosy exterior and all of the people who will tell you how good you’ve got it, mental health is a massive issue in freelance work and one which goes undiscussed far too much. To avoid running into these troubles, the most important thing is to monitor yourself and find someone to talk to if things start going south. Jenny Han is a freelance writer and blogger at BigAssignments and Studydemic. She loves writing about freelance lifestyle. She also is a proofreader at TopCanadianWriters. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2022/08/30/all-the-mental-health-challenges-faced-by-freelancers/
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Have you ever wondered how women balance their lives as moms, employees, and potential freelancers? While a company can show appreciation to employees by giving them hybrid schedules, it’s still up to a mom to ensure they have time for everything. Juggling responsibilities is a gargantuan task that needs precision skills. Regardless, women can have it all - sometimes even better than men. As long as you have a good support network and know these easy hacks, you should get more out of your career and your home life all at once. Stick To A Predictable Working ScheduleWhen it comes to your career, a flexible schedule can be effective in giving you more time for yourself. However, when you have a household to handle, an easy, predictable schedule you can stick to can be more valuable. It takes a bit of a challenge to align everything, but it should work out nicely once you get everything in check. The best time to start work is whatever time your child goes out for school, usually around early in the morning. If you have a flexible schedule, setting up once the kids are out of the picture gives you enough time to do your thing. Before starting, you can also set other things running in the background, so you don’t lose time on chores. Get something going on your oven, or turn the laundry timer on so you can use them as natural breaks. Relax at lunch break and get as much rest as you can get in between. Having younger children or infants can be a bit more challenging because of their broken schedules. The best time to work is during a nap or bedtime, depending on your specific needs. Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For HelpAs a mom, you’re the primary caregiver of your family. You need the emotional support of your spouse, partner, family, and friends. However, you need to have everyone pitch in regarding household chores. As a mom, you know that asking for help is a must. This is especially true when taking care of your household and kids. You can delegate your chores to your partner, family members, neighbors, or friends, depending on your needs. Don’t forget that asking for help can also mean asking for favors. Your partner, for instance, could cook dinner for you or help with the laundry on weekends. You can do the same for them when they need it. Most families have hired a maid or cleaning services to maintain their house. Use that to your advantage so you can have more time for yourself. This route doesn’t require much effort, and you can always throw in tasks when you have time. Meal Prep On The WeekendsEating healthy on a budget can be expensive, especially if you’re a mom. Feeding the best food for your kids means making much of it from scratch. You have to worry about getting the right ingredients, cooking, serving, and cleaning up after. If you meal prep on the weekends, you can cut down on cost and time, both you almost don’t have during the weekdays. Start by cooking heaping portions of your favorite healthy meals. Store them in the freezer so you can reheat them throughout the week. You can also cook dishes in bulk and portion them out to store in the freezer. Create A WorkspaceWhether you work full-time or part-time, you need a dedicated workspace in your home, especially if you’re a freelancer. Working from home while having your own time can be good, but you need to be in a place where you can get things done. Set up an area in your house where you can work comfortably. Get a dedicated desk and chair. Don’t ever work on the couch or bed, no matter how tempting it might look. Working from the bed is one thing, but working from the couch can make you feel unproductive. You can always use your kitchen table as a makeshift office if you don't have enough space. Just make sure to keep the kids away from the area and away from your computer. Be There When Your Family Needs YouAs a mom, you should always be there for your loved ones. While this can be tiring, it’s what being a mom is all about. Spending time with yourself, your partner, and your family is rewarding, especially during milestone events. You should be there for them when you’re in the sweet spot. When your kids need you, you need to be there for them. The same goes when your spouse needs you and vice versa. Prioritizing your family’s needs and your own, you’re giving yourself a break and ensuring your loved ones’ happiness. Having a support network can also help when it comes to your work life. You don’t have to do everything alone. While balancing work and life can be mighty challenging, you can do it as long as you have the right people behind you. Don’t Forget To Escape And Pamper YourselfBeing a mom is a rewarding job, but it can also be draining. Some moms choose to quit their jobs so they can spend more time with their families. While every mother is different, it’s never too late for you to make work-life improvements. Since you’re juggling many things, setting aside time for yourself is essential. This can mean taking long walks to get a breath of fresh air, shopping at the mall, or taking a spa day. Going to the mall or getting your hair done can be your way to relax and pamper yourself. It can be during nap time or after your child goes to bed. You can put your kids to bed and go out for an hour while your partner watches them. You can also indulge in a spa treatment every once in a while. Final ThoughtsBeing a working mom and career woman is tough, but it’s not impossible. Your family depends on you, so you always need to be there for them. While you have a career to take care of, you also have your family to tend to. If you prioritize your responsibilities, you can do both work and home life at the same time. Remember that you have your spouse, partner, family, and friends to help you out. Don’t take everything yourself, and know that building a sturdy support network can ultimately pay dividends. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2022/08/29/how-women-can-have-it-all-be-a-mom-employee-and-freelancer-while-having-a-life/
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On August 24th, President Biden announced his administration’s plans to cancel up to $20,000 in federal student loans in his three-part plan to ease the burden of student debt, stemming in part from the pandemic-caused economic crisis. While this policy will help many and we are excited to see movement on alleviating the overwhelming student debt crisis in the U.S., it falls short of the original promise to forgive all student loan debt and we still believe it is not enough. We will continue advocating to ensure all of our members receive the relief they need to be free from student debt. We’re here to break it down for you and tell you everything you need to know about the debt cancellation program. Who Qualifies?
Are Independent Contractors Eligible?
What Student Loans are Eligible for Debt Forgiveness?
Will You have to Pay Taxes on the Cancelled Debt?
When and Where Can You Apply?
How Will This Change Student Loan Payments Going Forward?
What is Income-Driven Repayment?
What is the Limited-Time Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program?
Find More Informationvia Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2022/08/26/what-freelancers-need-to-know-about-president-bidens-student-loan-relief-program/
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The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was just passed by the U.S. senate and is expected to be signed into law this week. When this happens, there will be some notable tax changes. Here is a summary of the ones with the most significance for freelance business owners: 1. Enhanced IRS enforcement could increase your risk of an audit.The IRA has big time funding for the IRS to the tune of a $3.1 billion to increase for IRS taxpayer services, $45.7 billion for IRS enforcement, $25 billion for IRS operations support and $4.7 billion for IRS technology upgrades. This means the IRS is going to have more resources than they have in almost thirty years directed at ensuring no taxpayer is left behind (or able to hide) at least for very long. Not only could the full court IRS press mean more audits of small businesses, expedited action for late or non-payment of taxes with fines and penalties, it is likely also to mean that the IRS will be able to monitor online app sales, cryptocurrency transactions, and other less regulated business transactions with enhanced technology expressly for this purpose. The bottom line is that as a freelancer with a business, you definitely need to be upfront in reporting all income as well as be meticulous in your recordkeeping. 2. More tax credits for energy-efficient purchases including new and used electric cars.The new law, when enacted, has a far-reaching and expansive list of tax credits to support energy-efficiency and climate preservation measures such as:
If you’ve been thinking about making upgrades to your home for energy efficiency or purchasing an electric vehicle, then now may be the time to do it based on the tax incentives included in the IRA. However, there are a few finer points to be aware of on the qualifications for the electric vehicle tax credits:
3. Health insurance subsidies under the ACA are extended.The Act includes an extension of the temporarily expanded health insurance subsidies, originally instituted as part of the American CARES Act (ACA) as tax credits, that were put in place for 2021 and 2022 as part of Covid relief. There are more generous subsidies in the Act which remain available through the end of 2025. If you are self-employed and are getting your health insurance through the government health insurance exchanges with subsidies, then you should be able to avoid any significant premium increase, all else being equal in terms of your coverage, etc. 4. An increase in R&D tax credits against Medicare taxes.As you may be aware, businesses can claim research and development tax credits against income tax that is based on their qualified research expenses of up to $250,000. The IRA would allow a small business, defined as a business with less than $5 million in gross receipts and that is under five years old, to apply for up to another $250,000 of the research credit toward its Medicare Hospital Insurance tax for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2022. The credit cannot exceed the tax imposed for any calendar quarter, with unused amounts of the credit carried forward. The total available R & D tax credit is $500,000 if a business qualifies with their activities. Under the previous R&D credit, businesses had the option to apply their tax against the Social Security portion of payroll taxes and this new credit provision has been expanded it to include the Medicare portion of payroll taxes. Stay tuned for more updates on the Inflation Reduction Act and any changes enacted before it is signed into law. The majority of these changes are anticipated to be effective for the tax year starting January 1, 2023. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2022/08/25/four-key-tax-changes-for-freelancers-in-the-new-inflation-reduction-act/
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You can view TikTok as a channel where mostly funny and entertaining videos get popular and reach millions of views. But here is the thing — it can also become a great tool in the hands of a freelancer like you trying to promote their small business. While many might consider TikTok as a channel dominated mostly by teenagers, it’s not really the case. Over 32% of the TikTok audience is between 25 and 34 years old, which can also be the target audience for your freelance services. So how can this channel help you find new clients? We’ll explain in this article. Benefits of using TikTok for a freelancerTikTok presents many benefits to freelancers who want to reach their potential clients. The benefits add up and help create a stronger brand that directly translates into more leads and clients. Let’s take a look at some of them. Grow your brandBy creating TikTok videos, you can build awareness about your services and expertise and, as a result, strengthen your personal brand. Imagine you are a wedding photographer. By sharing behind-the-scenes content on photo making and postproduction, you can showcase your skills and the value you deliver to clients. Over time, more people will get interested in your content and your channel will grow in size. By becoming more recognizable and trusted as an expert, you can easily attract clients both from TikTok and from outside this social media channel. Share your expertiseBy sharing expert tips on TikTok, you can build an expert image and attract the audience that needs your services. If you specialize in interior design projects, sharing tips on matching colors like in the video below can get the attention of people who are planning a home refurbishment. To attract the right audience, you have to carefully think through the tips and video topics that could be useful for the people who have a high buying intent and are actively looking for an interior designer. While it might not be easy to get them to buy your services right away, a consistent approach to social media management using tools like SocialBee and a pre-planned TikTok publishing schedule can nurture them into clients relatively fast. Educate your clientsTikTok videos can help educate your audience on the value you can deliver as a freelancer. Here is why it’s important — some of the leads might not be ready to buy or don’t even know that they have a certain problem you can help solve. By using video content, you can increase their awareness about a problem they have and the solutions you can deliver. For example, if you are a dietitian working as a freelancer, you can create short videos explaining the negative impact of sugar on people’s health. This way, you would educate your followers on the problem they might have and raise their awareness about it. Once they are ready for change, they will reach out to you directly to start using your services. Look more authenticBy recording entertaining videos, you can easily show your personality and build a bond with your online audience. Imagine your fans feel like they have known you for ages despite never meeting you in person. Video content can better establish rapport than text. That’s because by watching a video people can see your emotions, gestures, and posture, so it might feel like they are getting to know you better over time. Apart from recording solo videos, you can also share your client’s reviews about your services. Sharing such videos helps establish more trust with your fans and, according to experts like Reputation Rhino, helps with online reputation management. As a result, you can get more projects coming out of your activity on TikTok. To learn how to create videos with embedded client testimonials, check out this TikTok video. How to stand out as a freelancer on TikTok?Video marketing is on the rise and has been an emerging social media trend for a few years in a row. Similar to video popups, videos on TikTok can be used to grab user attention, nurture leads, and convert them into clients. Let’s see how you can start using it to land more clients. Make your videos engagingTo get people to react to your videos and engage with them, use the wide range of editing options that TikTok offers to its users — basic transitions and jump cuts are among the simplest. Apart from the editing options, you can also experiment with different creative video formats, among which are social media challenges, a dance, and a makeover video, to name just a few. Check out this video to get an idea of a makeover video as a popular TikTok video format. Communicate end resultsBy showing what results you have helped your clients achieve, you can get your leads’ trust with flying colors. While sharing expert tips and recording entertaining videos help nurture leads, showing case studies with “before” and “after” states help sell your services. For example, if you are a PPC expert specializing in launching Google Ads campaigns, you can record a video mentioning what issue your client came to you with and the ROI you have managed to achieve for them. Share expert tipsSharing expert tips won’t help land dozens of clients right away, but it will help warm up leads that can potentially use your services in the future. For example, if you are a graphic designer, you can share tips on creating social media posts in less than 5 minutes. To create informative videos with expert tips, you should first start with the strategy for your TikTok video plan — write down the topic ideas, briefly note what each video should contain, and improvise when recording them. This way, your videos will look more authentic and attract a wider audience. When iterating on your TikTok video plan, you might want to collect feedback from your followers. By treating their opinion seriously, you can improve your videos and make huge progress on video creation and formatting. You can also ask your audience about what video topics they would prefer to get covered. By recording videos on the suggested topics, you will create engaging content that will hook your audience from the first seconds. Cooperate with influencersUsing TikTok influencer marketing will help speed up the growth of your channel. Instead of spending years creating a popular TikTok channel, you can cooperate with the influencers in your niche that have already grown their audience. To start working with influencers, you don’t have to dedicate a huge marketing budget for TikTok activities. You can start small and work with micro-influencers who won’t charge you a fortune for a mini-campaign or might even agree to a barter deal. Perhaps there are some channels that you find engaging and are currently following with which you can start cooperation right away — just drop them a message and ask if they would be interested in a barter deal. Use TikTok advertisementTiktok advertising can be another way to reach your target audience. It can give your content a significant boost even if you have just started your channel and don’t have a big following. Remember that starting with TikTok advertisements requires a minimum budget of $500 per campaign, so if you can’t spend this sum, it’s worth considering other ways to promote your brand. If you have made a decision to test TikTok ads, you can choose among various formats such as TopView ads (ads that appear in TikTok’s feed when a user logs into their account) or InFeed ads (a standard ad format on TikTok). Summing upTikTok has gained popularity over the last few years. While many people would associate this channel with funny videos created by the users representing Generation Z, TikTok has also a huge business potential for freelancers. They can use it as a tool to show their talents and skills to followers and, as a result, attract attention to their offerings. When planning your TikTok strategy, it’s worth testing different approaches step-by-step and implementing different techniques one-by-one, so you can find out which one works the best and makes a positive impact on your channel growth. Hopefully, you can do that better and faster with the tips we have shared in this article. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2022/08/24/can-tiktok-help-you-grow-your-freelance-business/
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Are you a people pleaser, a workhorse, a doer of all "the things"? You’re not alone. One of the biggest challenges I see freelancers and creative business owners struggle with (and I put myself in this category too) is trying to do too many things for too many people. We want to help our clients. We tell ourselves that just because we can do the things they’re asking for, we should. We want to say Yes. Saying yes to everything that's asked might seem like a small thing. “It’ll just take 10 minutes,” or “I can just do this thing for them, it’s easy for me,” we say. But these small acts add up. And before you know it, you’re overextended, under-compensated, and too damn busy and exhausted to focus on growing your own business. The result: you try and do too many things, spread yourself too thin, and the quality of your life and creative output plummets. When you say “Yes” to someone else’s needs, you say “No” to your own need for expansion, recognition, and growth. Sit with that for a moment. If you:
You may be unwittingly sacrificing your own desire for freedom, fulfillment, and income for the demands and needs of clients who don’t know any better. So, if trying to please everyone isn’t the way to build a profitable and fulfilling creative business, what is? Narrow Your FocusThe answer to a more efficient, fulfilling, and profitable creative business is rarely to do more. It’s to do less, only better. If this concept appeals, but you don’t know how to put it into practice, read on for a simple rule (and how to apply it) that will change your business game. The beauty of the golden rule I’m about to share is that it works for everyone. As the parent of a neurodivergent kid and a coach-in-training for folks with ADHD, I appreciate that focus means different things (and poses various challenges) for different people. It is less about meeting an externally defined ideal productive state and more about how you can bring your attention back to what’s important to YOU. And because focusing on what is important is not a one-and-done thing but something we do with every choice, we need a simple rule to help remind and redirect our attention. The Rule of ThreeThe Rule of Three is a commitment to define and focus on no more than three things at any time. Put differently, there are three, and there are too many. Here are three areas (see what I did there?) you can apply this rule: 1) Have no more than three goals you are actively working towards Got a million goals and priorities? Or maybe your goals look more like a never-ending to-do list. Or perhaps you’re so busy working in your business that you forgot to set any goals, priorities, or commitments in the first place. Wherever you land, it’s all good. Take the opportunity now to either review your goals or set some. This exercise can be as straightforward or as involved as you want (my vote is with simple). Just be sure to have no more than three things you will devote your precious resources of time, creativity, and energy on. 2) Have no more than three ideal client segments Whether you have established client profiles or have operated under the premise of “any client is a good client,” a regular review of the clients you’ve worked with over the last year or so is always a great idea. Here’s how: list them any way you want to (spreadsheet, notebook – just keep it simple) and write down what the project entailed, how much you got paid, what you enjoyed, and what you didn’t. Now give each client or project a grade. What do the A’s and B’s have in common? What do the C’s, D’s, and F’s have in common? Congratulations, you now have a clearer idea about who makes an ideal client for you. Focus ALL your time, energy, and brainpower on connecting with those people from now on! 3) Have no more than three core services or offerings Got a services page that reads like a dinner menu? You’re not alone! In my opinion, having too many services is what puts the biggest strain on our focus, energy, operations, and boundaries. Using the insight you gleaned from #2, identify the projects where you were (a) most creatively engaged (b) most respected and valued by the client, and (c) paid for the value you deliver. Now look for the opposite: the projects where you were (a) creatively unfulfilled (b) driven bananas by the client (c) paid based upon hours rather than value. Offer ONLY the services where you are in your zone of genius, can deliver outstanding results, and are most profitable. By applying these tips, you’ll be on your way to ending the people-pleasing trap! via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2022/08/22/the-people-pleasing-trap-and-how-to-break-out-of-it/
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[unable to retrieve full-text content] Scammers often pose as the IRS to steal taxpayers’ personal information. They may reach out through fraudulent phone calls, emails, texts or social media messagesvia Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2022/08/18/knowing-how-the-irs-contacts-taxpayers-can-help-protect-people-from-scammers/
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This post is provided by our partner, MetroPlusHealth. Find affordable health plans for New Yorkers of all ages from MetroPlusHealth. If you spend hours each day working at a computer screen or other devices with screens, you may suffer from symptoms of eye strain. Eye strain is a common problem, but you can take steps to reduce your discomfort. What is eye strain?Eye strain is a set of symptoms caused by overworked eyes. The most common symptoms of eye strain include:
Adjusting your computer workstationYou can make changes to your computer screen to help reduce your eye discomfort and fatigue. Position your workstation to reduce strain. Make sure to:
Reduce screen glare with these steps:
Other tips:
Getting prescription lenses for computer useOne of the easiest ways to prevent eye strain is to see a vision specialist. You may need prescription eyeglasses for computer use. Prescription lenses correct vision problems and can increase your comfort while at the computer. The type of lenses that work best for you will depend on your needs. Choices include:
Talk with your eye healthcare provider about your daily computer use and vision needs to find which type of lens will work best for you. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2022/08/17/preventing-eye-strain-at-the-computer/
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One of the best things about being a freelancer is the opportunity to work from anywhere. If you have the “travel bug” or you just want to see the world, you can make a living on the road and experience a new place almost every day. While that lifestyle seems exciting and adventurous, it’s not for everyone. If you’re considering working from and living on the road as a freelancer, you must first decide if it’s the best move for you personally and professionally. From there, you’ll have to put some things in place to manage your work-life balance effectively. So, are you ready to hit the road, or should you keep working from a permanent location? The Decision-Making DilemmaAs a freelancer, you have to make choices every day. You’re essentially your own small business, which means you’re in charge of everything, from finances to marketing and everything in between. When you choose to live and work on the road, even more decisions come into play. You’ll need to consider things like:
If you don’t have strong decision-making skills, life on the road might not be for you. It could end up adding more stress to your daily routine and distract you from your work. However, if you know you have the skills to make decisions and need a little guidance, consider using a decision model that works for you. The Vroom-Yetton model, for example, focuses on three factors:
Using this framework or another model, you can break down the decision-making process and have an easier time determining how to prioritize your work each day. Managing Your MotivationThere’s a lot of flexibility that comes with being a freelancer. Many people working in the gig economy get to set their own hours, take on as much (or as little) work as they want, and decide on the clients they want to work with. While those are all significant benefits, being a freelancer also takes a lot of discipline. It can be challenging to stay motivated when you have that much freedom — especially when you’re on the road. When traveling, it’s all too easy to get distracted by new destinations and fun experiences. To manage your motivation, try the following tips when working on the go.
Having a daily routine can also help with both productivity and motivation. Try to establish healthy sleeping habits, stay physically active, and do what you can to strike a healthy work-life balance. This will help you avoid feeling burnt out by the work you have to do each day. Working and Living On the RoadIn addition to staying motivated while traveling as a freelancer, it’s essential to take advantage of some of the benefits. After all, one of the perks of traveling should be the ability to see the world! Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for freelancers to feel bogged down by everything they have to do. Remember, you’re a business. That means you must deal with your finances, keep up with clients, and constantly ensure you have enough work to get by. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, and if you aren’t careful, you’ll end up working more than you should. Not only will that make you resent your career, but it doesn’t allow for a healthy work-life balance. Set yourself up for success when working and living on the road. Make sure you have the right tools to help you be as efficient as possible, including a powerful laptop, reliable power source, and cloud-based storage. Anything you can use to make your work life easier will benefit your arrangement's “life” side. The rest is up to you. Consider having strict working hours during the day and cutting yourself off from doing any more when those hours are up. Or commit to exploring your current location at least once a day. Chances are, you chose a nomadic lifestyle for a reason. If you aren’t taking advantage of it, you could end up regretting that choice.
via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2022/08/15/working-from-the-road-as-a-freelancer-is-it-right-for-you/
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This post is provided by our partner, MetroPlusHealth. Find affordable health plans for New Yorkers of all ages from MetroPlusHealth. Everyone has stress and feels its effects. Short-term effects of stress include headaches, shallow breathing, trouble sleeping, anxiety, and an upset stomach. Long-term (chronic) stress can increase your risk for heart disease, back pain, depression, constant muscle aches and pains, and a weak immune system. Chronic stress can affect your emotions and behavior. It makes you grouchy, impatient, less enthusiastic about your job, and depressed. To keep stress at a minimum and reduce its effects on your life, research shows it is helpful to find and practice healthy ways to manage it. Try these methods to see what works best for you. Take a breathStart by sitting up straight. Breathe in so your rib cage expands, and then breathe out slowly. Breathing in this way relaxes muscles. This helps to reduce tension. It also reduces the likelihood of muscle and back pain. You can focus on a word, a mantra, or even your breath by focusing on your nostrils. Feel the breath coming in and going out. What you're trying to do is put the focus on something other than your problems. Do this for 10 to 20 minutes, twice a day. Relax slowlySit or lie down, if you can, and close your eyes. Starting at your head, tense your face by clenching your teeth and furrowing your brow. Hold the tension for 5 seconds, then release it. Next, tense your shoulders by bringing them up to your ears. Hold for 5 seconds, then release. Tense your arm muscles and hold for 5 seconds, then release. Continue to tighten and release each group of muscles in your body until you reach your toes. Focus on the warmth and heaviness of your body as you relax. Breathe gently for a few moments, and then open your eyes. VisualizeSit or lie down and close your eyes. For 5 to 10 minutes, imagine you're in a place you love. This may be the beach, the mountains, or the house you grew up in. Breathe slowly and deeply as you imagine what you see, feel, hear, taste, and smell in your special place. Be patientBe patient with yourself and with this process. It's important to find a method that works for you on an ongoing basis, not just when your life is out of control. Doing this regularly can give you a place of calm to return to when the going gets rough. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2022/08/12/relaxation-methods-that-really-work/ |
AuthorI have 5+ years experience working as a medical transcriptionist. When I am not working, I enjoy sports like playing basketball or judo. I love making friends and connections. Archives
April 2023
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