Ten tips to stay motivated July 27, 2009
Posted by Jill (@bonnjill) in Business practices.trackback
Freelance Folder has a really good post today called “Ten Tips to Stay Motivated – Even When You Really Don’t Feel Like Working. It comes at a really good time for me, because I am drowning in work and it is 80 degrees and sunny out – perfect summer weather if you ask me. I am also just a couple days from walking 60 miles in the Breast Cancer 3-Day. We start at 6 a.m. on Friday morning, so there won’t be a TGIF video this week. I’ve been suffering from lack of motivation for a little while now, which is why there also wasn’t a TGIF video last week. I just forgot in all the translating I’ve been doing. I am working on some legal documents that will probably end up being around 22,000 words once everything is said and done – and I started working on them on Thursday. The due date was today (yeah, right). The most likely date I deliver the files will be Thursday evening. The PM is aware of this and has given her okay. I wish I had read the aforementioned blog post last week. It might have really helped me stay on course. The basic tips are:
- Remind yourself of the reason that you freelance.
- Make sure that your work environment is comfortable.
- Change your work environment.
- Schedule breaks.
- Plan a reward for yourself.
- Alternate projects.
- Picture the work already completed.
- Have regular routine.
- Take care of your health.
- Develop a support group.
But I highly recommend reading the whole post for some new ideas.
Musings from an overworked translator 
Great post! And have a great time on the Walk too. I think these tips are great; sometimes when I’m feeling unmotivated I find that a really simple thing, like taking my laptop to a cafe and getting a fancy drink that I wouldn’t ordinarily order is just the ticket to get my energy going. I agree with them that the #1 motivator is having a job you enjoy and reminding yourself that you freelance because of the freedom!
I think the best part of this list is number 6…plan a reward for yourself. It is one thing to have a goal to achieve, but it is another to get rewarded. Keep up the great work