tips for working solo
i've been working solo for 2 years now and here are some of the tips i have for managing my very unstructured work days:
- break out of the 9 to 5: this might seem obvious, but remember that you don’t have to work the traditional 9 to 5!!! it took me a long time to break out of this habit. i would sit at my desk most of the day trying “to work” even when i was not feeling productive. some days, i work for 1 hour, other days 8+ hours.
- take advantage of the flexibility: with such a flexible schedule, i’ve been able to attend free concerts, go to museums at off-hours, and run errands all during the middle of the day.
- design your schedule based on how you work: for me, my productivity spikes in the morning (7 to 11am) and right before a deadline. to create deadlines, i’ll often schedule workshops, so that i have to finish material i’m procrastinating.
- change your scenery: i’ve learned that i often need a change of scenery especially in the middle of the day. visiting cafes and libraries or taking a break by walking through the park really help.
- make your own coworkers: as a fairly extroverted person, one of the hardest parts about working solo is not collaborating with people in the work day. i try to schedule at least one co-working session with a friend or two each week