As a freelance writer it is important to be comfortable at all times. While it can be difficult to stay comfortable if you work in an outside office, most freelance writers have the luxury of working at home. That being said, I receive regular emails from writers who are finding it difficult to settle in for one reason or the next.
There are three things that are very important to your comfort as a freelance writer:
1. The right temperature. If you are cold you will find it difficult to concentrate. To go along with this, have you ever tried typing when your hands, fingers, and wrists are cold? If so, you know just how difficult this can be. Of course, you can cause just as many problems if you become overheated. Do whatever it takes to keep a comfortable temperature at all times.
2. A comfortable chair. When I first started working as a freelance writer I was using an old wooden chair with a seat pad. This worked for a few months, but soon enough my back was cramping up midday and I was losing my concentration because of the discomfort. Shortly thereafter I purchased a large, padded chair for $75 and have been comfortable ever since. This may sound like a big purchase, but it is one you will definitely enjoy. Take it from me: this is not something you want to skimp on. Buy a quality office chair early in your career and it will keep you comfortable for years to come.
3. Make it easy to get what you need. All the supplies and documents that I need on a regular basis are kept within reaching distance. This includes highlighters, invoices, my printer and much more. You don’t want to find yourself leaving your desk on a regular basis; this will break your concentration.
How comfortable is your home office? If you follow the three tips above it is safe to say that your office will be comfortable, for the most part. And while many think a comfortable office is overrated, I can assure you this is not the case.
The best reason to get involved with freelance writing is because you enjoy writing and want to venture out on your own. But this is not the only reason that people look into this career path. Over the past few weeks I have come across many blog posts and articles stating that it is a good idea to become a freelance writer because of the low costs involved with getting started. While it is true that you can become a freelance writer without spending a lot of money, if this career is not something that excites you it will be difficult to achieve success.
I am not arguing that you can become a freelance writer on the cheap. In fact, you may be able to start your career by spending only a few dollars. If you already have a computer and internet connection you pretty much have what you need to get started. The only other expenses you may want to consider are office supplies, marketing material, and quite possibly your own website. But even then you can get all of this for less than $100.
The problem comes into play with people who decide to get into freelance writing solely because of the low cost of entry. Cost of getting started is an important factor, but far from the only one. You only want to get involved if you truly love writing, and of course, if you have the skills to offer clients what they are looking for. In other words, it would not be worth your time to look into this career if you don’t have any writing skills and have no desire to learn; even if you can get started for cheap.
All in all, you can become a freelance writer without spending a lot of money. To go along with this your regular expenses are not going to be that high either. Just make sure you want to become a freelance writer because you enjoy this line of work, not because you can get started without a large investment. Â
What does your home office look like? If you are a freelance writer there is a very good chance that you work at home. Although you want to make sure your home office is comfortable you need it to be organized as well. Over the years I have found that I am much more productive when working in an organized workspace.
If you are looking to set a goal for the new year why not base it around organizing your home office? Even if you are pretty well organized right now there is a good chance that you could do better if you try. For instance, my files are organized and all my paperwork is put away. But I could definitely stand to clear some things from my desk including old sticky notes and supplies that I hardly ever touch.
No matter how messy my home office becomes I have found one thing: it does not take a lot of time to restore some order. If you set aside one hour of time this weekend you can take your home office from messy and out of whack to extremely organized. It may not be your idea of fun, but an organized office will help you increase productivity. Do yourself a favor and organize your home office for the new year. You will not be disappointed with this decision!
