Biz Mindset: Performance and Bliss

So you never crave that 9-5 rhythm that guarantees you guilt work free evenings, sipping wine without spilling your keypad, again?
You happily work away days on end. Screeching cats, hungry husbands, and cute kids are just white noise for you?
Whatever real life might hold in store, it won’t compare to your newest project. So real life can take a number, thank you?
You never look up and realize the sun is shining; the birds are singing and you are locked up until this document is done, with the next project already in the loop?

This post is not for you.

If you DO feel like this freelance life feels like free falling sometimes, read on:

You’re a home office hero. You’re working with dragons and cats (essentially the same thing) and you boss yourself around daily.
Keeping up with the buzz while staying inspired and jubilant as a language professional slash accountant slash marketer slash secretary slash parent slash on your own can be … taxing. And then there are taxes. Ugh.

Here are some habits I picked up that help me make the most of my days, happy as a clam translator!

Flaunt your inner fox.
Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed? That’s YOU, my friend.
Whether you’re a morning miracle or an afternoon delight, one of the perks of being a freelancer is planning your (business) day around your inner clock and if that means binge-watching the night away and setting your alarm for noon, have at it.
But: whenever your alarm clock does ring, jump start! Get going, get showered, get into clean clothes.
Yoga attire or your favorite jeans and a shirt stating “I’m a translator, because …” were meant to be worn to your home office.
Last night’s pajama with the spaghetti stains? Not.
Also: if the doorbell rings with a noisy neighbor, the mailman or a customer (eeek!), you being sans cheez-its in your hair and fully dressed goes a long way towards feeling like the professional you are.

Treat/Feed yourself well.
Do you despise breakfast? That’s fine. Is black coffee your only friend? I hear you.
But try to make healthy choices for your body.
It’s your soul’s home and with all the screen time and sitting through your work days you’re putting it through a lot as is.
So, try to eat well. Yes, that means veggies, but no one said you have to eat them ALL. I for one live on tomatoes and avocados because I love them.
They’re easy and quick to prepare, they’re healthy and don’t tire out my body/buddy. If you’re a banana person, go for it. Mangos aren’t suited for working with a touchscreen? Dried ones are. Just try to keep your workplace healthy and light. Grab nourishing (and non-greasy) treats that will jumpstart your brain.
Hint: any kind of sugar will give a slight high with a big flat following suit while nuts and fresh fruit, along with lots of water, will keep you nourished and energized. I’m not trying to turn you into a raw vegan here. Savor the junk food during your Netflix binge-watching sessions, by all means.
During office hours, opt for foods that are all business and help enhance your performance.

Make your workplace all about you, you, and you.
Start by keeping (or designing) your office friendly and light. If you’re working from the kitchen table, have a (roller)shelf as your office and keep that as neat and beautiful as possible. Here are some examples of how I did it. I’d love to learn your ideas!

Surround yourself with things you enjoy looking at: framed pictures, a super cute calendar, potted plants.

Treat yourself to a gorgeous coffee mug and your favorite hot beverage to enjoy while working.
Needless to say: keep a bottle of water handy, always.

If you like working with music, keep a playlist just for work. Without distracting new lyrics or ads, your mind will be able to focus despite the “noise.”

Have a comfortable chair. I know they’re expensive.
Me, when I found my perfect sit (see what I did there?), I vowed that as soon as the next big project was over and done with and paid for, I’d get me that chair. And I did. I also use a sitting ball (hunt it down on eBay for around €25) and, bonus tip:

for extensive reading and CPD, I parked my favorite reading chair in my office. Now whenever a long night of research or studying lies ahead, I actually look forward to reading time with a kitten on my lap in a chair that is so, so comfy!

Also, I bought and built a shelf all by myself and decorated it with some inspiring and motivating quotes in picture frames, that way making my workspace even more “me.” Not to mention that my office wall is plastered with favorite images and pics and postcards I received from lovely colleagues (I LOVE postcards! Don’t you?).

My favorite color is jade, and I try to surround myself with it. Since it’s crisp and fresh, I used it in my office only. All this so entering the workplace becomes a morning favorite, even on Mondays.

A plan, a place, a purpose.
It goes without saying: your mind might love creative chaos but if it’s the end of the month (or year) and you still don’t know what you owe in taxes: that’s a dangerous stress enhancer.
I try (!) to do my accounting once a week, with a monthly scheduled, non-negotiable punch-and-file session. Also, I’ve made it a habit to always empty receipts and invoices into ONE box, so I don’t have to hunt for them, ever.
Remember my DIY shelf? It holds all my project related files, marketing books, dictionaries, research stuff and so on, color-coded and clearly labeled. If I find an interesting read from a colleague or a book on language, I add it to the shelf to enjoy during my breaks. I realized early on that nothing interrupts my creative train of thought like clutter. That includes my RL office as well as my cloud storage and my desktop, along with smartphone screens. Speaking of which: Being organized includes setting up apps and tools to help you stay on top of things. Automate what you can to clear your mind and schedule for actual business tasks!

Don’t fall into the homemaker-trap.
Are you the sole housework warrior? If you can’t get a cleaner (yet), plan those tasks for a particular day or schedule daily for a specific time slot. Treat chores like you would a dentist appointment.  1 pm to 2:30 pm: dishes, vacuum, a load of laundry into the washer.
Then: stop. You’re an entrepreneur, and one of your goals could be to hire a cleaner. Think of the money you’ll save because you’re actually working and earning. Your academic training, certifications, CPD, and talent will pay off if you make and keep your job a priority.

If I realized it, you can realize it: It’s ok to have a cleaning lady. 🙂

Schedule breaks and RL.
Keep a diary and plan events that take you out of the house, just like you plan your client projects, skype-meetings, and CPD. Enjoy what freelancing ALSO is: freedom from 9-5. All the late night shifts you did? Compensate!
Take care of your social needs. Pamper yourself. Get a haircut, a manicure, stroll through the city or hike the woods on a Friday morning.

Find your rhythm.
You’ll want to figure out your personal feelgood schedule, fitting your biological rhythm and (hello!) your core clientele’s business hours.
Me, I adapted what I learned from training Iceland horses. To keep their rides fresh and comfortable throughout the day, riders in Iceland will work them for 50 minutes straight, then let the horses graze and rest for 10 minutes.
Translated into a workday that means 50 minutes of up and at them, no distractions. Then 10 minutes of break away from the screen(!): stretching, enjoying the afternoon sun in my garden or playing fetch with my dog.
After five of those cycles between 7 am and noon I make time for an extended lunch break. I take a long walk with the dog or a nap, followed by zero to five-time-two more cycles, depending on workload.

Finally: Learn to let go.
Still a bit overwhelmed? I hear you and I’ve been there. Until I had a kind of revelation: I’m in this for the fun and the clients and the thrill of the pitch.

Bookkeeping and building the technical side of things, on the other hand, are time killers for me. Admin tasks take me forever. They burn energy and drive I’d rather spent marketing (big surprise) or writing copy.

So I vowed to do more of what I love and outsource or delegate the rest*. And I lived happily ever after.

*  Much like you can hire The Biz Muses to take care of your marketing and pitch materials, your legal documents and corporate design. Our team of creative geniuses has one of every kind and we’d love to lighten your load and help you thrive.