How to stay motivated (using actual science)

There’s no getting away from it, leaving a 9-to-5 job and dipping my toe in the freelancer water is a tricky business. Not only am I trying to build a Copywriting business from scratch (welcome to my website by the way, so glad you could join me...) but I also have the spinning plates of VoiceOver work, writing a sitcom and seeking out some kind of steady revenue stream that means I won’t be forced to live in a bin.

I’d be lying if I said all of the above hadn’t been overwhelming, but after some CBT sessions (#thankyouNHS), supportive chats with other freelancers, and a three quid roll of paper, I think I am finally starting to get to grips with managing my new lifestyle in a way that keeps me motivated and positive, even on those days when all I want to do is hide under the duvet watching Love Island and eating Choco Leibniz.

Whether you’re a freelancer, a PAYE-er, or simply have an in-tray full of life admin, below are some of the things I’ve learned that might help you to stay motivated when it all feels a little bit too much...

Let’s get visual, visual

If you’re anything like me, having multiple tasks on your to-do list can be overwhelming. My brain flits from one to the next, to the next, until (you guessed it) I don’t make progress with any of them. (Fun fact: studies have shown that multitasking increases error rates, lowers the quality of your work, and can cause burnout. Not my words, Lynn, the words of Psychology Today).

I have found that having a visual aid in front of me (in my case the aforementioned three quid roll of paper - see image above) stops my brain going into overdrive and enables me to remain task-focused. Once you’ve tackled everything on the list, simply whack the paper in the recycling, pour yourself a celebratory fizzy Vimto and bask in your new-found productivity.

Know your limits!

We all have a finite amount of energy, drive and willpower in the working day, and it’s important to check-in with yourself and ask are you actually being productive or are you really just sitting in front of a laptop thinking about Choco Leibniz.

In my dim-and-distant 20s, I once got ‘let go’ from a horrendous temp job after exclaiming to my manager Clive at 5.30pm on a Friday ‘I’m pretty sure nobody will die if these spreadsheets aren’t updated before I leave today’. To my knowledge, nobody did, however as a result of this comment I was politely but firmly asked to never darken their doors again.

Had Clive read this article, he would have known that completing a work task when tired makes it significantly more likely that mistakes will be made (and therefore more work hours will be used to correct them!)

As a new freelancer, it’s all too easy to listen to the Clive voice in your head, telling you you’re not doing enough, pushing yourself when exhausted, and generally making you feel anxious and guilty. However, if the work you’re producing is low quality and not representative of your skills and abilities, then it’s not a good use of your time and won’t successfully generate work.

Clive also should have considered wearing deodorant, but that’s another matter.

Treat Yo’self!

As ‘The Shining’ taught us, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. (His version of ‘dull’ involves far more axe-wielding than mine does, but each to their own…) Whilst I wouldn’t usually look to a murderous caretaker for inspirational quotes , he does actually have a point…

In 2018, Cornell University shared this study which showed that the incorporation of rewards increases enjoyment and interest in a work task (like, duh).

Building small rewards into your working day (as opposed to far-off rewards such as ‘I’m really looking forward to that winter break I’ve booked at the Overlook Hotel…’) can be hugely beneficial in keeping you motivated and focused. Find a small thing that gives you a boost (playing with a kitten, staring lovingly at James Norton’s instagram, eating a Choco Leibniz etc) and allow yourself a little bit of treat time - all of a sudden, that finance spreadsheet will feel like a day at Alton Towers!*

*studies have definitely not shown this