Freelancing comes with an assortment of benefits. If you work for yourself, you’re in control. You can work when you want to work, and stop when you don’t. But, like everyone else, you’ll have some days when you just don’t feel productive. Don’t panic. There are ways around it. Here’s how we suggest you get more work done right now.

1) Unplug

When you’re working, create a distraction free environment. For most of us, this means switching off mobile phones and logging out of social media. If you need your phone for work purposes, try switching off irrelevant and distracting notifications, using ‘do not disturb’ settings, or switching to airplane mode when you aren’t expecting important calls.

If the temptation to check Facebook is too strong, consider deleting the app from your phone and using productivity plugins on your web browser to temporarily block yourself from accessing the social network.

Finally, let those around you know you’re not to be distracted.

2) Take Breaks

Although you should avoid distracting websites for most of your working day, balance is important. In some situations, taking a break every 45 minutes leads to greater productivity. This is known as the 45/15 rule. As the name suggests, after every 45 minutes of work, you can reward yourself with a quarter of an hour of down time. There are other variations of the rule. For example, enjoying 45 minutes of creative activity followed by 15 minutes of unappealing administrative work. Finding a cycle that works for you can have great benefits, and will allow you to get more work done.

3) Tune in

Once you’ve made a distraction-free work environment, it’s time to really plug in to your work. Music might help you tune in, but it also might not. The present understanding seems to be that music aids productivity in mundane or repetitive jobs. If you’re packing boxes, assembling parts or stacking shelves, having something to listen to keeps you stimulated and helps prevent boredom, in turn allowing you to get more done. If your work requires conscious thought, say writing emails or scheduling social media posts, music is just another distraction. In these cases, even if you would enjoy listening to music, silence = getting more work done.

The best strategy here is to think about the tasks you’re working on. If they’re repetitive, play music. If they require a little thought, don’t.

You can also incorporate music into the 45/15 rule for an extra productivity boost. Listening during your 15 minute break can boost performance in the proceeding 45 minutes of work.

4) State of Flow

If you’re a creative, you’ll probably be familiar with the mental state of flow. In the flow state, you are completely immersed in a certain task. You might forget to take breaks, lose track of time, and even fail to notice bodily needs such as hunger. Flow leads to greater productivity, and productivity can lead to flow.

Although flow isn’t something you can simply switch on, there things you can do to encourage it. For example, setting yourself goals and receiving feedback will allow of a clearer sense of direction, in turn making flow more likely. Check out this blog post for some other ways to elicit flow when working.

If you don’t find yourself in a state of flow, remember to take regular breaks to stay inspired (the good old 45/15 rule).

5) Coworking = Get More Work Done

Finally, if you don’t already work amongst other creatives or freelancers, consider taking out a coworking space such as a studio or desk. Surrounding yourself with others working in similar roles can provide encouragement, motivation and moral support. Check out our coworking options in Bristol and Cardiff if you’re looking for space.

We have plenty more productivity tips to come. Follow us on Facebook to be notified at part two of this blog series.