5 Tips for Being the Best Remote Worker You Can Be
The scoop on how to be a successful remote worker, from the South by Southwest Interactive conference in Austin, TX.
Let’s face it. The world we live in belongs to the 9-to-5ers with their routines, their cliches (TGIF!), and their rituals celebrating work-life achievements. If it’s co-worker’s birthday, there’s cake. If a co-worker gets a promotion, there’s cake. If co-worker leaves the company, there’s…cake. Well what about us freelancers? Do people think we don’t like cake? Why must we be the Jan to the 9-to-5 ers’ Marcia?
There are amazing things that happen to freelancers every day like finishing a very important project, landing a new client, and cashing your first real paycheck. We deserve to celebrate in our own way. Here’s a list of ways to rock out when you achieve your freelance goals.
Pop Bottles When It Works For You!
You know the saying “it’s 5 o’clock somewhere”? Well, every freelancer should have that on a t-shirt. We don’t need to wait to happy hour for a toast. We make our own rules. So, if something BIG happens and you deserve a glass of champagne, go for it. Even if it’s 11:00Am because 1.) there are things called mimosas and 2.) IT’S 5 O’CLOCK SOMEWHERE!
Get Yourself Freelance Swag
Holding off on getting that laptop case you’ve always wanted? Well, after you’ve met a goal, there’s nothing better than treating yourself. You can even do like Donna & Tom a la NBC’s sorely missed Parks & Recreation and do a Treat Yo Self day! There’s so much swag for freelance life, it’s time for you to get yourself something nice. Check out this list of goodies that’ll make ya drool.
Give Yourself a Tech Break
As freelancers, being connected is extremely important. We need to be on emails all the time because unlike some common occupations, we have to take our job home and to a restaurant and out with friends…you get the picture. We don’t know when we will hear a buzz and it will be our next big gig. So let go of the fear and live in the moment. Put down the phone, go for a walk, and be. It’s a celebration of you, promise.
Go To The GOOD Coffee Spot
We all do it, buy the cheapest drink on the menu so that we can hunker down un-interrupted at the coffee shop. And while we are sipping on what could be hot garbage, we dream of our favorite cup of joe that’s just a tad overpriced.
Not today. Go get yourself the brew your want. Make it a large. Add whipped cream. No. Holds. Barred.
Vacation? You Earned One, Freelancer
If you hit a ton of your goals and feel like you’re in a place for a vacation, staycation, or weekend getaway then start to consider it. You don’t need to ask for vacay days baby, you got em.
No Traditional Co-Workers? No Problem!
9-to-5ers celebrate together often. Believe me, I used to be a 9-t0-5er. For every celebration, my fabulous former co-worker made the most amazing brownies in the world. This is not an exaggeration. I’d want these brownies to be my last meal. So if there’s one thing I miss about my office job it’s that. If there’s two things, it’s celebrating the little and the big accomplishments with the people you see every day.
As freelancers, it’s important to remember that we can celebrate our achievements with loved ones. What you’re doing as a freelancer is so cool to most people with 9-to-5 jobs that they want to hear what you’re doing and party with you. Not only that, you can find other freelancers and connect. Get into a space where you’re all comfortable to share your achievements as they come and celebrate them together! We all need a lil’ love and lots of brownies sometimes.
There’s no reason we shouldn’t pat ourselves on our backs when we do something great. Every step we take is another step to secure our careers as freelancers and that’s something to celebrate. Sure, we might be the Jan and not the Marcia but honestly, don’t we all want to be the Jan anyway? She strayed off the beaten path.
Hey Jan Brady, we can relate.
