These days, most would know what freelancing is; remote freelancing on the other hand, is a whole new ballpark for some people. How could it be possible that you could work literally anywhere in the world, unconstrained by time and location? Lo and behold, the future of work is already in our presence. Being a huge advocate for telecommuting, we’re highlighting several tips that could make or break your remote freelancing career.
- Laptop (slim/sleek/fast)
Note. The Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 has two USB-C ports and an average 10 hours battery life.
Ideally, laptops for remote work should be light and easy to carry. That way, you can really work from anywhere without feeling like you’re carrying deadweight. Fortunately, you don’t need to splurge thousands just to get yourself for an easy-to-carry laptop.
2. Co-working spacesNeed a space to do your work? If you’re travelling while working remotely, it’s best to research what co-working spaces are available near the area you’re staying incase you would need an "office" to work in peace. Sometimes, a fee is required for you to pay and enter on a daily or even a monthly basis. For example, you can pay RM 400 monthly (approximately $91.97) for DOJO in Kuala Lumpur.
Note. A co-working space in Malaysia, see https://coworkingmap.org/dojo-kl/ (Dojo, KL.)
Apart from co-working space (view more at https://www.wework.com/en-GB), there are libraries, bookstores with a working space and coffee shops although take note of their busy hours on Google if you're opting these for an important virtual meeting.
3. Virtual backupsI
t’s important to always have a back-up of your work. These days, you can find a lot of online cloud storage to keep your data on the go. If you have the money to spare, consider buying a private and safe cloud storage like NordLocker that comes with more features. If you’re looking for something that wouldn’t cost much or is completely free, there are other options like Google Drive.
Note. NordLocker helps you stay protected from ransomware because your data is already encrypted and backed up in the cloud.
4. Daily meetings (take initiative to do)How often do you take the time and energy to initiate daily meetings with your colleagues or managers? Even though you’re taking a somewhat lonely path that’s different from others, you’re still a part of a team and distance is no longer a barrier to connect with people. Regardless of your position, it’s always a good idea to talk to your co-workers and get more updates or even something as basic as checking in on their progress and see if they need help or if they could help you with anything.
5. Planner
Working remotely as a freelancer, your schedule can get hectic. Have you thought of investing in a planner? Sometimes, it doesn’t cost much or even at all. Get a physical planner book, set up reminders and goals via phone apps and many more. If you want to get professional, try platforms such as Friday.com that has advanced features to plan your work life.
Note. It’s Free Forever for To-Do List + Calendar Sync + Check-ins + Posts + Unlimited Users.
6. Support group
Remote freelancing isn’t the easiest route to take, it would be great to have people who understand your new struggles. As more people opt to do remote freelancing, there is a plethora of support groups for newcomers on the internet. Ranging from forums, webinars and chat groups, choose what works best for you and involve yourself in a community that helps your career growth.
Check out https://www.reddit.com/r/remotework/
Remote freelancing has made it possible for people to remain connected to opportunities wherever and whenever. Although it can be great, it has some downsides such as the possibility of a declining work-life balance. With that being said, a last piece of advice would be to stick to clear working hours and don’t push yourself too hard.
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