Freelancing to Freedom

Because I don’t work in an office space, I’m always finding things to do during the day that definitely wouldn’t be considered editing (cleaning, checking emails, laundry, yoga, t.v., etc.). Before I know it, an entire day I thought I could devote totally to work is over, and because I have a second job, these days are precious. I’ve started researching different productivity techniques and found some great information in a blog by Lexi Rodrigo: http://freelancefolder.com/how-to-get-more-work-done-in-less-time/

I’ve found the Pomodoro Technique to be extremely useful. It involves working for 25 minutes completely uninterrupted and then taking a 5-minute break. After four periods of 25 minutes, you take a 15 minute break. The first time I tried this, I couldn’t believe how much work I got done and how fast the time went. Knowing that I can take a 5 minute break to check my email or run dishes through the dishwasher helps me focus much more intensely on the task at hand.

And as I’m sure many freelancers will agree with, getting out of the house works wonders for productivity as well. I am continuing my search for the best coffee shop in Calgary to work in. Last week, I tried Kaffa Coffee and Salsa House in Marda Loop and Steeps on 17th Avenue. Kaffa is awesome! It’s actually a house that’s been converted into a coffee shop, and the food is amazing. The chairs are a little uncomfortable, but the atmosphere makes it worth it. Steeps is a teahouse similar to Oolong, which I visited last week. It’s very cozy and has a huge selection of teas – I tried a chocolate-dipped strawberry tea and thought I was in heaven.

Happy freelancing!