better.
Make your space unique
Adding some personal touches to your workspace by pinning up a few pictures, postcards, or inspirational quotes can do wonders for keeping you motivated when you’ve hit a wall.
Get comfortable
Your workspace should be as conducive to comfort as possible – if you’re uncomfortable, you won’t be able to concentrate properly, particularly on those days when you need to put in long hours. Make sure your computer screen is at the right height, and that you’ve got a chair with good back support. If you use a laptop, get an external mouse instead of relying on its touchpad; over time that can strain your hands and wrists.
Tune in
Music can go a long way towards creating the right ambience for your workspace, so experiment a little to see what works for you. Or you could take a leaf out of writer Zadie Smith’s book: she listens to ‘brown noise’ (like white noise, but more soothing) as she works. Unconventional, sure – but it’s great for drowning out distracting thoughts and sounds, and you might find that avoiding music with words or a distinct melody while working is less distracting. If you work in a busy office, make sure you’ve got a decent pair of noise-cancelling headphones on hand for those times when you really need to power through.
CHANGE YOUR SCENERY
Don’t forget to mix it up once in a while. If you usually work from home, try to spend one or two days a week working in a different environment, whether it’s your local library, a dedicated co-working space or a chilled-out café (check out the Appendix for some freelancer-friendly workspaces around the world). If you work in an office, try working in a different part of the office or from a communal area. Staring at the same four walls day in, day out has a tendency to make your mind stagnate, so switch it up!
BREAK IT UP
If you’re feeling truly stuck, step away from what you’re doing; forcing yourself to power through will only lead to mediocre work. Either focus on another task for a while, or stop working altogether and come back to the original block a little while later. Completely immersing yourself in work 24/7 doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll produce your best work, or even more of it.
DIGITAL DETOX
Try going ‘screen-free’ by switching off your phone and laptop for a few hours of each workday. You’ll be surprised at how much more you can get done without the constant distraction of digital technology at your fingertips. Often your best thinking happens with a pen in hand, so put the screens away and go old-school.
CUT THE CRAP
Every now and then, take the time to consciously evaluate the work you’re currently doing, and weigh it up against the kind of work you ultimately want to do. Which projects or aspects of your job description do you find most stimulating? Once you’ve worked this out, make a conscious effort to slowly recalibrate your working life to incorporate more of this type of work. This could involve discussing your role and career development with your boss, or doing more work for certain types of clients. Making a long-term commitment to streamlining your work output so you’re doing more of what you find interesting will likely get you feeling more inspired in the long run.
NOT JUST A CORPORATE BUZZWORD – THE IMPORTANCE OF PERSONAL BRANDING
‘Always be a first-rate version of yourself and not a second-rate version of someone else.’
– Judy Garland, actress
The integration of social media into pretty much every aspect of our personal and professional lives has made it easier than ever to hone your ‘brand’. But what exactly is a personal brand? And do you actually need one?
STANDING OUT
Your personal brand is a way of letting people – particularly potential employers or clients – know what your distinct talents are, and what you represent. In industries where competition is fierce and your skills may be easily interchangeable with the next [insert profession here], having a strong personal brand is a way of marketing yourself to others. It’s what makes people choose you over the next person, and keeps them coming back for more – besides the quality of your work, which, it goes without saying, needs to be top-notch. Having a solid personal brand can make your job searches a little more fruitful, or help turn your side hustle into more than just a hobby.
And here’s the truth: you already have a brand. There’s already a wealth of information readily available to anyone who chooses to Google you, and it tells a story about you. Being more strategic about that information is a way of controlling the conversation and creating your own narrative, instead of letting others do it for you.
FIND YOUR NICHE
Find and understand your USP (unique selling point). What particular combination of skills do you have that few others can offer? Are you an illustrator who’s got a lot of experience working on fashion-related briefs? Or a features writer who also happens to be a dab hand at photography? Communicating the unique qualities you have that set you apart from the competition will pay dividends, whether that means being commissioned on an exciting project, or putting you on the fast track to promotion.
DRESS THE PART
We’re judged in a matter of seconds on our appearance, whether at a party or a job interview. It might sound superficial, but your appearance is a crucial part of your brand, as the way you dress has an enormous impact on people’s perception of you. Human beings are highly visual creatures, and a strong, consistent aesthetic tends to stick in the memory. This doesn’t mean you have to dress in head-to-toe Prada (although if that’s your thing, do you). Start by striking a balance between expressing your personality and looking professional, which, depending on where you work, can be anywhere on a sliding scale from tracksuits to power suits. Whatever you wear, make sure it’s something that makes you feel good – your wardrobe choices influence your mindset, and feeling comfortable and confident about your appearance will translate to your attitude, helping you work better.
STICK TO YOUR GUNS
Values are key, so identify what matters to you and what your ethics are. Do you
