The COVID-19 pandemic made 2020 the year the world went remote. But now, lots of companies are moving to permanent remote work arrangements.  For many people, remote work offers more freedom and opportunity to pursue dreams like running a small business, starting a podcast, or writing a book.  If you are a remote worker who wants to add a creative business to your schedule, here are some creative ways to conquer life as a remote worker and creator.

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The remote work trend started long before COVID-19

Remote work didn’t start with COVID-19.  Flex work and remote work rose in the US by 173% between 2005 and 2018.  According to LinkedIn’s  2019 Global Talent Trends report, 78% of the jobs posted on LinkedIn between 2016 and 2018 offered flexible work as an option.

Now that the pandemic is coming to an end, some companies expect their employees to return to the office with no questions asked.  But many employees are saying, “Not so fast.” Seventy percent of people currently working from home don’t want to return to the office, at least not five days a week.  According to the 2020 State of Remote Work report, at least 80% of the people surveyed expect to work from home at least three days per week. At the same time, 77% of the people asked said that having the option to work from home would make them happier.

So, what’s the biggest reason people want to continue working remotely (besides avoiding COVID-19)?  Work-life balance.  The majority of survey respondents believe that remote work would help them better manage their personal and professional lives.

With this in mind, many people working remotely are wondering if now is the best time to pursue their creative dreams, perhaps writing, painting, or drawing.

If you’re one of those people, good for you. As someone who’s been blessed to work from home for the past four years while growing my writing business,  here are a few creative ways o conquer life as a remote worker and creator.

1. Take time at the start of the day to deal with clutter.

Start your day with a clear head. Take 10 to 30 minutes to deal with messes or clutter. Decluttering can help reduce stress and eliminate distractions throughout the day.

2. Get ready for work like you would for the office.

Each day I get dressed as if I’m going into an office.  A professional look from the start of the day boosts confidence and prepares you to meet with people on Zoom or FaceTime throughout the day.

3. Visualize your ideal day.

Before you start working each day, identify the top three things you want to get done.  While your list may be longer than three things, accomplishing your top three tasks will help you focus and will energize you to work through the rest of the items on your to-do list.

4. Use time-blocking to make room in your schedule for remote work and creative projects.

Time-blocking is the process of planning every part of the day, then designating specific time blocks for tasks and projects.

I realize this may seem like a lot of writing and planning. But once I filled my calendar with the tasks and projects I needed to work on for the day or the week, it was harder for other things to creep into my schedule and rob my time.

To manage my time blocks, I use the PomoDone App. This app is an easy and fun way to track my time blocks using the Pomodoro technique. In addition, the app includes a countdown timer and allows you to connect to your Trello project management board.

5. Use voice-capture tools throughout the day to record ideas.

As you work on assignments for your full-time job, ideas will likely enter your mind for your creative projects.  Don’t stop working on the project your boss expects to see at the end of the day. Instead, when you take a break or stop for lunch, record your ideas on a voice-capture tool like the recorder on your Smartphone or the dictation feature in Microsoft Word or Google Docs.

Find your remote work rhythm.

Don’t pursue your writing dreams on company time.

Working full-time does not mean you have to forfeit the opportunity to pursue your dream of starting a creative business. Instead, be proactive in reaching out to your boss and coworkers. Ensure that you meet project deadlines and show employers how committed and reliable you are no matter what environment you’re working in.

Give your creative life the respect it deserves.

If you don’t make your creative business a priority, it will be regarded as background noise.  Treat your writing, for example, as the single most important thing in your life and take care of it with the same passion that you would have for your primary job.

Tips to help you manage your time and your dreams.

If you need more ideas on managing your remote life and creator life, here are a few posts to help.

30 Tips How to Renew Interest in Your Dreams

This is How to Reach Your Writing Dreams

How to Bend Time to Fit Writing into Your Busy Life

How to Be a Successful Writer Despite Having a Full Schedule

I’d love to help you as you take the next steps in your writing life.  To get started, complete this form to let me know about your current nonfiction writing project and needs.