Freelance / Telecommuter Discipline

[amykhar]

My freelance web development "business" is starting to take off. I am actually turning away clients for lack of time.

That said, I am finding it difficult to get my coding time scheduled into my day. Coding has always been a fun thing for me. And, when I sit down to do it around the house, the family assumes I'm goofing off and they tend to interrupt me.

So, I really need to get into the habit of a 5-day a week schedule during weekdays when the kids are at school.

The problem is, I'm not so alert then because of lack of sleep due to the night job and having to get up early to get the kids out of school.

I'm looking for tips on time and sleep management. How do you guys get through your day when your brain's not firing on all cylinders?

Amy

[theworm[$]]

It's not easy, Amy!
I was most sleep deprived when I was going through my divorce, and that whole time is a blur - it was quite bad.
The closest that I can get it when I was working full time and getting my MBA.
I worked all day, came home - did schoolwork till 11. At 11 I would watch one mindless sitcom that I had taped earlier in the day - then sleep and repeat.
I gave myself off on Friday evenings and worked all weekend during the day - off in the evenings.
It's harder for you with kids.
Cutting sleep isn't the answer because you can't focus when you're overly tired. Figure out how much sleep you optimally need to be clear headed. Then figure out when is better time form you. Do you want to code in the morning - right after your night job, or do you want to sleep and work later in the day. Is it easier to get work done or to get sleep when the kids are home. You really need to get it all down on paper, and then STICK to it!
I hope the coding work goes so well that it can be full time soon!

[Redlass]

I've been reading lots on sleep management lately (or as my doctor calls it--sleep hygeine). Of course, a lot of that is about getting quality sleep, not more sleep. It includes such things as listening to relaxing music for a half hour before going to sleep, using linen sprays, having good quality pillows (the type is supposed to depend on how you sleep, firmer ones if you're a back sleeper, fluffier ones if you're a tummy sleeper), and reducing all ambient lights and noises.

Time management is pretty individual, but interruptions definitely add up. They take not only the time of the interruption, but then there is "recovery" time as you get back into what you're doing. Can you put up a sign on the computer that says "mom's working" when you're coding? Of course, you'd have to be sure to take it down when you were just goofing off.

Oh, and I find I can't get through an intense freelance project unless I do build myself in goofing off time. Sometimes I do it as "mini-rewards." I'll set up a routine of "after I write five pages, I get to play an arcade-style game" or whatever else works.

[phoenixx]

If you don't work well in the morning, don't. Allow yourself an hour nap. THEN shut your office (or bedroom or kitchen) door and WORK. Make it an absolute. When the office door is shut, mommy is WORKING. Unless you can see the bone or are IN jail, do not interupt her.

I don't work well in the mornings, so I only do my interviews then. I work at night and in the afternoons. I shut the door, turn the ringer off on the phone, turn off the cell phone and turn IM to "busy". It took a while to train my honey and my friends that "working from home" did not mean endless time to run their errands, hold their hands on projects, do them favors, chat on the phone, etc. Some are still learning, which is why the phone is off.

[phoenixx]

Once you have a routine established, you will find you can have more latitude in your time to play when you need to, also.

[poseidon]

I can't tell you how to sleep better... the only thing that I ever did to sleep better was to quit my job at the insurance company. Once that happened, I've been sleeping like a baby ever since.

Here's some tips I can give you, though, to be more productive. Don't forget, I worked from a home office for seven years, and right now I'm still using these tips to do my schoolwork.

1. Set the alarm and wake up at a normal time each day.

2. Even if you don't leave the house, shower, shave, brush your teeth, and get dressed. Getting dressed does not mean putting on pajamas.

3. Set yourself a goal for what you need to accomplish that day, and what you want to accomplish tomorrow.

4. Eat breakfast. Breakfast can be as simple as one of those meal-replacement shakes.

5. Do not turn on the TV or radio while you're working. This includes Internet TV and radio, CDs, etc. While you think you might be able to concentrate better with the TV or music playing, you really won't.

6. Take small breaks. Get up, walk around the house, do laundry, etc. Then, get back to work.

7. When all your work is done for the day, figure out what you want to get done tomorrow. Then, have fun.

[pippadaisy[$]]

poseidon said

Getting dressed does not mean putting on pajamas.

Speak for yourself. As long as I put on CLEAN pajamas after showering, I consider that getting dressed.