How to Get a Lot Done
Last week, I found out just why “the early bird gets the worm.”
Due to circumstances beyond my control, I found myself at the office at around 7:30 am. Our guard was hardly surprised, since some of my officemates actually arrive earlier. But when I sat down on my desk, silence was my only companion.
Having nothing better to do, I got down to business. Amazingly, within an hour-and-a-half, I cleared my e-mail backlog, finished a freelance project, and even got started on a task assigned by my boss the previous day.
So when the office started filling up, I felt accomplished, ready to do anything thrown my way. I realized later on why. Being productive is like inertia; it may be hard to start, but once things get doing, it’s hard to stop.
As someone trying to balance the commitments of a day job, a freelance career, and some entrepreneurial ventures, beginning a day in that “productive zone” will go a long way.
Oh, and if you’re wondering why a freelancer like me is writing about working in an office, stay tuned for the final installment of the “Should You be a Freelancer?” series.
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POSTED IN: Living as a Freelancer
3 opinions for How to Get a Lot Done
Tris Hussey
Nov 14, 2006 at 1:29 pm
Totally. In my web coding days I tried to get the hard stuff done before other people got to the office an distracted me. I tend to do my best stuff really early or really late. Of course it helps that I work from home too ;)!
Rico
Nov 16, 2006 at 2:12 am
Couldn’t have highlighted that benefit of working at home any better. Welcome to Contract Worker Tris, and congratulations! You’ve written my first comment! ;)
Even Freelancers Have to Wake Up Early
May 9, 2008 at 11:17 am
[…] Talk about freelancers who wake up early, and the probable reaction would be amazement. But stereotypes aside, freelancers do have to get up early. Even if there’s no boss or HR department to punish you for tardiness, you’ve still got to on time for meetings right?. Freelance cliches work against us here (you have full control over your schedule, and you were still late?!). Not to mention it’s so much easier to get a lot done if you start the day early. […]
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