How to Be Productive and Achieve Your Dreams

If you’re trying to make it as a freelancer, get through school, or land a dream job that’s considered unorthodox (artist, author, translator, entrepreneur) you’re going to need a lot of self-discipline and motivation to stay productive and accomplish these goals. I’ve made my way freelancing and doing the things I love for almost 20 years now, and while I still struggle with motivation and productivity at times, I’ve learned a lot over the years on how to identify and combat the underlying causes of apathy, stress, and laziness.

Time stamps:
3:27 overview
4:11 1. Dealing with a Stressed Brain
5:40 write a detailed schedule of literally everything, down to the minute
7:30 include exercise and/or meditation breaks in the schedule
9:00 listen to music or a podcast to keep your mind from wandering
10:33 disable distracting websites/apps, move phone into other room.
11:07 intermittent fasting and/or meal prepping
12:56 make your workspace a very “zen” place
14:11 2. Dealing with a Busy Brain
15:38 the pomodoro technique
17:38 the pomodoro technique (achievement-based, not time-based)
19:05 reward yourself with the song that’s stuck in your head
19:31 disable the distractions!
19:40 give yourself time to embrace the noise in your head
20:50 3. Dealing with a Lack of Confidence
21:42 resign yourself to imperfection
23:52 fantasize yourself succeeding
25:01 remember past failures and successes
26:50 fill your environment with things that inspire you
28:34 4. Feeling too Relaxed Working at Home
29:33 give yourself a clear, consistent start and end time to your work day.
30:30 dress for work outside the home
31:15 set up an “office” within your living space OR rotate where you work to prevent boredom
33:56 work in public
34:55 coworking
35:35 5. You Hate the Current Task At Hand
36:31 swallow a frog
37:28 put a lot of profanity in your schedule
38:05 listen to angry/loud music during your breaks
38:32 put profanity in your file name
38:54 6. Poor Physical Health
39:12 take a sick day
40:02 practice healthy habits
41:02 see a doctor
41:49 schedule yourself to finish your project days before the deadline
42:19 7. Poor Mental Health
42:35 take a mental health day
42:57 see a doctor
43:05 have an emotional support human nearby
44:00 start your day with a very easy habit that gives you momentum to do everything else
45:49 8. You’ve Discovered this Dream is Not For You Anymore
48:17 making the decision to quit

If you're new here, I'm a full-time freelance Japanese translator. I also write, choreograph, teach dance and improv, perform, and sometimes tutor on the side for pay as well. In fact, most of my adult life I have been freelancing in some way or another.

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