With the COVID-19 situation not getting better any time soon, companies are now mandating that employees forgo coming to the office and instead work from home. It is a strange feeling for some despite being in a familiar location since they would have been accustomed to the office setting.
Of course, this type of work style is something that creatives have experience with, some even do it on a full-time basis. But alas, this coronavirus is simply not helping with securing gigs during this current climate. That means fewer jobs, a big problem for freelancers.
If COVID-19 is hindering your chances of getting work, here are some tips on working better and smarter from working remotely:
Time well-spent
If it wasn’t obvious, something that working remotely gets you is time. The absence of travel and need to dress up gains us valuable time which could be used for different purposes.
So what do you do with this extra time? Well, it really depends on what makes you work more effectively. People, of course, would think to use it for putting more time into their work, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be that one choice. You can also spend it on rest, it might sound counterproductive, but it could help keep you alert for important projects on hand.
The most important thing to note is that you should have a schedule for the day that you plan out yourself. It keeps you focused on the work on hand and also dissuades you from being distracted by things in your house, like say that new Netflix show on the TV. A good schedule could help you work more efficiently than what you do in the office.
Eat smarter
Working remotely often means needing to find your own food, which may not be readily available depending on where you live. Thus, a reliance on food deliveries would start to occur and that is simply not good spending.
While it may take a little more effort and time compared to deliveries, it saves a ton of money in the long run which would have been used for delivery costs. If you aren’t familiar with cooking in general, there’s a ton of recipes online which are easy to make and cost little to prepare.
You can also take this as an opportunity to change your diet to something a little more healthier. With health being such a prevalent concern, it is as good a time as any to start with healthy options. Just because you are sitting at home, does not mean you can’t lose a few pounds in the process.
If you are really pressed for time, instant noodles can suffice for a time; but that does not mean that it has to be bland. If you are familiar with the current Ram-don craze from the movie Parasite, you can take inspiration from it by including ingredients not normally plated with instant noodles. We took the liberty of adding some funky ones of our own here.
Upgrade your CV
With cashflow dipping massively due to COVID-19, companies are now more skittish on hiring new personnel.
That does not mean your chances of securing work are completely diminished though. There are plenty of ways to upgrade your current CV in order to attain a higher chance of getting noticed by a future employer.
A good way to start might be something simple — say maybe updating your headshot perhaps. It’s a subtle addition, but quite effective in many ways. It shows a level of professionalism from a visual standpoint right at the start before they start reading; setting the tone. Getting a professional headshot is also easy and inexpensive, so it won’t hurt the bank.
For something more concrete, you can make use of the government’s Skillsfuture initiative to add to your CV. There’s $500 worth of credits given free to use to learn new skills and bolster your portfolio.
Most courses fall within the $500 limit, meaning you can start learning important skills like programming, animation or even a new language without spending a dime!
We hope that these tips will help you in working more effectively while you’re stuck to your home. Partnering up with our sister Creative Agency (www.dnmc.sg), we would like to extend our support to those affected by COVID-19 and are offering a photo shoot of 1x Headshot and 1x Half-Body Shot, for $10. Write in to [email protected] for a booking.
