Dear Freelancers,

Winter is coming.

Sincerely,

Mother Nature

Freelancers don’t do well with season changes. We get so busy with work and enjoying life, we forget to do simple things the traditionally employed thinking about every day.

As an example: Pants. If this is your first winter working from home, we’re glad you stopped by. Today, we’re going to talk about how to discuss your first winter as a freelancer or remote employee.

The Holidays are Amazing

The holidays are a great time to be alive. The air is cooling down. The smells of baked goods and pumpkin spice lattes fill our nostrils.

But things are different for those of us who work from home. And if you want to play with the big boys and girls, you’re going to need to understand how your life is going to be different this time of year.

You have freedom.

It’s lovely and the holiday season is the best time to work for yourself. You never have to miss another Thanksgiving or holiday party. In the past, those writers associated with wfh office have worked jobs that forced them to work during this season.

Some of our writers used to work in food service while others worked in hospitality. They worked every holiday and didn’t receive any extra pay for the trouble. This is the problem with low-paying, thankless jobs. They don’t care about you. They don’t care about your plans, your family, or what you would like to do during the holiday season.

We love our wfh office writers. We know that during the holiday season, we won’t be putting up a lot of content. And we’re completely ok with that. Because we aren’t going to be around to post the content. Hah!

As a website that’s by freelancers, for freelancers, we embrace everything it has to offer. This includes having the freedom to spend time with our loved ones, be the first in line on Black Friday, and sleep in on New Year’s Day to nurse our hangovers.

The Holidays Hurt

The biggest problem with the holidays is that typically, work slows down for a few weeks. From the middle of December to the middle of January, you’re going to notice your clients aren’t as responsive. Some might not even contact you at all.

This is ok. Enjoy the time off.

But this is yet another reason why having savings or an emergency fund is so important.

Your power bill is going to be more expensive. There is food to cook, family members to feed, movies to see, and the list goes on. You need to be ready financially so that you can take off and enjoy life.

Consider it an involuntary vacation. Remember the times when you had to work. When your kids wanted to spend time with you but you weren’t available. Remember when you had to work late because half the crew called in sick to work on Black Friday or Christmas Eve? It doesn’t have to happen ever again.

Remember why you decided to take this career path. The holiday season is a time to be grateful for everything you have, which includes working from home!

Bundle Up

We don’t get outside as often as we should. While this goes for a lot of folks, it goes double for freelancers and remote employees.

When you don’t leave the house or apartment until the afternoon, a sudden blast of arctic air is enough to chase you back in the house to change. The best time to buy up clothes for the winter season is during spring and early summer.

If you prefer to keep your clothing expenses on the lighter side, you can shop at Goodwill and thrift shops. But if you prefer new clothes at a higher quality, you should check out everything Fairweather has to offer.

Pay attention to weather forecasts. If you work from home, chances are you spend the majority of your time in your home office. Here are a few tips for dealing with your first winter in your home office.

Grab a Blanket

Nothing is going to ruin your workday like being too cold to concentrate.

Grab yourself a blanket to warm yourself up in the colder months. Pair this up with some hot tea and you’ll be ready to rock a full day of work.

Buy a Space Heater

If you’re in your home office all day, the rest of the home can afford to be a bit on the colder side. Buy a space heater for around $30 like the one below. It will warm up your office and save you a ton of cash on the electric bill.

Warm Socks

Wool socks, or an equivalent, will do wonders for keeping your feet warm.

And it’s all about the feet in winter. If your feet get cold, the rest of your body will follow. If this is something that bothers you, throw on some socks to pair with your blanket and space heater and you’ll be fine.

Conclusion

Winter is a glorious time. It’s cold, it’s beautiful, it’s awesome.

It’s a time for people to enjoy their families. It’s a time to wake up at 4 AM to get $100 off a new TV. It’s a time for carbs and resolutions to hit the gym in September.

It’s also a time where the work slows down and you need to be ready. So sit back, relax, and enjoy everything winter has to offer freelancers and others who work from home.

The post It’s Wintertime! appeared first on Wfh Office.