How to create structure in your workday to get 👏 more 👏 done 👏

Groove’s team of freelancers shares our best tips and tricks

Any remote-based freelancer knows that it can be hard to find focus in your day, hopping between clients and projects without a fixed team or corporate structure.

In order to get to that focus, we recommend creating a little structure. Structure and accountability can help shape what otherwise might be a shapeless day.

As remote-based freelancers, we at Groove are living the problems we are trying to solve. So we went straight to the source (us) on how we’re adding structure and accountability into our workdays. Hope it helps 💪

Connecting freelancers from around the world, Groove is the first online coworking platform that helps you feel more supported and focused so you can work with purpose.

Tidy desk, tidy mind:

I keep the work desk completely clear and treat it like a hot desk at a coworking space. When it’s time to work I pull out the computer, notebook, etc. and when I’m done I put it all away in my backpack. That way I signal really clearly to my brain when I need to be “on” vs “off.” Also, during COVID when space at home has been really limited, this has been a great way to share a workspace with my spouse.”

- Tova, Product Designer/Researcher

Dress for success:

In general, getting dressed is important. It makes a statement that the day has begun and there’s stuff to do.

- Sruli, Co-Founder, Product Manager/Developer

Finding daily anchors:

I make sure that there are a few anchors in my day: predictable things that happen both in terms of meetings (daily standup) and things outside work, like the gym, that nourish me socially and provide inherent structure in my day. I highly value social support so a personal trainer or a daily check-in keep me regulated in my work and emotions.

- Josh, Co-Founder/CEO

Daily check-ins or a daily standup meeting is a good motivator and helps make sure you’re on track for the big picture.

- Sruli, Co-Founder, Product Manager/Developer

Set realistic goals

Every day, I write out a short to-do list of tasks I must get done that day. Instead of keeping strict work hours, I finish my day once they’re done (or can wait another day). That way I’m measuring my productivity in tasks done vs. hours worked. Sometimes that means working fewer hours, sometimes longer, but this oddly gave me more natural structure in my day than arbitrarily sticking to a 9 to 5 schedule.

- Brandy, Content and Marketing Lead

I make sure there is good planning time and ensure that the amount of work I have to do is realistic and broken down into manageable chunks. My response to being overwhelmed is to feel paralyzed in my work, so structuring the things I have to do in an achievable way really supports me.

- Josh

Work time is work time

Having clear boundaries and activities outside of work ensures that the time I spend working is in flow as much as possible.

- Josh

I don’t always stick to it, but just because I’m working from home doesn’t mean I should be cleaning, doing laundry or grocery shopping during the day when I’m working. Single tasking > multi tasking.

- Brandy

Set a schedule

Time blocking really helps me. I block my weekly schedule out by hours and hourly goals. Always helps to reinforce that with Grooves.

- Emunah, Brand Designer/Director

Create separate office space at home

I live in a studio so don’t have a separate room for an office, but getting a desk was a game changer. I realized quickly that working from the kitchen table and the couch just wouldn’t do long term. Now I only work from my desk, signaling it’s time to work.

- Brandy

Resist the technology itch:

Turn off all apps and notifications!

- Emunah

Grooving, duh

I Groove as much as possible. Either with friends or, as the developer with special code powers, I create single person Grooves where I set a goal and work to achieve it in 50 minutes.

- Sruli

Implementing new habits can take time and intention, and it’s proven that it’s most effective to focus on one new goal at a time. If you’re not sure where to start, pick just one of these techniques and try it out every day for a week to see if it’s having a positive impact on your work.

If you’d like to start with Groove: our 50 minute online coworking sessions help you focus and get into flow.

How it works

1. Join or start a Groove
2. Set a clear goal
3. Hop on a video chat with a few others
4. Jump into work mode for 50 minutes of deep work (without video or sound)
5. Connect on a short video catch-up at the end

Groove is currently being trialed by a small group of people helping us refine the core experience. We’ll be expanding the beta group, so if you’d like to try a new way to socially work when working alone, send us a message to join our pilot.