Make 2018 the year to go freelance

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Fed up of the daily commute?

Had enough of mundane water cooler conversations?

Sick and tired of Sarah in IT and Jo in HR making your life a misery?

Then maybe it is time to go freelance.

While you might not have the security of a 9-5 role, a monthly salary or 21 days holiday a year, being your own boss does offer you flexibility and the chance to do what you love but on your terms.

We aren’t saying hand your notice in now, but have a think about what you want to do and if you consider the points below, we think you might start making that dream a reality.

Have a plan
Create a business plan that looks at finance, growth, location, activities and skills. This don’t need to be anything long or fancy but setting things out in black and white can give you a focus and realistic goals.

Network
Breakfast meetings, lunches and evening events are all greats ways to start making connections even if you are still in a full-time job. If you are nervous, why not go with a friend and then swap notes at the end of the session?

Contacts
The old saying, ‘it’s who you know not what you know’ is very true when you start a new venture. Maybe your best friend works on a magazine, your old school mate is a blogger or you know a couple of people who design websites or do PR? Make the most of the people you know and it could well be there is synergy between you and them that could lead to business opportunities.

Look at the Competition
You might be able to make a mean cake or write a really creative marketing plan – but so do loads of other people out there. Do your research, check out the competition and work out what makes you different and where your offerings would site in the market place.

Think About the Money
Let’s not beat about the bush, starting out requires hard cash investment and you are going to need this, so start planning. Look at how much money you need to start your business, what equipment you would need, and before you make a start make sure you have a buffer saved up for those unexpected costs and quiet patches. It might even be that you need to work part-time for a while to get things up and running and keep money coming in, but it will be worth it in the long run.

Marketing and PR
This is something you can do as you get ready to take the next step of full-time freelancing. Decide in a business name, get a logo, set up your social media feeds and ensure you have a website in place. All of this takes time, and money, but if you get the basics set up in the background, when you are ready to go, people will be able to find when you when you are open and firing on all cylinders.

Small Print
The excitement of setting up something new can mean the details get left behind, but this isn’t a mistake you want to make. Finding an accountant or book-keeper, registering for tax, considering VAT status and researching professional insurance might seem boring, but they need to be done and will make you more efficient and professional in the long run.

Location, Location, Location
When you work for someone else, you go to their premise day in and day out but when you fly solo it is a very different matter. You need to make sure you have a base to work from and one that is ideally close to local amenities, has a decent internet connection and phone support as well as good transport links.

Whatever you do, if you have a dream, go for it.

Team Pure-Beauty

Are screens taking over your life?

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Barbados, bedroom, companies, Computer screen, dates, depressed, desk, event, eye-sight, Facebook, feet on the floor, friends, girsl, hips, HR, IT, jog, neck, online, park, partner, photos, shoulder and back pain, social media, stretch, twitter, waistline, weight gain, workstation

We all know that it is important to limit screen time for kids, but how about adults?

An increasing number of us are using screens for business and pleasure and at times it can feel as if they are taking over our lives and health.

It sounds silly, and even a bit nanny state, but it is important that you develop a healthy attitude towards using screens, big and small, so we have looked at some of the issues and how to get around then.

Spending too much time posting on Facebook and tweeting on Twitter means you could be adding inches to your waistline as you build your friends online. Sitting on the sofa is comfy, and warm as the nights draw in, but it can also lead to weight gain, which in turn can increase your risk of diabetes and heart disease. If you are going to use your phone for something, upload an exercise app, get on your trainers and jog around the park and smile at your increased in activity rather rather your increased number of ‘friends’.

Believing the hype of social media could make you feel depressed. It is really easy to look online and see other people on holiday, looking tanned, with their ‘amazing’ husband, but remember this is only what they want you to see. Real life isn’t just what is posted online so don’t get blue if you aren’t in Barbados and are single – the grass isn’t always greener.

You might also want to remember that from time to time it is good to get out and talk to people face to face. Social media certainly brings people together and can be a great way to keep in touch, but nothing beats real life interaction. Set dates with your partner, lunch with your family and nights out with the girls. You can post photos after the event, but going out will do you the world of good and bring you back to reality.

Spending too much time looking at a screen will increase the blue wavelengths your brain receives and this can really affect your natural circadian rhythms and mess around with your melatonin levels. The consequences of this is that your mood can be disrupted as can your sleep, neither of which will do you any favours. Try to turn screens off at least an hour before you go to bed, longer if you can and this way you can really switch off. Don’t keep screens in your bedroom and instead of using your phone as an alarm, go back to basics and get a clock.

There is no getting away from the fact that many jobs involve spending a lot of time at a computer screen, but this doesn’t have to lead to aches and pains. The main thing is to set up your workstation correctly, and many companies have an HR or IT department that do this for you, so check if yours does. Ensure your screen is big enough and is set at the right level. You need to have a good chair that offers support and as you work make sure your hips are square and your your feet are flat on the floor. It is vital to take regular breaks from your computer as this will not only to rest your eyes, but gives you time to stretch your legs and reduce the risk of neck, shoulder and back pain.

Remember your mum saying you would get square eyes if you sat too close to the telly? You might have laughed at her but it is possible she could see into the future and was right. Look after your eyes and make sure you have them tested on a regular basis. If you start to suffer with headaches or blurred vision, this could indicate you are using your screen too much and can be a sign of possible issues with your eye-sight.

Go screen free at some point in the week – that doesn’t mean when you are asleep. We aren’t talking about a complete detox but maybe turn your phone off at work, don’t use social media on a Sunday and certainly don’t be flicking across social media when you are in the company of others.

Have a think about this and we think there are a couple of easy to make changes that could have a big impact.