Pro tip: Diversify your workload!

On switching things up to be more productive... Plus, things you can do to diversify your projects while supplementing your income!

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Have you ever tried to do one thing for an entire day? Fifteen hours straight of the same thing - gaming, reading, writing, etc. - is exhausting. It may seem alright once in a while, but doing the exact same thing day in and day out quickly becomes unsustainable. Plus, with the rise of technology, our attention spans are decreasing. We get distracted by little things and grow bored quickly. We check our phones compulsively and walk away from tasks every few minutes. These changes can make hours of focusing in on work feel impossible.

The good news is, you can train your brain to focus and get deep work done. But you can also establish a healthy balance in your work life whereby you improve your focus and diversify your workload! To me, diversifying my workload means taking on projects with some sort of unique lean so that I don’t grow bored of doing the same old thing every day.

Naturally, I still prioritize specialization. My current ghostwriting niche is memoirs and informative/inspirational nonfiction books for public speakers and entrepreneurs. Specialization is extremely valuable; it allows me to work on my favorite types of jobs and constantly improve as a writer in my niche.

In reality, though, I would produce terrible books if I tried to write client projects for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Diversifying my workload, or sprinkling in some extra projects or personal ventures, helps me avoid burnout whilst I propel my business forward.

I diversify my workload by adding personal projects, like…

• Drafting/editing my debut dystopian fiction novel

• Working on my Substack - drafting posts, recording podcast audios, posting Notes, and connecting with other writers

• Writing the occasional short story or novella that I just have to share with the world

• Drafting guides/resources for my Substack and blog readers

I also diversify my workload by adding unique client projects, like…

• Recording and editing the audio version of another writer’s series

• Editing other writers’ work

• Tutoring Spanish on the side to keep up with a language I love, make new friends, and bring in some extra cash along the way

Frankly, diversifying my workload has made freelancing so much more fun! With my book clients (whom I love working with!), I’m able to make the consistent income I want, but diversification allows me to supplement my income with other projects that bring me joy and keep me engaged.

Consider diversifying your workload using some of the ideas above or by reflecting on your own hobbies and passions. For instance, if you love art or photography, it’s okay to balance your writing time with art or photography work. The beauty of freelancing is that you can do what you want to flourish and grow.

Of course, you still have to be smart about establishing a consistent income stream. You can read more about how to do that here.

But don’t forget that the primary reason that freelancing is so freeing is that it’s flexible! You didn’t leave the 8-5 repetitive grind to be confined to another, self-imposed prison.

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