A freight broker typically works alone, usually in the comfort of his own home or office. There are plenty of perks to being a freight broker. You can enjoy freedom and autonomy. You can work at your own pace and in your own way. There are also some challenges, though. You may miss the association of co-workers and find the work growing monotonous at times. You may struggle to stay motivated.
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If you are a freight broker, consider these tips for staying productive and engaged:
- Set goals – The New Year presents a great opportunity to lay out resolutions for 2017. Write down specific long-range goals. Give yourself deadlines—and maybe even build in some rewards if you meet your goals. It will be easier to stay motivated if you have a clear understanding of the responsibilities ahead.
- Make a plan – After setting your goals, break the goals down into daily, weekly, or monthly courses of action, which you can check off as each one is completed. Review your progress periodically. You will notice that each success will make you motivated to work harder until you reach your goal.
- Schedule your day – If you start each day with an overwhelming number of arduous tasks, try breaking the list down into smaller parts and time blocks. Compartmentalizing your work into individual parts can make the tasks seem achievable. Scheduling time frames to accomplish tasks can give you incentive to work faster. It is difficult to gather the momentum to work when you see a mountain of responsibility, but when you accomplish it piecemeal, there will be less pressure and more incentive.
- Reach out – It’s not generally good to work alone for hours on end. Establish a support network, in person or online, to keep you motivated and energetic. Network with other freight brokers or self-employed people. Look for local clubs or organizations to join. As you meet new contacts, consider sharing experiences, strategies, and methods of staying motivated.
- Stay healthy – Sitting alone for a long stretch of time can be hard on your health. Doing nothing drains your energy but adds to your weight. It’s hard to be productive when you’re feeling unhealthy. Insert periods of exercise into your daily schedule. There are many forms of exercises that can be performed without having to go to the gym. Invest in some exercise equipment for your home or office. Do small spurts of exercise when you take breaks. A set of sit-ups or push-ups here or there or a brisk walk at lunchtime can make a big difference.
- Dress appropriately – Sure, you can work in your pajamas, but exerting the effort to get dressed as if you were going to work in an office can have a powerful psychological effect. It can get you in the proper frame of mind to work in a professional, productive manner.