I’ve been trying to think about how I can help others during this time of social distancing and self-quarantine and now a NATIONAL CURFEW (yikes!). This year has felt surreal and in my lifetime I've never experienced anything on this level. It’s affecting everyone especially from an economic standpoint. As an entrepreneur in a creative field, it is already challenging keeping one's income steady but I wanted to turn the negative into a positive. I posted a status on my personal Facebook page a few days ago and got a surprising amount of feedback. Here’s what I said;
“This is the perfect time to collaborate! Update websites. Plan new projects.”
After I posted the status, many people asked me for tips on how they could use the time to better their businesses and being someone who feeds off knowledge, I knew whatever education I had would help. Here are 10 tips to combat this time at home…
MAX OUT. It’s like you’re in school all over again, schedule your day from waking up to sleep. Don't forget to throw in meal times, short breaks (for your eyes) and recreational time as well i.e. fitness, family time, time with a spouse.
ONLINE MEETUPS. You don't need to physically meet in person to get work done. There are tons of methods that allow you to meet face to face with potential or existing clients, colleagues and team members. Apps like FaceTime, WhatsApp, Skype and Zoom all make it possible to have productive meetings.
ONLINE BANKING. If you’re living in 2020 then you must know about the world of amazing online banking. Most banks offer this feature now and businesses can accept and transfer money without leaving home! Clients can pay you wit ease especially if you both share the same bank and I believe some banks will let you transfer funds from your account to another account from a different bank.
BRUSH UP OR LEARN NEW SKILLS. I’ve bought a ton of online courses from photographers whose work I admire and I watch them, mostly at night when the house is asleep and it gives me a chance to brush up skills that I lack in. This applies to anyone in any field. My excitement levels only rise because I'm eager to apply them to my work.
BRAND REFRESH. Are you not happy with your logo, website, branding materials like business cards, contracts or social media posts? Call on a skillful friend who can help you freshen things up or take on the task of teaching yourself. This isn't an overnight process if you're a perfectionist like me so it'll take a few weeks to freshen things up. Then when work resumes back to normal, you’ll have a cleaner, healthier brand to display.
EXERCISE. I mentioned this earlier in the discussion but find 30mins to an hour to get in some physical activity. A quick jog, jump rope, plyometric movements can all be done inside or in the backyard. You will release endorphins into the body, boost the immune system and just feel good once you’re done. Since most gyms have closed and training sessions have ceased, this is still no excuse to not workout at home. There are also apps (mostly paid) where you can download workouts at home. Like my trainer friend KJ says “Y'all know the mission…HARD WORK!”
PLAN YOUR NEXT PROJECT. With planning comes inspiration. Usually, I see something that sparks my interest and I want to shoot something based on how it makes me feel. For that reason, it’s why I am addicted to PINTEREST. I spend hours a day looking through images I love. I plan my shoots and I build mood boards on Pinterest using images that I come across.
REASSURE CLIENTS. By now most clients have either postponed or canceled work altogether. Call or email them letting them know that you understand the seriousness of COVID-19 and reassure them that if they still want to do work, that it comes with taking certain precautions in place. As a photographer, that’s no more than 10 people on set including the client. Reschedule them to a time when officials say and let them know you’re still very much interested in working with them.
STAY HYDRATED. Just because this is as important as anything else. Am I the only one who, once in a creative zone shuts the outside world out? I have to remind myself of the basic necessities my body needs to function like drinking water and eating good food.
STAY POSITIVE. The mind attracts that which your own thoughts project.