As we are now in December 2024 and approaching the end of the year, it’s now been exactly one year since I’ve been working as a self-employed delivery driver on UberEats. I joined JustEat a few months later as there was no availability in my area at that time, and only this month, I have also been approved to work on Stuart. Although I’m yet to do any shifts with them yet.
Recently, I was thinking about work and how it might be best to stay motivated while working deliveries. While it can be a rewarding job, it can also be a tiring job and if you are considering this line of work, be advised that you will have to work long hours to actually make a wage. I’m not talking about a standard 9 to 5, Monday to Friday. Realistically, you want to be doing at least 12 hours a day, if not more, for at least three days out of the week. It would also be a good consideration to work weekends, as these periods tend to be the busiest throughout the whole week.
If you are considering, or are currently working as a delivery courier for Uber, JustEat, Stuart, Deliveroo, or anything else, the question is, how do you stay motivated? I will share with you some points I have learned from my time on the road.
1) Listen to something that keeps you going
This is an obvious one, but it’s also a very important one. You need something engaging and something that will keep you in a positive mindset. For me, this depends on my mood. I may listen to a local radio station if there’s a particular show I want to listen to, or I may listen to a podcast or a book on audible or even my own playlist. Whatever keeps you going, play something that you enjoy listening to. As you most likely know the likes of Amazon Music, Apple Music and Spotify have the facility to create playlists. Perhaps you may have one specifically for working deliveries? Or a good engaging podcast, of which there’s plenty available on BBC Sounds, YouTube, and the aforementioned streaming services.
2) Focus more on the number of runs rather than how much you’ve made
OK, you can to a degree focus on how much money you are making, as this is an important one. However, I find that keeping tabs on the number of runs I’ve done in a day is far more engaging than focusing on how much money you’ve made. In my experience, you need to aim for around 20 to 30 runs per day. Anything more than that is a brilliant bonus. Bear in mind that you may not make that every day, though it is easily possible even on a quiet day, so long as you put the hours in. On the Uber courier app, you can easily see the number of runs you have done any time by pressing the earnings window at the top centre of the app. On JustEat, simply click the earnings tab, and you can see how many orders you have completed on each day of the week.
3) Take regular breaks
This seems like another obvious one, but the one thing you don’t want to do is wear yourself out. Set yourself a target. For example, after I’ve done 7 runs, I will stop and go for a short walk, or grab a coffee from Starbucks, etc. Whatever it may be, ensure you take time out for yourself. Only then can you stay fresh and alert, ready for more orders.
4) Be kind to the customer
Again, this one is fairly obvious, but when I say be kind to the customer, I don’t mean just hand them the order and leave it at that. Have a positive attitude and demeaner, and this will usually be reflected back from the customer. Ask them if they’re having a good day or evening and engage with them. Not only will this make you feel more positive, but it also increases your likelihood of receiving tips and keeping your satisfaction rating at a high level.
5) Have some company
Don’t be afraid to take someone along for the ride with you if they’re free and willing to do so. I regularly take friends along and even my partner out to work with me. Sometimes, having the company can make the day go faster, and it can be less boring, especially when you are waiting around for an order.
These are some of the things I do to keep me going when working deliveries. Are there any tips you follow to keep you going when you work deliveries? Let me know in the comments below. Have fun, enjoy and stay happy.
