Are you new to freelance work and looking to manage your time and money properly? If yes, then this article is for you. We are going to discuss the tips and tricks on freelance jobs and managing your time in a smart way.
Freelancing is kind of trending nowadays as a full-time job, but working as a freelancer needs more than just sitting at home. In fact, working through an agency or firm can also be considered freelancing. But, working independently means you will get more control over your work.
However, freelancing also comes with its own challenges such as time management, limited resources (money), dealing with projects that are out of your comfort zone, etc.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Prioritize tasks to manage time effectively. |
| 2. Set clear goals for each freelance project. |
| 3. Use time-tracking tools to monitor progress. |
| 4. Create a structured daily schedule. |
| 5. Take regular breaks to avoid burnout. |
| 6. Embrace the Pomodoro Technique for focus. |
| 7. Learn to say no to excessive work demands. |
| 8. Maintain a healthy work-life balance. |
| 9. Collaborate with others to share workload. |
| 10. Avoid procrastination for better efficiency. |
1. Don’t Be Afraid To Say No
Just because you’re a freelancer doesn’t mean you have to accept every job that comes your way. If a project isn’t going to fit in with your plans, then politely turn it down and offer the client some feedback on why it might not be right for you. If a client is taking up too much of your time, then again politely say no and explain that you have other commitments.
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2. Don’t Be Afraid To Ask Questions
If you’re unsure of something, ask the person who hired you or email the person in charge of the project. If you are working with a new client, make sure you understand the project completely before you start working on it. Not only will this help ensure that you are billing appropriately, but it will also help ensure that your client isn’t unhappy with the product you deliver.
3. Set Up A Schedule For Yourself
Even if you’re working from home and don’t have set hours for work, find a way to structure your days so that you accomplish all of your work-related tasks each day. This may mean waking up early or staying up late at night, but whatever works best for your schedule is fine as long as it gets done.
4. Don’t Be Afraid To Outsource
Outsourcing is another skill you need to learn as a freelancer. You may think you need to do everything yourself, but that’s not the case. There are plenty of people who can take over some of the tasks on your plate and free up time for you and they can do it better than you can.
If you’re going to outsource, it’s important to know what you don’t want to or can’t do yourself and then hand it off. If there’s anything left on your plate that you’re not willing or able to tackle, tell your client and find someone else who can do it for them (or for both of you).
5. Set Clear Boundaries With Clients
Some clients will happily take over your life if you let them – set clear boundaries at the outset to make sure this doesn’t happen, such as setting times when you are unavailable or when they can expect an email reply from you.
Be very careful about letting clients know when you are available outside of work hours – it can be difficult to draw the line once they realize that they can get hold of you at all times.
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6. Find Your Goals
As a freelancer, you need to understand where you want to be in the future and what you want to achieve from your work. If you’re planning to work freelance while you study, then you may want to focus on building a reliable list of clients that are returning in the future.
If you are freelancing as an alternative way to full-time employment, then start thinking about how you can manage your time so that you can grow your business and eventually take on staff.
7. Use Your Free Time Wisely
If you have some spare time in between jobs, use it wisely by writing a blog post, updating your website or working on new marketing material. Don’t just let the minutes tick away when there is always something more productive that you can do.
8. Take A Break If You Need One
Everyone needs time to relax and recharge, but it can be hard to take a break when you’re responsible for your own freelance career. If you’re feeling burned out, give yourself permission to step away from work and enjoy the rest of your life. When you come back, you’ll feel refreshed and more productive than ever.
9. Get To Know Your Clients
It’s easier than ever to communicate with clients from all over the world, but working with someone remotely can make it harder to connect on a personal level. Make an effort to get to know your clients as people rather than just names on an email chain — that way, when something unexpected comes up, they’ll be more likely to trust you enough to work through it together.
10. Don’t Be Afraid Of Rejection
One of the hazards of working freelance is the fact that you have to put yourself out there, time and time again. If you’re lucky, you’ll land a dream client in your very first interview, but oftentimes it takes a series of rejections to find your fit.
The key is not to get too discouraged. There are so many reasons why a client might decide not to work with you: they already have a team in place, they couldn’t afford your asking rate, or maybe they just didn’t feel like it was a good match. It doesn’t mean they didn’t like you! It doesn’t mean you aren’t awesome! It just means that right now isn’t the right time.
And who knows? The guy who rejected you yesterday might be back on the market tomorrow with a new project that’s right up your alley.
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11. Get Your Portfolio Ready
Making sure you have a portfolio (and that it’s current!) is crucial when you’re looking for freelance work. Even if your previous clients are confidential, or you can’t post their names on your website, having a document showing what you’ve done in the past will be an invaluable resource as you market yourself to potential new clients.
12. Make Sure Your Bio Is Current
Your bio, the one- or two-paragraph statement of who you are and what you do is often the first thing clients see when they visit your website or LinkedIn page. It’s important, then, that it not only reflects who you are today but also shows off some of the best work you’ve done recently.
13. Know Your Worth
Are you a beginner? Do you have years of experience under your belt? Are you making the same amount of money as someone who has been doing this full-time for five years? Do some research and see where you fall in the market rate. You might find out that the rates you’ve been charging are too low or too high compared to what other freelancers charge for the same thing.
14. Set A Deadline For Each Task
You know what it’s like when you have too much time to do something: you start to procrastinate, and then before you know it, the day is over and your work has barely started. But when we set deadlines for ourselves, we’re more likely to get started on the thing that needs to be done. And suddenly, things are getting done! It’s honestly incredible
15. Start The Day With Your Most Difficult Task
I think we’ve all been there: you start doing a thing, and it’s HARD. You set it aside because it’s hard, and you decide to go back later when you feel more ready. Or maybe there’s something else that’s a little easier than you can do instead of working on the thing that feels so hard right now.
But here’s the thing: if you keep putting off the hard stuff, it will always feel hard and there will always be other things that are easier to do instead. So why not tackle the hard stuff first? Because once it’s done… it won’t feel so hard anymore! You’ll have gotten past one of those obstacles that felt so big in your mind, and suddenly you’ll be feeling unstoppable as you tackle them.
16. Get Organized
Put things away when they’re not needed anymore and clean regularly to reduce clutter in your home or workspace, this will help keep distractions at bay while still being able to find whatever it is that you need quickly without having to spend hours searching through piles of paperwork just because everything wasn’t put away properly before leaving for the day.
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17. Track Your Time And Expenses
Time tracking is a great way to see how long it takes you to complete tasks. It also helps you learn how to better manage your time so that you can budget your workday and make sure all of your responsibilities are completed in a timely manner. It can be as easy as setting an alarm on your phone for the beginning and end of a task so that you know how long it took from start to finish.
You can also track your expenses by keeping receipts for purchases related to business expenses, such as office supplies or client lunches. This allows you to more accurately calculate how much money you spent on business expenses versus personal ones and gives an accurate picture of what percentage of your income goes toward business expenses versus personal ones (and vice versa).
18. Don’t Try To Do Too Much At Once
We’ve all been there. You’re working on a freelance project, and you have so many ideas that you have trouble narrowing down what you actually want to do with the project. This can lead to you getting nowhere fast, especially when it comes to deadlines.
This is why it’s important to reprioritize and take some time to figure out what the most important part of your project is. If you can focus on the essentials and make them great, then the rest will fall into place, and you’ll be happy with the results.
19. Stay Healthy With A Good Diet
You’re used to working nine to five, and you probably got into the habit of eating unhealthy food from vending machines or takeout places. When you work online on a freelance job, the temptation can be even greater. It’s easy to snack when you don’t have any coworkers around to tell you not to.
You can go several hours without taking a break for lunch or dinner. The night is your time to burn the midnight oil, and as long as you get it all done by early morning, who cares how much time you spend in front of your computer?
Make sure that you schedule at least one meal a day, preferably lunch, and make an effort to cook healthy meals. You’ll feel better in the long run if you take care of yourself now.
20. Get Up Early
Getting up early allows you to get started on your day before the rest of the world has even woken up. This is great for getting stuff done – from working out, to writing that article, or whatever else you need to do.
There are plenty of benefits to getting up early, but one of the best ones is that it helps you feel more in control of your day. Getting up early is a simple way to improve your life, so start now and see what I mean.
21. Beware Of Scammers
Scammers are a real problem. They’re out there to get you, your work, and your information. Be cautious of clients who want you to submit any kind of personal, professional, or financial information before you begin working on a project. Chances are they will take it and run without paying you. Remember, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is!
22. Build Your Network
Building up a network of clients is essential for freelancing. It’s a lot easier to get work from previous clients than it is to find new ones, so try to be open and friendly, create lasting relationships with clients, and stay in touch even when you’re not working on projects together.
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23. Set Boundaries With Friends And Family
You love spending time with your loved ones, but you also have to make time for your freelance job. Set boundaries with them and make sure they understand that your time belongs to you. If a friend or a family member wants to do something with you when you are busy, tell them that the timing is not right, so they don’t get the impression that they can mess up your schedule any time they want.
Final Thought
Over the course of your freelance career, you’ll come across so many different challenges and situations that it’s difficult to know exactly what will work for you best. The only real way to find this out is by trial and error – and even then, there are circumstances you may never encounter.
As a result, these quick tips are designed to help point the way and offer some solid advice towards success in your freelance career. Whether you’re an experienced pro or just starting out, it never hurts to learn how to squeeze more time out of every day.
Further Reading
Time Management Tips: Learn effective time management strategies to boost productivity and achieve your goals.
Time Management Tips for Freelancers: Explore specialized time management techniques tailored for freelancers to optimize their work schedules.
11 Time Management Tips for Freelancers: Discover practical tips to enhance discipline and time management, specifically designed for freelancers.
People Also Ask
How Much Money Can I Expect To Make If I Start Freelancing?
We don’t know. There are a lot of different factors that go into what kind of pay you can expect. If you’re just starting out, and you’re not sure how to market yourself or find clients, it might be hard to earn much at all.
But once you’ve been freelancing for a while, and you have a portfolio of work, a network of contacts, and some experience on your side, your earning potential will go up.
How Much Time Should I Give Myself To Complete A Project?
If you have an exact deadline that you have to meet, build in some padding so you don’t feel rushed. If your client has given you a lot of freedom, it’s best to finish your work as quickly as possible so you can move on to the next project and get paid more quickly.
How Do I Decide How Much To Charge Per Project?
You can research comparable freelance jobs on sites like Upwork and Fiverr and use that data to get an idea of what to charge per project. However, if you’re new or have no track record, be willing to offer a lower price in exchange for opportunities to add experience to your portfolio. As your skills grow and you gain a reputation, you’ll be able to increase your rates for future projects.
Why Is It Important To Have A Dedicated Work Area?
It’s important to have a dedicated work area because you need to be able to transition between leisure and work mode. If you don’t have a dedicated space where you can do your freelancing, it will be harder to separate the two—and it will be hard for anyone in your household to know when you can be disturbed and when you need absolute focus.
If you’re working at home, this is even more important because you won’t necessarily have an office where coworkers can see that you’re working and leave you alone.
How Do I Actually Stay Focused?
You need to create a schedule for yourself. There are some great apps that allow you to set up recurring tasks, reminder alarms, and so forth—all of which will help make sure that you stay on task and focused on your project.
How Do I Find Freelance Jobs?
There are many ways to find freelance jobs. You can search publications like Upwork, Indeed, and Glassdoor, or you can network through friends, family members, and even people you meet on social media. Don’t be afraid to ask your contacts if they need any help—you never know who might be in need of some extra support.
How Do I Get Started As A Freelancer?
Getting started with freelancing is pretty simple: you just have to decide what you want to offer other people and then convince them that you’re the best person for the job.
You’ll also want to make sure that you’ve got your finances in order—you’ll need a way to keep track of how much money you’re making and how much is going out so that it’s easy for you to see whether or not being a freelancer is worth it for you!
What Is The Best Way To Market Me As A Freelancer?
The best way to market yourself is to ask your clients for referrals. When you’ve done great work, they’ll be more than happy to send clients your way.
What Are Some Ways To Get The Most Out Of Networking Events?
The best way to get the most out of a networking event is to make sure you’re meeting with others who are in your industry or can help you connect with people who are interested in what you do.
You should also be prepared with a 30-second elevator pitch about your skills and experience, as well as business cards or other contact information.
Do You Have Any Tips For Getting Paid Faster So That I Can Pay My Bills On Time?
Yes—you should make it easy for clients to pay. Always include a link in your invoice email where they can pay, and don’t send an invoice until after you’ve finished the job. This way they can’t use the excuse that they still need some work done before they pay up.
What Is The Best Way To Deal With Difficult Clients?
Great question. We’re glad you asked!
The best way to deal with difficult clients is to first ask yourself, “Is it worth working with a difficult client?” If the answer is yes, then it’s all about setting boundaries and expectations.
First, let your client know that you are happy to work with them, but only if they agree to a list of policies that will make your working relationship better for both of you. Set clear expectations about what you will deliver and when you will deliver it, and make sure your client understands those expectations.
Then create a policy for reviewing and approving your work, so that you don’t end up at the end of a deadline needing more time because you didn’t get approval on your work in time.
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