Managing Your Freelance Business While Barely Managing Time

When I first left my full-time job and started freelancing, one of the most difficult things was figuring out how to manage my time. As a freelancer (or really, any self-employed person), it’s up to you to determine your schedule and for me, that was quite a daunting task.

It wasn’t just about keeping myself busy; it was about staying on track and not letting things slip through the cracks.

As I’ve gained more experience with freelancing, my schedule has become much more streamlined and manageable, but it took time. Here are some tips that have helped me along the way:

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Takeaways
1. Effective time management is crucial for freelancers to succeed in their businesses.
2. Balancing freelance work and personal life requires setting clear boundaries.
3. Utilizing productivity tools and techniques can optimize freelancers’ efficiency.
4. Freelancers should prioritize self-care to avoid burnout and maintain well-being.
5. Diversifying income streams can provide stability in a fluctuating freelance market.

Table of Contents

1. Plan Ahead

To begin, you need to start planning ahead. Planning is important because it helps you avoid over-committing and also allows you to be more efficient in the long run.

It also helps you get stuff done more quickly, so that way, when people are asking questions like “How many hours do I have left?” or “When will my project be done?” they don’t have to wait around forever while they’re waiting on you.

Planning makes it easier for clients and customers alike because then they know exactly how much time has gone into a project before any actual work is done (or should be).

This means that everyone involved knows exactly what’s happening at all times and if something goes wrong along the way (which does happen), everyone knows where things stand immediately instead of having no idea until after everything has been completed successfully!

That way there won’t be any confusion about whether or not someone else needs their work done yet before yours finishes up properly.

Time management is the cornerstone of a successful freelance business. As the saying goes, “Time is money,” and implementing effective time management tips for freelancers can significantly boost productivity and income.

2. Prioritize Your Tasks

Before you start working, you need to prioritize your tasks. Some people like to do this by urgency and importance: urgent tasks go first, then important ones. Others prefer to rank based on their schedule or the client’s needs.

Regardless of how you decide which items are more pressing than others, they must be all taken care of in some order so that everyone is happy with the results.

It’s also a good idea to start with smaller responsibilities like answering emails before tackling larger projects like writing articles or editing photos. This way, everything can be done on time!

I’d recommend trying out different methods until you find one that works best for yourself and your business!

3. Manage Your Time In Batches

You can manage your time by batching. When you’re working on a task, set aside an hour or two (or however long it takes) and just work on that one thing until the timer goes off. Then move on to the next task on your list and repeat.

This method isn’t perfect, but it’s better than nothing at all if you’re having trouble keeping track of how much time you’ve spent working on different things throughout the day.

There are other ways to manage your time as well:

Use a calendar app like Google Calendar or Apple Calendar to schedule meetings with clients and ensure that everyone’s in sync about when projects will be delivered (and when payment will be made).

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4. Learn To Be Efficient On Your Commute

It’s inevitable: the moment you walk out of your office, you’re going to get stuck in traffic. But if you don’t make use of this downtime, it will be wasted. So how can you get more done during your commute?

Turn off notifications. Notifications distract from work, making them a major source of distraction for many people on public transportation.

If you receive an important email on your phone or computer, consider sending a reply so that the message doesn’t come up again when it’s not necessary and starts the interruptive cycle all over again (yep this is exactly why those inbox zero emails are so effective!).

Once you’ve turned off all unnecessary notifications and are sure they won’t pop up unexpectedly, then open up a document or spreadsheet and start working away at whatever project needs attention while waiting for your stop or train transfer!

Plan ahead. You may find yourself without internet access on public transit so take advantage of being offline by planning with tasks that require less connectivity such as reading a book or listening to audiobooks while traveling!

5. Make The Most Of Your First Hour Of Work

Now that you’ve set aside the time to get started and prepared your workspace, it’s time to turn on a timer for the first hour of work. This will help ensure that you don’t lose focus as well as prevent burnout.

Before long, your mind will be able to switch into “work mode” more easily and efficiently just by knowing when the clock starts ticking you’ll know it’s time to get down to business!

If possible, set another timer for yourself at the end of this first hour (or sooner if things are going well). This way you can keep track of how much time passes between starting work each day and finishing up with some self-care or planning ahead in preparation for tomorrow’s tasks.

If all goes according to one’s plan during this initial period, then maybe consider taking a longer break before heading back into focused productivity mode again later on in order not only to avoid burnout but also to allow oneself some fun outside their normal working hours too!

6. Work Outside Of Distractions

Turn off notifications.

Work in a quiet space, preferably one where your phone won’t go off.

Work somewhere that you can’t be distracted by other people, pets, or plants.

Work someplace where you won’t be disturbed by unexpected sounds or sights (for example: don’t try to write your novel while sitting next to a window).

The point is this: if it helps you focus on the task at hand, then do it!

If working from home isn’t an option for whatever reason and you need to find another place to work, consider renting a coworking space for a few hours each day it might just help make all the difference between success and failure for your freelance business.

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7. Take Care Of Yourself

You might be thinking, “I can’t even manage my time, how am I supposed to take care of myself?” But it’s so important. If you don’t prioritize your health, your work will suffer and you won’t have the energy or focus to get things done.

To make sure that you’re healthy and productive at the same time, there are a few things that need to happen:

Eat Well

Get enough sleep (7-8 hours) every night. Sleep deprivation makes us irritable and lethargic while we’re awake and more prone to mistakes at work!

This is especially important if you have early morning meetings or events where it would be embarrassing if you were yawning all over the place (like a client meeting).

You should also schedule meetings for later in the day when possible so that everyone involved can still go home after them without worrying about being up too late.

Take breaks from work every few hours during the day; this will help prevent burnout from long hours spent hunched over a computer screen all day long! It’s especially important not just because taking breaks helps prevent physical strain but also mental fatigue as well!

Studies show that multitasking makes us less efficient than focusing on one task at a time so try doing this whenever possible instead!

Do things that make YOU happy outside of working hours too whether it’s spending time with family & friends or pursuing hobbies like hiking/gardening/etcetera.

It’ll help keep stress levels low which means fewer stress hormones circulating through our bodies which will keep both mind & body feeling healthier overall!

8. Devise A System For Managing Incoming Requests And Tasks

When working for yourself, there’s no boss to tell you what to do. This means that you have to keep track of your own time and set your deadlines.

And when clients are demanding and everything is a priority, it can be hard to remember all of the things that need doing in the first place!

Luckily, there are lots of tools out there (like those listed above) that can help you manage tasks with ease. But if these tools aren’t for you or if they’re too expensive, here’s how I recommend organizing your schedule:

Create a list of all the tasks required for each project so that they’re easily accessible when needed. Then prioritize them based on importance or urgency (or both!).

If a task needs to be done ASAP but has low importance/low urgency ratings, create reminders at specific days/times during which someone else will complete it so that it doesn’t fall through the cracks.

While other more pressing matters take precedence over yours without notice until it’s too late…which brings me right back around again!

9. Learn To Say No (And Why You Need To)

Finally, you need to learn how to say no. This is something that comes with experience, but as long as you keep your eye on the prize (feeling good about yourself), it’s not so hard after all. There are plenty of ways to do this:

Be polite and clear about what you can and cannot do. Don’t make excuses for yourself or others; just put it out there in a way that won’t leave anyone feeling bad about themselves or their request.

Don’t feel guilty if someone wants something from you but they don’t have the time or resources to get it themselves you’re not responsible for everyone else’s needs!

Don’t say yes just because it’s a good opportunity if there’s no way for both parties involved to benefit equally from the exchange, then there’s no reason why both parties should go through with it anyway!

It might be difficult at first to get used to saying no when we feel like we owe someone something (especially if they’ve helped us out before).

But think of all those times where someone has done something nice for us without expecting anything back…and remember how much better we felt afterward? That’s what happens every time we say “no”.

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10. Don’t Bite Off More Than You Can Chew (In Other Words, Avoid Over-Committing)

It’s easy for clients to ask for the moon and then some. But there are plenty of ways to say no without burning bridges or losing out on opportunities:

Let them know what you’re capable of doing in a realistic timeframe. If they want something in a week and it will take you more than that, let them know up front so they can decide whether they want to wait or find another freelancer.

Be sure not just to tell them but also show them how much work comes with each project by sending an estimate before starting work on any given project so they have all the facts before making an informed decision about where and when their work will get done.

Don’t let clients push you into unrealistic deadlines (even if it means turning down money). A good rule of thumb is: if someone tells you that they need this by tomorrow at 8 am sharp and asks if that’s okay/possible/reasonable? The answer should always be “No.”

11. Delegate And Outsource Tasks That Don’t Require Your Attention

If you’re not a superstar project manager, you may be tempted to do everything yourself. But if your business is successful and growing, it’s time to start letting others take over some of the less important responsibilities.

Your virtual assistants are there for this very reason they can help manage your books, schedule appointments, draft content for social media posts (or even create entire blog posts), etc.

And don’t forget about outsourcing! If certain tasks aren’t core to what makes your business unique or profitable (for example: posting on Facebook from 3 p.m.-to 5 p.m.).

Then consider hiring someone who can help make those things happen at a lower cost than paying yourself for those hours of work each week/month/year in exchange for their time with clients.

Or customers instead of family members/friends/colleagues who might also need someone like them around during those times but won’t necessarily pay as much per hour since they’re already doing something else while still having plenty left over after meeting payroll every month no matter what happens!

12. Get Help From Tools And Other Freelancers

Use tools.

Get help from other freelancers.

Tools are a great way to manage your business, but they can only do so much. If you’re overwhelmed with work or just don’t have time to keep up with the latest updates on social media, consider hiring an assistant to help out with some of those tasks (or all of them!).

You can also hire someone else for more specific tasks: for example, if you need someone who knows how to use Photoshop and has experience designing web pages, look for a designer rather than trying to figure it out yourself.

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13. Regularly Update Clients About Your Schedule

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s important to keep your clients updated about what’s going on, even if it’s not much. You want them to know that you’re working hard and doing the best you can.

Have an open line of communication with your clients.

Ask for their input and feedback on projects or deadlines. Encouraging a two-way dialogue will help build trust between you and your client while also keeping things moving smoothly.

Ask questions in general: “What have I done well lately?” Or maybe something specific: “Do you have any suggestions as far as this next project?”

Or even just “How are things going at work today?” This will allow them to respond without feeling like they’ve been summoned by a coach demanding answers from his players during halftime (though sometimes that might work).

Conclusion

I won’t lie: managing your own time as a freelancer can be tough at first. But with determination and the right tips, it’s easy to make the most of your working hours.

Remember that while you don’t have to dedicate yourself to every task, you still have a responsibility to keep clients happy and engaged. If you do that, you’ll find that time management becomes much easier.

FAQs

How can I improve my time management as a freelancer?

Effective time management as a freelancer involves setting clear priorities, creating a schedule, and using productivity tools to stay organized and focused.

What are the common time management problems faced by freelancers?

Freelancers often struggle with procrastination, difficulty in setting boundaries between work and personal life, and challenges in meeting project deadlines.

Are there any tools that can help freelancers with time management?

Yes, several tools like time tracking software, task management apps, and calendar applications can assist freelancers in managing their time efficiently.

How can I balance multiple freelance projects and deadlines?

To balance multiple projects, freelancers can use project management techniques, break tasks into smaller segments, and allocate dedicated time for each project.

How do successful freelancers maintain a work-life balance?

Successful freelancers maintain a work-life balance by setting boundaries, taking breaks, and prioritizing self-care to avoid burnout and maintain overall well-being.

Costantine Edward

Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.