There are tons of articles and blog posts out there with tips on how to manage your time better as a freelancer. Some of them might be helpful. Some of them might not. The reality is, though, that no one can tell you exactly what will work for YOU as a freelancer.
That’s something you have to figure out on your own through trial and error, or even by being bold enough to just try something different for a bit to see how it feels before making a final decision about whether it works for you in the long run.
If you’re looking for advice on time management for freelancers like me who happen to be working from home most days (although hopefully not all days), I’m here today with some tips that have worked well over the years and some that haven’t worked so well!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Set clear goals and prioritize tasks to stay focused and organized. |
| 2. Utilize time-tracking tools to monitor productivity and identify areas for improvement. |
| 3. Avoid common time-wasting habits, such as excessive social media use and multitasking. |
| 4. Establish a structured work schedule and designate separate workspaces for increased efficiency. |
| 5. Break tasks into smaller, manageable chunks to handle tight deadlines and multiple projects effectively. |
| 6. Communicate transparently with clients about timelines and project progress. |
| 7. Use effective techniques like the Pomodoro technique to overcome procrastination. |
| 8. Take regular breaks and prioritize self-care to maintain a healthy work-life balance. |
| 9. Consider using project management tools to streamline workflows and enhance collaboration. |
| 10. Reward yourself for completing tasks on time to stay motivated and boost productivity. |
Use A Timer
It’s inevitable that you will get distracted from your work. You might be hungry or thirsty, waiting for something to finish downloading, or have a friend who sends you a funny video on Facebook (hey! It happens).
The best way to stay focused is to set time limits for yourself and make sure that you stick with them. For example: “I will spend no more than 30 minutes working on this project before taking a break.” Or: “I will work on this task for as long as I can before checking my email again.”
This helps prevent procrastination because it gives us an end goal in sight and ticking off our list feels great!
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Keep Track Of Your Time
The best way to manage your time is to keep track of it. There are a lot of ways you can do this, but the most important thing is that you choose one method and stick with it.
Keeping track of your time will help you see where your time goes and help you identify problems in how you spend it.
Here are some ways for freelancers to keep track of their time:
Use a timer, like [the Pomodoro Technique](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique). This method involves working in 25-minute bursts followed by 5 minutes of break time (or longer if needed).
It’s great because it forces focus on the task at hand without getting distracted by other things happening around us.
The timer acts as a sort of “mental break space” where we get away from everything else going on around us while still knowing when we should get back into work mode again after those 25 minutes have passed
Focus On One Task At A Time
When you’re working as a freelancer, it’s easy to find yourself jumping from task to task. One minute, you’re answering an email and the next minute, you’ve opened your browser and are looking at news stories. What happened?
The simple answer is that we often get distracted by things that aren’t related to the task we’re working on.
This can be tough when there are so many different things competing for our attention: social media notifications popping up in the corner of your screen or someone calling out to us while we’re trying to focus on something else.
The best way around this is simply not letting yourself get distracted in the first place. If someone walks into your office who wants to talk about something completely unrelated even if they insist on talking even though they know that this isn’t a good time.
Just politely tell them “I’m very busy right now” (or whatever makes sense) and explain what their options are for handling this issue later on during business hours.
If possible, try blocking out an hour or two each day where nobody gets access except for those who absolutely must have face-to-face conversations with you.
This will give everyone else time off from interruptions and allow them plenty of opportunities over time instead of just one big block every few days or weeks!
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Work In Spurts
If you’re working remotely, you can get distracted by the internet pretty easily. There are plenty of websites out there that will make it easy to waste your day. The best way to avoid that is to work in spurts.
Instead of trying to work all day long, set a timer for an hour or so at a time and then take a break.
You can give yourself permission to get up from your desk and walk around for a little bit if you need it just make sure not to go far enough away where someone else might steal your seat!
After each stretch of focused time, take a longer break: an hour or more if possible. This will help keep your mind fresh and give you time off from staring at the same screen every minute on the clock (which probably doesn’t even have numbers).
Have A Routine
Having a routine is the best way to make sure you get things done. It’s easy to let work pile up when you don’t have a system for managing it, but once you do, getting things done won’t take as much effort anymore.
And having a routine will help you stay productive even when you have time constraints and other distractions that might get in the way of your work schedule (like family commitments or other responsibilities). Here are some tips on how to set up your own routine:
Start small: Don’t expect to change everything at once! Pick one area where it would be beneficial for you to develop a routine if possible, try sticking with the same thing every day so you can build up habits around what works best for yourself.
And then expand from there as time goes on. For example, if Monday through Friday are too busy with appointments or meetings during business hours, try starting with an evening routine where nothing else matters except finishing tasks before bedtime
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Set Alarms To Remind You To Take Breaks, Turn Off Notifications, And More
There are many ways to keep yourself from burning out, but one of the easiest is to set an alarm to remind you to take breaks.
This can be as simple as setting a timer on your phone, or using an app such as Todoist or Timely, which allow you to schedule recurring tasks and reminders.
These apps can also help automate some other time-saving strategies like turning off notifications during work hours.
Setting up automatic email responses so that colleagues know when they’ll hear back from you in response to a given task (i.e., “I will reply by next Wednesday afternoon”), and even turning off your phone while working which is something I do every day!
Close The Apps That Distract You Most
Close the apps that distract you most. If you’re anything like me, it’s impossible to stay focused when I have Twitter and Facebook right there in front of me. So turn them off! And close out any other apps that are likely to distract you as well.
Use a timer to remind yourself of your distractions. Rather than trying to keep track of how long it’s been since you’ve checked your phone or computer (which is almost impossible), set up an alarm on your phone with a specific time limit for each task at hand.
After 30 minutes, if necessary, set another timer for 15 minutes and then again every 15 minutes until done but don’t forget about this!
The key here is not just setting aside the time but also making sure that no matter what happens during that period of focus-only activity.
Whether it be an important call or text message from a client who needs help ASAP or even just hearing someone else talk loudly in the room next door while they work on something else entirely unrelated;
Once those things come up during this period where everything else has been shut down so nothing can interfere…
Find Others Who Do Similar Work To You And Connect With Them
Finding other people who do similar work to you and connecting with them is an essential part of your time management strategy. Working alone can be isolating, but there are several reasons why it’s important to get out there and meet people in your field:
It helps build a community around the work that you do. When you join groups online or attend events locally, it allows you to connect with others who have similar interests and needs which can help foster ideas or even lead to future collaboration opportunities!
Many freelancers find that they learn new skills just by being around other freelancers; this happens because we tend not only to learn from others’ experiences but also to share our own. If someone asks for help on Twitter or Facebook, don’t hesitate! It’s good for everyone involved!
Having strong relationships will help ensure consistent workflow as well as increase your chances of getting repeat business from clients who trust how hardworking their contractors are at what they do best (and vice versa).
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Know What Works For You And Stick With It, Even When Others Don’t Understand It
Once you’ve identified what works for you, stick with it.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different methods and techniques, but don’t let this experimentation become a distraction from what’s working for you.
It’s important to identify your productivity sweet spots, especially in the beginning when self-management is new territory.
When I started as a freelancer myself, I was still managing my time using a traditional planner system (one that didn’t work well).
But then I discovered bullet journaling and quickly fell in love! After some trial-and-error, I found an approach that worked well for me but not for everyone else.
Many people struggle with their productivity systems because they don’t understand why someone else would choose one method over another.
And if someone tells them their way won’t work? They can get defensive or defensive about changing their methods altogether just because someone else thinks theirs is better than theirs even though it may not always be true!
Plan For Distractions And Interruptions So They’re Less Of A Shock
One of the best ways to deal with distractions and interruptions is to plan for them. You can’t control your surroundings, but you can control your actions.
If you know in advance that there will be people around who want to chat with you, or if it’s a day that you’re particularly prone to falling behind on tasks due to distractions.
It makes sense to plan and make sure that other tasks are completed first so they don’t get pushed back even further by these unexpected events.
Planning also means making lists of things that might distract or interrupt you so they don’t catch you off guard when they happen.
For example: “When I’m working at home today (or tomorrow), my little sister will come into my room every twenty minutes asking me about this girl she likes.” Or: “At work today there will be a team meeting after lunch.”
This way when these things do occur, instead of panicking about losing time from being unprepared for them (or panicking about what happens if no one is prepared) everyone knows what their role is going forward until the issue has been resolved.
Which often isn’t long at all!
Be prepared for distractions by preparing yourself first and foremost; making time management lists before starting work helps ensure nothing gets forgotten in between steps along the way because everything’s already been accounted for!
Make sure everyone else around knows what needs doing too so none of us forget anything important either–especially since we often forget ourselves what needs doing sometimes…
Take A Walk Or Do Something Else Physical At Least Once Every Day
You can work yourself to near exhaustion, but if you don’t make time for exercise, your brain will become so exhausted that it won’t be able to function properly. Exercise helps to clear the cobwebs from your mind so that you can focus on the tasks at hand.
Exercise also helps increase blood flow and release endorphins those feel-good chemicals that are responsible for making us happy.
When people feel good, they’re more likely to be productive in other areas of their lives as well and we all know how important productivity is when running a business!
In addition to increasing happiness and productivity levels, regular exercise has been shown time and time again by medical professionals around the world that it’s also extremely beneficial in reducing stress levels (which can often result in poor sleep quality).
By exercising regularly throughout each day or week (depending on how much free time we have), stress levels will decrease significantly over time due to improved physical health resulting from increased cardiovascular activity.
Get Feedback From Clients About How They Want To Manage Their Time While Working With You
When you start to work with clients, it’s important to get feedback about how they would like to be managed.
This information is crucial because it will give you a better idea of what your time management should look like for each client. Some clients need weekly reports, while others prefer daily updates or even no updates at all.
Asking them what kind of communication they prefer can help you prevent misunderstandings and ensure that everyone has a clear idea of expectations as the relationship progresses.
Be Honest With Yourself About How Your Work Might Make Other People Feel, So That You Can Figure Out Ways To Balance It Out If Needed
The right choice for you will depend on the kind of work you’re doing, your personality type, and how much time (and energy) you want to invest in your side hustle. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
- How is what I do making other people feel?
- Do I have a good sense of how my work might make other people feel?
If not, it’s time to get honest with yourself about it by asking friends and family who know you well.
If they seem like they’re holding back on anything when talking about your business or freelance gig or if their tone changes when sharing feedback then chances are that there are some issues with your scheduling or communication style that need addressing.
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Start Each Day In The Best Way Possible For You To Be Productive Later On In The Day
As a freelancer, you need to understand how important it is to start each day in the best way possible for you to be productive later on in the day. Here are some tips that will help:
Start your morning with some sort of exercise. You can go for a jog, go for a swim or do yoga. Even if you only have 15-30 minutes to spare, this will improve your energy levels and focus throughout the rest of the day.
After your workout, eat breakfast right away! This is crucial because eating something small before you start working gives you more energy than skipping breakfast altogether (and let’s face it who wants to wake up hungry?).
Make sure that your workspace is organized so that when it’s time to get down to business there aren’t any distractions or things standing in your way from getting work done efficiently and effectively.
Conclusion
Now that you’ve read our article on time management tips for freelancers, we hope you feel better equipped to tackle the challenges of working from home!
We know that it can be easy to lose track of time when there isn’t anyone around to remind you what day it is or when lunch break should start, so don’t forget to set up an alarm and/or calendar reminder for yourself if needed.
That way (hopefully) no one will be upset with their latte being late because they didn’t get notified about something important until after work hours.
Further Reading
Time Management Tips for Freelancers: Discover effective time management strategies tailored specifically for freelancers to boost productivity and work-life balance.
Time Management for Freelancers: Learn practical tips and techniques to optimize time management as a freelancer, ensuring efficient workflow and successful project delivery.
5 Tips to Properly Manage Your Time as a Freelancer: This article provides five valuable tips to help freelancers effectively manage their time, leading to increased productivity and improved business outcomes.
FAQs
How can I improve my time management as a freelancer?
Improving time management as a freelancer involves setting clear goals, prioritizing tasks, and using productivity tools like time-tracking apps to monitor progress.
What are some common time-wasting habits freelancers should avoid?
Common time-wasting habits freelancers should avoid include excessive social media use during work hours, multitasking, and failing to establish a structured work schedule.
How can I maintain a healthy work-life balance as a freelancer?
Maintaining a healthy work-life balance as a freelancer requires setting boundaries, scheduling regular breaks, and ensuring designated workspaces separate from personal spaces.
How do I handle tight deadlines and multiple projects as a freelancer?
To handle tight deadlines and multiple projects, freelancers can break tasks into smaller, manageable chunks, use project management tools, and communicate transparently with clients about timelines.
Are there any effective time management techniques for overcoming procrastination?
Yes, there are several effective techniques to overcome procrastination, including the Pomodoro technique, creating daily to-do lists, and rewarding oneself for completing tasks on time.
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.