Being a freelancer requires effective time management because you are responsible for making your own decisions and there is no set structure. The main difficulty lies in the fact that you have the freedom to work on your own terms and location.
If you are working from home, you might need to adjust your schedule to accommodate your family. If you are working from a co-working space, your colleagues might divert your attention. Moreover, there is the potential for getting easily distracted by social media. However, unlike other factors that affect business, time is something within your control. Freelancers can determine whether time is their ally or their foe.
What are the steps to staying self-disciplined and focused? How can you maximize your time as a freelancer?
In this article, you will find various strategies, listen to candid stories, and gain insights from the experiences of other freelancers. Remember, you are not alone, as we all share the same challenges within the freelance community.
SCHEDULE REGULAR TIME OFF AND STICK TO IT
Firstly, determine which specific evenings or weekends you will refrain from working on a weekly basis. It is crucial to adhere to this consistent schedule of taking time off. However, in case an urgent task or deadline arises which prevents you from taking your usual time off, continue working until the task is completed and the deadline is met. Subsequently, ensure that you compensate for the days or evenings you worked through by taking time off in lieu of those.
Make sure to schedule a week or two of time off during the most opportune periods for your business. Unless your business is consistently busy, plan your leave for a time when there is naturally less activity (for instance, January or July work for me). The purpose of these breaks is not only to give you a chance to rest but also to provide an opportunity to assess the progress of your business. Upon your return, you can then clear your mind and manage your business more effectively.
WHEN AT WORK, OPERATE IN ‘WORK-MODE’
If you work in a service industry, such as editing, accounting, or consulting, it is important to have a dedicated office space separate from the rest of your home. If your business requires a workshop, that designated area will serve as your workspace (referred to as an ‘office’ in this context). Avoid working in common areas like the living room, veranda, or public places like a pub. Utilize your office solely for work-related activities and refrain from using it for any other purposes.
Each time you arrive at your office, activate your ‘work-mode’ by transitioning from your typical self to the professional persona required to carry out your job.
Think of your phone primarily as a work tool that should be kept in your office. Only respond to voice calls or emails when you are in your office. It is understood that there may be instances where you will need to use your phone outside of the office, but even then, adhere to this rule.
- make sure you are in a suitably quiet place (e.g. not in a mall or a busy cafe)
- don’t forget to switch your brain ‘on’ into work-mode before speaking. And ‘off’ again after the call/email.
LEARN TO SWITCH OFF
If you are an individual who works from home, it is imperative that you possess the ability to transition your mindset from “work-mode” to “life-mode” whenever you conclude your professional tasks.
In order to maintain a balanced life outside of work, it is important to ensure that whatever occurs at work remains within the confines of the workplace.
If you have been upset by something at work or need a different perspective on a work-related matter, it is advisable to have a discussion, provided you can maintain confidentiality. However, it is generally recommended to leave work issues behind closed doors and within the office space.
After facing the difficulties for a considerable period, my main obstacle in running my scribing and editing business was the ability to unwind and relax once work was done. Luckily, I have managed to learn this skill quite effectively.
I have a few tools that I utilize to transition from work to personal life once I finish my job. It’s important to note that your work may vary in terms of stress levels and your methods for relaxing may differ as well.
- Focus your eyes on something distant such as a treetop or mountaintop or skyscraper against the sky, and look at that tall distant thing until your work-eyes refocus. Watching a tree, when your long-distance focus comes back you’ll see the leaves become clearer and the topmost leaves standing out in sharp 3-D contrast to the sky. You have forgotten about work, and switched off work, and switched back into normal life.
- Other ways to switch yourself back into ‘life-mode’ are to just quietly with your eyes closed and try to not think at all (some people call this meditation); or just sit down and having a cup of tea by yourself in the lounge room or garden or anywhere that is a peaceful space for you. Don’t think about work and don’t be in a hurry, just for that five or ten minutes. Then switch back into normal life.
MINIMIZE DISTRACTIONS
Social media and email are major contributors to decreased productivity.
Kelly Vaughn cautions against constantly checking email throughout the day. She suggests checking email three times a day: in the morning to start the day, after lunch, and before the end of the day. During these times, quick responses can be addressed and tasks can be created to respond to other emails later.
In order to ensure that you are solely working on client material and not engaging in scrolling through Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, developer Patrick Johnson suggests using a focus app similar to HeyFocus.
Chris Wilson, the creator of Super Turbo Action Pig and a developer of mobile apps and games, occasionally incorporates The Emergent Task Timer into his work routine. This simple printed timeline allows him to periodically record his activities throughout the day.
He explains that when tasks come up that you should be doing, you jot them down at the top of the page, and distractions are written at the bottom. Throughout the day, in 15 minute increments, you create a visual representation of how you spent your time. There is also a way to keep track of distractions that last less than 15 minutes, like checking social media or email. This method is helpful for freelancers who have difficulty with procrastination or are unaware of their own bad habits.
BREAK THINGS DOWN
Rina Miele, a freelance creative director, suggests the creation of limits as a solution.
She explains the process of breaking things down into smaller tasks. She advises to do quick iterations in a short time period, then analyze what worked and what did not, and make improvements based on those ideas. Repeat this process again and again.
By thinking step by step, you can avoid investing excessive time in an idea that may not yield positive results. Additionally, this approach will enable you to estimate the time required for future projects of a similar nature.
Mobile app and game developer Chris Wilson shares a similar preference. After determining his tasks, Wilson divides the work into 25-minute increments and employs Be Focused Pro, using the Pomodoro technique to manage his time.
He explains that he strives to finish 10 tasks that have been clearly defined each day. He further states that even though this method requires less time compared to a typical work day, he is able to accomplish more. It usually takes him a few days of not using this technique to understand its true worth. He frequently relies on the Pomodoro technique.
SUMMARY
Task management is ultimately a personal process. It is possible that the approaches mentioned earlier may not be suitable for you. It is crucial to avoid fixating on a specific application or method. Experimenting with various systems and identifying your most productive time of day will help you discover your own effective time management strategy.
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