Once again, I like to share my recent collaboration with you. This piece contributes to the secret of my freelancing success and how I manage to create a reputation for myself, both as a recruiter and a copywriter on Upwork and Fiverr.com. For those who are struggling with freelancing, don’t give up and perhaps this article may shed some light to guide you to achieve financial stability in your life too.
Enjoy! And if you like to read more collaborative work, just pop by to Patty’s here.
Many people consider freelancing as the dream career for many reasons. You get to be the boss of your schedule, work whenever you want and earn as much as you want. While this indeed sounds perfect, there are times when freelancers, especially new ones, struggle to keep up with this schedule and stay productive.
How can you create a rhythm that will keep you going and improve your overall well being? Here are some tips to help you create a steady rhythm to manage your freelancing work:
Know your time preference
Each person has their ideal chronotype or time when they feel productive. Some are morning people, while others prefer doing their tasks at night. Once you identify your time preference, you can make a schedule to work with your body clock. Ensure that your plan works well with your employer or clients because they will definitely have expectations even though you are working for them as a freelancer.
Allot time to the major projects
As you work on your schedule, have a list of all your projects and look at their deadlines. Based on your plan, you will be most productive when it is the time when you can focus better, and your energy is at its peak. The best way to stay productive is by doing the urgent and most important projects before working on the less critical tasks. You can also look into the projects that have medium importance.
If you can’t tell which project to start off with, look at the deadline and start off with that.
Have boundaries for your freelance work
Like other careers, you will need to have boundaries to separate your work from your personal life, even if you are a freelancer. Without these boundaries, you will find yourself looking at your work inbox and not give yourself a break. It will also affect your focus significantly because you could have used your time wisely and do something more substantial for that time.
Like, when checking your emails, do them at a set time which will not affect your work, such as in the mornings or at the end of your work schedule.
Stick to your schedule
If you want to stay productive as a freelancer and not be late, you will need to focus on your schedule and stick with it. If you do not have a plan in mind for the day, you will only waste your time trying to come up with what to do rather than focus on the tasks at hand. It may also cause you to lose track of time and make you late.
With a schedule at hand, you can allot time for your projects and sort out communications with your clients. You should also sort outbreaks in between so you don’t have to cram. You will also learn how much work you can do in a day and use that knowledge to sort out your schedule. If you think you are getting too much work and you don’t have enough time in a day to finish it, you may want to consider adjusting your workload.
It is also important to remember that you need to consider how you are paid when you work on your schedule. If you are charging clients by the hour, you will need to ensure that your work hours are during the time you are productive rather than when you are mostly idle.
Use technology to help you
While technology can be a distraction while you work, freelancers depend on technology for many things. In this case, you may want to consider using the apps and programs available to help you manage your schedule, invoices and communications. Do your research about the best apps you can use to improve your productivity and organization, and you will definitely see the difference once you put them into practice.
However, be reminded that some of these apps may require payment. Don’t be afraid to invest if you see one that looks promising.
Don’t forget to take a break
To stay productive, you must always give yourself a break to help your mind and body to recharge before pushing on ahead to your next task. Of course, you need to make sure that you don’t take too many breaks to the point you forget that you have work. As a freelancer, you should plan your breaks accordingly so that you won’t get distracted in the middle of your work.
During your breaks, make sure not to think about your work and focus on yourself. Some of the things you can do for your breaks include going to the gym or having some food.
Be accountable
Finally, it is essential to remember that all these tips won’t work if your mind isn’t fully following them. As a freelancer or regular employee, you must be accountable for your actions, especially if it has caused you to miss deadlines and get into disagreements with your clients.
Look at your current work status and see if you can improve on it. For example, if you cannot follow your schedule because you are constantly distracted, you may want to consider doing your work in a shared office space or making one at home. Do you lose focus in the middle of the workday? You can improve on it by changing your schedule.
Like other careers, you will need to have a rhythm to get into the groove of freelancing. Without one, you may find yourself having trouble navigating this industry which requires people to be flexible at all times. With the tips we shared above, you can look into your current routine and use the necessary steps to improve your productivity as a freelancer. It will take some practice, but once you get the hang of it, you will definitely see a significant improvement in your workflow.
Good luck!
If you like to read other collaborative works I have done, check them out here: Conversation with Patty Wolters on Unemployment During Pandemic Times Change Love is Too Short for You Not to Do What You Love
Can’t get enough of MiddleMe? You can find me sharing my thoughts here as well: Instagram @kallymiddleme Twitter (MiddleMe_net) FaceBook (MiddleMe.net) LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/kallytay
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