A Freelancer’s Guide to Time Management
We all have 24 hours in a day. So, how do some people somehow manage to get the most out of every minute?
They don’t have superpowers, that’s for sure. But they do have excellent time management.
As a freelancer time management is crucial. Planning and organising your workload effectively ultimately leads to better profitability and productivity. Not to mention a good work life balance too.
You are your own boss, so it’s up to you to decide what you do and when you do it.
Here are our top tips for improving your time management skills:
- Write A To-Do List
Start your day off by writing a to-do list which will focus and motivate you.
Prioritise your tasks from most to least important and then break them down into smaller tasks to make them more manageable.
When setting your goals be realistic. Don’t overload yourself with a list that you won’t be able to complete.
At the end of your day look back at your list and tick off what you’ve completed and work out why you might not have done a task. This will help you work more efficiently next time.
- Track your time effectively
Work out when you are most productive. This could be in the morning or at night – everyone works differently.
Make sure you plan and schedule your day accordingly.
There are a wide variety of tools such as Toggl, which help you to track your time efficiently. It even offers smart billing features which will allow you to clearly see what activities are generating revenue.
Tracking your time will help you see what you spend the most time on. Utilise this information to your advantage!
- Minimise Distractions
Due to coronavirus, a huge number of the population is working from home. As a freelancer, remote working may not be new to you but there might be new distractions like a partner or a child.
Work smartly. Create a routine and stick to it.
Make sure you work in an area where you can minimise your distractions. This could be in a home office or a corner of your house where nobody goes. If you don’t have any of these options, be sure to invest in a set of noise cancelling headphones!
Another big distraction is social media. Turn your phone upside down or switch notifications off while you are working and only check your emails once or twice a day.
Don’t multitask. This could lead to your work being lower quality and will take you much longer to complete.
- Know When To Say No
Overloading yourself could lead to a burnout.
Know your limits and how much you can realistically work. Don’t be afraid to turn down jobs or ask for deadline extensions.
The disadvantages could outweigh the benefits. You don’t need added stress which could also cut into your personal life.
Remember at the end of the day your job is being a freelancer – treat it like a job and your time is money.
What tips do you have for effective time management?