Freelancers’ time can vastly differ depending on how they take on projects. However, whether you charge per hour or per project, there are still certain disciplines you have to have in place to ensure you are spending your time wisely. We all have the same 24 hours in a day, right? So, we still have to be conscious of our time and how to use it. My experience as a freelancer has taught me this as I have had a mixture of charging per hour and project in my freelance career. From my experience, here are some tips on how to manage your time as a freelancer effectively.
1. Time your work sessions
You can feel great achievement when you finish a work task and can look back at it to cross off your list. Setting a timer to plan your work sessions is a great way to add to this.
Tools like Toggl allow you to do this for free, so you start the timer when you begin working, pause it when you take a break, and continue when you return to work. It’s a great way to reflect on how much time you’ve spent working and helps keep you accountable to stay on task.
2. Time blocking
Many freelancers are creative, which means we may be more likely to be more spontaneous with our time. However, we must also remember that we are a business at the end of the day and, therefore, have deadlines to meet. Scheduling time in your diary for project milestones is a great way to help keep yourself accountable for reaching these goals.
In this digital age, we don’t have to manually take out a physical diary to remind ourselves of our plans. If that’s your thing, of course, you can do that. But in this day and age, you can schedule in your digital calendar for work, and your phone can remind you of the time of what said thing you are meant to be doing. Digital calendars like Google Calendar allow you to do this.
3. Balance your workload to manage your time as a freelancer
As freelancers, sometimes it can be easy to get into the habit of taking on any work and every project we are approached for.
But, the trick is, when we don’t evaluate our current workload against projects we are approached with, we can end up getting in a place where we have too much work with little time. This can lead to burnout and even affect your work’s quality.
4. Morning routine
The way you start your day can play a big part in which direction it goes. When you wake up late, rushing out of bed, it would be silly to think that doesn’t affect the direction of the rest of your day.
A set morning routine is a good way to guide your day and start with a clear mind. From spreading your bed to spending 15 minutes reading a Bible devotional, you may be surprised how the smallest actions done regularly present a clear frame for your day.
5. Evening routine
Winding down at the end of your day is a great way to relax after a busy and productive day. It also helps settle you to rest well and sleep well at a specific time so you can get enough hours of sleep to wake up for your morning routine.
Evening routines should usually incorporate low-energy activities. Spending too much time on your phone right before sleep can negatively affect your sleeping patterns.
So instead, having a bath or listening to calming music are better alternatives to include in an evening routine. An evening routine also teaches you to rest well and take a break from work, leading to my next point.
6. Rest well
To be your best at work, you must know how to rest well to recharge. You can’t pour from an empty cup.
So even throughout your working day, ensure you schedule in time to rest. Coffee and screen breaks are two common points to ensure you are taking regular breaks throughout your working days. Did you know the average person has about 4 hours of deep work energy?
Whilst you may be able to do more, it is a good reference point for ensuring you are resting well to perform better for your freelance clients.
7. Share the load to manage your time as a freelancer
Where possible, share the load with tasks – whether personal or business. Understandably, as freelancers, we are often solopreneurs and can do much of our work ourselves. But, we still only have 24 hours, just like everyone else.
So, sharing the load is sometimes necessary to use your time effectively and focus on your most important deadlines.
This could be hiring a virtual assistant for administrative tasks while you focus on your client, for example. As you grow as a business owner, you’ll need to learn how to delegate your time effectively and sharing the load with people who can help free up your time is a good thing to consider.
