Note: This post is written by Danny Donchev
Working as a freelancer offers a lot of freedom, but that freedom can also lead us down a highly unproductive path. One minute you’re sipping that first delicious cup of freshly brewed coffee as you log into your computer, the next thing you know two hours have gone by while you were watching hilarious YouTube videos.
It happens to the best of us. Being a freelancer requires a strong will and dedication, but with social media a tap of the finger or a click of the mouse away it can be hard to stay focused. Productivity is the name of the game and the only way to success. If you’re falling victim to the various distractions around you, get your time management back on track with these productivity tips for freelancers.
1. Create a Schedule
Freelancing allows us to break away from the traditional nine to five working mold, but that doesn’t mean you won’t need a schedule to accomplish your tasks. The best part is that you tell yourself when it’s time to get down to business and when you can relax.
Your schedule might change from week to week or even day to day, but sticking to the time frames you’ve created to get your work done is a sure-fire way to boost productivity.
2. Do One Thing at a Time
Multitasking is a useful ability in almost every facet of life, but it will kill your productivity. Everything you are doing besides the task at hand is stopping you from completing it, plain and simple.
While sticking to your schedule, make sure that your time spent on working is just that. Turn off your phone if you can’t resist the urge to hop on social media, clear your workspace of distractions, and get rid of anything that keeps you from getting the job done.
It isn’t easy at first, but the more you practice “single-tasking,” the more work you will get done.
3. Prioritize Your Work
When it comes to productivity tips for freelancers, this one seems as though it should be common knowledge. However, simply working on the next item with the closest deadline doesn’t always work out as planned. Here’s what to do.
Put Common Tasks Together
Answering emails and calls are part of the trade, but jumping to answer either in the middle of your workload can severely impede your productivity. Setting a specified time in your schedule to answer emails or make calls will allow you to reach out to your clients without interrupting your creative flow.
Do the Undesirable
If there’s a task you’re dreading, do it first. Eliminate having that weight looming over your head all day and snub procrastination in one fell swoop. Everything will be easier once that pain in the rear is over with.
Get the Small Stuff Out of the Way
After dealing with the hardest part of the day, tackle the little things. Whether that’s resizing images, putting documents together for a presentation, or creating an email list, accomplishing those smaller tasks first will help the rest of your day to run smoothly.
Set the Order of Importance
Once you knock out those first three, figure out what needs to be done next. That might mean completing an assignment due today or finding social media influencers to help promote a product. Make a list of…
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