As a freelancer, the importance of time management skills can’t be emphasized enough. Because our income is often project-based rather than time-based, working efficiently can maximize your rate. It can also enable you to take on more projects without working more hours. But it’s not just about the money—good time management can improve your work-life balance, alleviate stress, and enhance the overall quality of your output. Here are 5 reliable tips for better time management.
Keep a calendar
Keeping an up-to-date calendar is an easy first step in the right direction when it comes to tips for better time management.
Input new deadlines and meetings into your calendar as soon as they come in. This will allow you to visualize what’s on your plate and help you know what tasks should be prioritized.
It will also allow you to gauge how much more you can take on. If you have multiple deadlines looming, you might think twice about taking on a new project and stretching yourself too thin.
With a digital calendar, you can also set alarms and reminders so that no project or responsibility is forgotten. If you’re feeling creative, you can even colour-code your projects based on difficulty or priority level. Furthermore, having a clear visual of your upcoming week or month is the first step to creating—and sticking to—a daily schedule.
Have a daily plan
Having a daily plan is one of the most important tips for better time management, as the flexibility of freelancing can be something of a double-edged sword. Sure, it’s great to be able to make your own hours, but that means you actually have to make them. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself waking up without a clear plan or goal set for your day. At the end of every day, take stock of what you’ve accomplished and write a to-do list for the following day. From there, prioritize the tasks on your to-do list and block off time to work on the most important ones. And don’t forget, organizing your day also includes scheduling breaks!
If you want to take your time management skills to the next level, you can even schedule tasks based on your personal productivity patterns. For example, if you find it easiest to focus in the afternoon, block off that time of day to work on your most challenging projects. Many people recommend tackling the toughest jobs first thing in the morning, but that doesn’t work for everyone. It’s important to understand your own habits and work with them, not against them.
Limit distractions
For many, the biggest challenges to productivity and efficiency when working are distractions like social media. When we’re on our computers for much of the day, it’s all too easy to lose minutes and even hours scrolling through Instagram and Twitter, or obsessively checking for notifications.
For better time management, identify the things that break your focus when working and block them out. This can translate to using social media blocking apps or putting your phone on silent while you work.
But it’s not just social media that is a potential time-suck and focus-breaker. Even email, which is technically work, can make you less efficient. Setting boundaries for yourself—whether it’s only checking your inbox at certain times of the day or dedicating an hour to answering emails—can dramatically improve your time management by minimizing distractions.
Make time for yourself
This one goes hand-in-hand with making yourself a regular schedule, as it is a priority to have in our tips for better time management. Not only should you be keeping track of what’s on your work agenda, you also have to schedule time off for yourself. Unfortunately, some freelancers struggle to find a good work-life balance. Why? Because the flexibility of working hours can blur the boundaries between work time and time off. And contrary to what some may think, putting in hours doesn’t necessarily translate to greater productivity.
Breaks throughout the day and full days off are necessary to our professional and personal well-being. In fact, breaks are proven to enhance productivity and creativity, while staving off stress and exhaustion.
Specifically in terms of time management, deciding ahead of time that you will stop working at a certain hour will incentivize you to stay focused and get more done while you are on the clock.
Use Time-Tracking Tools
Time-tracking tools can be particularly useful, especially if you’re starting on your time management improvement journey. Apps like Bonsai and Clockify will track how much time you spend on different tasks throughout the day, giving you a greater understanding of where your precious hours are going.
These insights can increase your productivity—sometimes simply being “on the clock” will help keep you focused and avoid multitasking—as well as help you see what projects require more time than others. Ultimately, knowing how long it takes you to complete a task or project will allow you to provide more accurate quotes for future jobs and clients. For more insights and guidance on tips for better time management and freelancing, head to our SkillPack blog.
