5 Tips for Productivity as a Freelancer.
Many people dream of becoming a freelancer. After all, with the ability to set your hours, be your own boss, and select the projects that appeal to you the most, it can be considered the dream scenario. However, the downside of being a freelancer is that you don’t have vacation and sick days to fall back on. If you want to pay the bills, you need to stay motivated and productive, and that can sometimes be easier said than done.
If you are a beginning freelancer or you have been at it for a while, but you feel like you are falling behind on your work, then take a look at these five tips to help you stay productive and satisfied..
This week’s article is written by the wonderful Katie Brenneman. Thank you Katie for writing this for me.
Prioritise Your Tasks
Since you don’t have a boss breathing down your neck, it is up to you to set your schedule and stick to it. Before you get going each day, you need to set your priorities. Think about the tasks that you must complete today and put them down in writing. Then, create a list of secondary activities that are still important but won’t cause an issue if they need to wait until tomorrow. That way, you can work towards your goals for the day without trying to do too much and feeling stressed about your workload.
If you try this method but you are still feeling rushed, then you may need to take some time to record how you are spending your time. Write down everything you do as you do it and then review it at the end of the day. This way, you can see when you went off on tangents or you spent too much time on a certain task that could have been accomplished in half the time. Make little tweaks each day, and eventually, you will streamline your schedule.
Consider Mass Customisation
Regardless of the type of service that you offer, you can be more productive and reduce waste during the workday by considering mass customisation. When many freelancers and companies do business, they mass produce their products and offer a one-size-fits-all approach to their services. They think that if they incorporate all of the bells and whistles into their product, it will satisfy the needs of most customers. However, many customers know what they need, and they don’t want to pay for extras.
Enter mass customisation — where you customise your products for each person. There are many benefits to this process, including the fact that you will have more satisfied customers that are getting exactly what they want, and you will save money by not overproducing. This process also helps you to be more productive because you save time when you individualise your services. You can send out a survey of options, and the customer can pick out what is best for them. Then, you can focus on those particular priorities and then move on to the next customer.
Speed Up Your Content Creation
If you are working in a creative field as a freelance writer, marketer, or anything in between, then you can be more productive by speeding up your content creation. While that may be a no-brainer, you also need to ensure that you don’t sacrifice quality along the way. In other words, you will need a strategy. The first step to creating quality content faster is to create a content calendar. By knowing what you need to create or write ahead of time, you can get the wheels turning in your head, and the words will flow easily when the time comes.
In the case of marketing, website creation, or other jobs where you combine copy with visuals, it is a good idea to write the words first. As you flesh out your idea in writing, you will start to create ideas for visuals in your head.
A final hack for faster content is to create templates that you can fill in accordingly. Create several templates, and then you can combine and mix around ideas as needed, and you won’t have to start the work from scratch.
Avoid Burnout
To some people, being productive means working around the clock and taking on endless jobs, but if you do that for too long, it can have the opposite effect and result in burnout. It is essential that you pace yourself and set a schedule that allows you to have a work-life balance. Make it a point to take a few breaks every day and get out of the office. Take a walk outside and breathe in some fresh air so you can return to your desk feeling mentally refreshed.
It is also essential that you create a set schedule and stick to it. Leave your workspace at the same time every day and unplug by turning off your computerand work phone and spending time with your family or doing something that you enjoy. Also, make sure that you go to bed at a decent time so you can get your seven to nine hours of sleep and wake up ready to take on a new day.
Have a Dedicated Workspace
Although you might be a freelancer working from home, it is still important that you have a dedicated workspace. Freelancing from your couch can work for a while, but eventually, you will get comfortable, and your work will suffer.
Whether that is a separate office in your home or a co-working space across town, you must have a place where you can be in work mode. You need a suitable desk and a chair that keeps you upright and in an attentive position so you can stay productive with minimal distractions.
As you can see, there are several tactics that you can try to be a productive freelancer. Consider these tips, and you’ll be much happier and more successful in your flexible role.
Katie Brenneman is a passionate writer specialising in lifestyle, mental health, education, and fitness-related content. When she isn’t writing, you can find her with her nose buried in a book or hiking with her dog, Charlie. To connect with Katie, you can follow her on Twitter.
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