Being a freelancer is great, right? You get to work when you want, how you want, and where you want. Many freelancers chose this type of work because it grants them freedom from the typical 9-5 grind in an office. In fact, a flexible schedule is regularly one of the top reasons for going freelance. But being a freelancer doesn’t mean you don’t have responsibilities. Potential clients have expectations you have to meet. Plus, there are all the little things like food, rent, clothing, etc. that you still need money for. You have to do the work to get the paycheck and that is why you have to maximize your productivity!
For some, freelancing can be a real challenge in terms of productivity. This is especially true for those who are new to freelancing and might be used to a more structured work life. That said, productivity is a constant challenge for even the most seasoned workers.
Schedule Everything
One extremely helpful approach to maintaining productivity is putting all your work into a schedule. This is more complex than simply assigning due dates, though. To successfully schedule work, you need to have a good understanding of two very important factors:
- How long it typically takes you to accomplish a task.
- The minimum amount of money you need to make.
First, knowing how long it takes you to accomplish a task means you can look at the hours you want to work and assign yourself tasks throughout the day. Second, knowing how much money you need to make—on a yearly, monthly, weekly, or even daily basis—can help you know how much work you need to do each day.
By taking both these factors into consideration, you can more easily schedule chunks of work in a way that ensures you get enough done on an average day.
Take Constant Breaks
In a typical corporate office setting, it’s not usual for workers to get a lot of breaks. Of course, that doesn’t stop them from slacking off on the job, but most workers get paid no matter what.
Freelancers, on the other hand, only get paid when they work—or at least when they get work done. But that only means that they don’t have a boss looking over their shoulder to ensure they’re staying focused.
That means that, as a freelancer, you can take as many breaks as you want! In fact, it turns out that taking small breaks can actually increase productivity. This works because it gives your brain a rest, which in turns allows you to stay focused while doing work.
One way to do this is to adopt the Pomodoro Technique. This is where you work for 25 minutes (or some other interval you see fit), then take a short, 3–5-minute break between intervals. Finally, after the fourth work period, you take a longer 15–30-minute break. This method is excellent for getting a relatively large amount of work done
Stay Limber!
Have you ever spent a whole day staring at a computer screen with barely any movement? If so, you’ve probably felt sluggish, stiff, and mentally exhausted.
But it turns out that taking the time to stretch out while at work can actually be highly beneficial, not only to your productivity, but to your over all health. Stretching can help you feel physically better, but it also helps you keep a clear and calm mind, a necessity for staying productive.
So, remember all those little breaks you get when you follow the Pomodoro Technique? Stretching is a great way to pass the time during breaks. And if that’s not your thing, consider doing some light but energetic housework.
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