Have you ever been ambushed by a deadline? Like most freelancers, you have probably experienced the white hot streak of terror as you remember a massive project mere moments before the deadline. In some cases, a flurry of apologetic emails to the client can save the day. At other times, unfortunately, poor scheduling of freelance jobs can cost you money or hurt your rating at your favorite content marketing site.
One of the biggest challenges facing the successful freelancer is managing your freelance jobs schedule. This is especially true if you produce content for more than one client across multiple platforms. Distractions from work, such as emails, Facebook, forums, family members, and watching your cat’s clever antics can bring workflow to a screeching halt. Fortunately, you can create a freelance jobs schedule that keeps you focused and on track, even when your kitty is being especially cute.
How to Create a Freelance Jobs Schedule
Create an actual work schedule
Determine the best times of day and days of the week for work. If you work from home, schedule your freelance jobs when your house is at its quietest. In especially hectic homes, this may be early in the morning or late at night. Be sure to schedule some time for the little things in life, such as vacation, sleep, food, playing with the cat, and taking showers.
Work in increments that reflect your attention span
Start by using a stopwatch to measure the amount of time you can typically write in one sitting – aim for something reasonable, such as a half hour or an hour. Next, set a timer for that amount of time. Train yourself to write without stopping until the timer goes off, at which time you can take a short break of five to ten minutes. This is known as the Pomodoro Technique, which suggests four work intervals of 25 minutes each with a 3 – 5 minute break in between.
Working in short, scheduled increments improves your focus. Taking breaks helps you avoid eyestrain and burnout – try playing with the cat during breaks. Working in scheduled increments also helps you determine whether you have time to squeeze in an extra project.
Schedule time for chores
Block time for communicating with clients, finding new gigs, improving your profiles at each of your content marketing firms. While it is true that you can only make money when you are creating content, you must take time to find a fresh supply of clients and content.
Automate
Automate the process whenever possible. You did not become a freelancer to spend your time doing boring administrative tasks. Fortunately, there are a mind-boggling number of apps and programs on the internet that help you manage your time. Teuxdeux is an app that lets you create to-do lists. RescueTime helps you understand your daily computer habits by tracking the amount of time you spend on websites and applications.
Implementing these tips for creating a freelance jobs schedule can improve your workflow, increase profits, and can even give you more free time. Stop deadlines from creeping up on you and start getting more out of your freelance jobs today. There is always time to play with the cat later.
Writer Bio: Lynn H has been a leading writer in the medical field for more than 15 years. She specializes in creating informative and engaging medical content for readers of all levels, from patients to researchers and everyone in between.
