Time management is a challenging task for all of us and when it comes to freelancers who have a unique set of problems; it becomes a bit more crucial and needs to be done efficiently. The reason behind this being they have to juggle several projects and clients simultaneously. So it is very essential to manage the limited and precious time that they have available to deliver all the projects on time and to keep your clients happy.
Here are few time management tips that will help you handle your work-from-home easily and efficiently.
1. You are your own boss
The great thing about freelancing is that you are your own boss and you follow your. Sounds great, doesn’t it? No doubt about that, but the reality is not as easy as it looks like on the surface. You have your own set of issues to deal with. All your clients want their work done perfectly and that too within the specified and strict deadlines and you are the only one who as to do it all. So have a planner at the ready and assign yourselves tasks in a manner that results in completion and deliverance of the work you have.
2. Choose your work carefully
When you start freelancing, you may not have several options to choose from and at times the clients may not be of your choice. But because it’s the initial phase your primary concern will probably be to take up as many clients as you can. But, later as you and your work has garnered a certain reputation and when you have enough work on your plate, you will have the ‘luxury’ to turn down the projects.
At times you will be tempted to accept all the work that comes your way, but don’t think about just the money factor. Think about your career and turn down projects which are not in line with your career.
Moreover, some clients are a headache to handle and end up taking a considerable amount of your time. Such clients can be a pain and will affect your overall working attitude. So keep such clients at an arm’s length and select only those whom you enjoy working with the most.
3. Fix the prices after careful thought
There are several freelancers doing the same kind of work. For example, one freelance writer earns 10 pounds per article while the other makes only 5 pounds. Why the difference in pay scale you might wonder? Well, apart from the quality of work, the difference lies in how they charge for their work.
So before setting the price, analyse the market demand of your work, evaluate your competitor’s rate and then count the total efforts and time taken by you to finish it. Also, focus on the quality of work as it will automatically get you a higher price for the work done.
4. Time compartmentalisation
Switching from one project to another too quickly might hamper your concentration and you might end up taking more time than required to get the work done. To save yourself from such a situation, divide the time for each piece of work in a manner that you do justice to it. You can do this by planning ahead and setting goals for yourself. Keep the deadlines in mind while you’re doing this.
To save your energy and time, keep all the files related to clients in separate wham boxes and. This way, you can find what you need easily and organise your work effectively.
5. Use digital tools
Keep the most used items like pen and notepads right next to your hand so that you can immediately take note of important things as soon as they pop up in your mind. You can also download time tracking apps to review your work per hour. It will help you increase your working speed.
6. Be self-motivated
The most important thing while undertaking freelancing projects is to be self-motivated. The biggest hurdle in time management is procrastination that leads towards delay of work. Be your own role model and battle the possible obstacles the best that you can.
Last but not the least, take care of yourself while working do not bite off more than you can chew, do your work with dedication but sometime call it a day and just relax yourself.