by JH Virtual Services | April 21, 2022 | Time Management
Being a freelancer is indeed challenging when it comes to time management. And it is not just about managing your work schedule, it includes household chores, taking care of kids, and a lot of other things on your plate. I understand where you're coming from that's why I am sharing with you the following tips to help you become more productive.
Time Management Tips
1. Replace your to-do list with a calendar
Are you feeling frustrated every time you push tasks from one day to the next day and the next? Here’s the truth, it’s not your fault. A to-do list is just not the right tool for you to become productive. Nir Eyal, the author of Indistractable, discourages the use of a to-do list because it has no time constraint. You can list down as many tasks you need or want to do in a day without thinking about how much time is needed for you to finish each task. That is why at the end of the day when you look at your to-do list, you feel unproductive because there are still tasks left to be done, or much worse, you just finished 3 out of the 10 tasks on your list. And you end up questioning yourself, “Am I that bad at managing time?”
The answer is NO. You just need to use a calendar instead of a to-do list. A calendar addresses the time constraint problem. Be it online or a manual calendar, it doesn’t matter. What’s important is the time on the left side. It will help you manage your time better for you can now consider the amount of time you need to finish a task. Use timeboxing to help you organize your schedule. It is a simple yet powerful productivity tool.
2. Know your HIME (High Impact Minimal Effort)
As they say, there is time for everything. The same goes for productivity, especially for a freelancer like you. Unlike people in the corporate world, you own your time so you have to use it wisely for you to still have time for yourself and your family. That's one of the reasons why you're freelancing, right? Sadly, there are some freelancers who decided to return to having a 9 to 5 job because they end up spending most of their time working in their freelancing career. Knowing your HIME will create a big difference in your productivity. The HIME Principle by productivity expert, Bat-Hen Grinberg, is a powerful exercise that will help you map out your ideal and most productive day so you rapidly magnify your impact and effectiveness in your work.
You have to know when is the best time of the day for you to do phone calls, answer emails, create presentations, do admin tasks, etc. Then schedule your day according to your HIME. That means you do the work when it is the easiest for you to do it - high impact minimal effort. Some people are most efficient at analytical tasks in the morning than in the afternoon. Some can do presentations in the evening better and faster than if they try to do it in the morning or in the afternoon. It is not the same for all people so you really have to discover it for yourself.
This method is not applicable hundred percent of the time. You also need to adjust to other people's schedules but make sure to schedule your day using HIME at least 70 to 80 percent of the time.
3. Take a break
Sometimes you get too focused on your freelancing work that you don't even want to rest until you finish all of your tasks. You may think that it is being efficient, but it is the opposite. The brain needs time to wander for it to process information. Taking a break is not just for your body but for your brain. Several stories of great men told us that they get the best ideas while they are walking, taking shower, and gazing outside the window.
So don't forget to take a break you may want to include in your daily schedule time to let your mind wander - do some chores, play with your pets, connect with a family or friend, so you can do things better.
I hope these tips will help you in your freelancing journey. Wishing you the best!