Say you’re new to freelancing. You decide to start your own service-based business and you’re excited to get going. After a few months, you’ve got a steady stream of projects — but now that the work has started to pick up, it’s hard to keep track of what you need to do and when.
When you’re self-employed, there are so many moving parts to juggle: time tracking, project management, invoicing, marketing, networking and more — aside from the actual work itself. It can get overwhelming very quickly if you don’t have a good system for managing your workflow and keeping everything organized.
Fortunately, if you’re struggling with time management and feeling burned out, these tips can help:
1. Use a Project Management Software
Using software like Hectic™ to manage your projects helps you finish them on time and also ensures that you don’t overwork yourself along the way. When your project is broken into smaller chunks, not only does it become easier to complete, but it makes it easier to manage your time too.
For example, if one of your clients expects an article from you before the end of the week, using project management software will help you break down the task into more manageable steps such as research and writing.
Then, when the article is finished and sent off for review, you will be able to cross off each step as you go rather than waiting until the very end when all of the pressure is on.
2. Accurately Communicate Your Turnaround Time
You can’t please everyone all the time, so don’t agree to deliverables in unrealistic timelines just because a client asks. If you commit to a deadline that’s not feasible, it will only add stress to the situation and make your working relationship with the client less enjoyable.
3. Update Clients Frequently Throughout the Engagement
Some clients won’t ask for progress updates unless they know exactly how much work is left before final delivery. When in doubt about whether or not you should give an update, err on the side of over-communicating rather than under-communicating.
4. Know Your Limits and Don’t Take On Too Much
You should have an idea of how much work you can handle at any given time. If you start accepting projects that require too much work for the time available, your output will start to suffer and your quality of work will suffer along with it.
5. Take Breaks
The first thing that you need to do is to understand your work life balance. Yes, we are all about getting work done and making money for your freelance business, but you also need to know how to take a break.
The key here is to take a break before you burn out. Don’t wait until you’re already mentally exhausted and stressed out before you decide that it’s time to rest. By then, it’s already too late! It’s always better for your health and productivity if you can spot the signs of burnout early on and take some time off from working.
The Final Word
Working as a freelancer is an exciting and rewarding experience. You get to set your own schedule, work with the clients you choose, and have a semblance of autonomy over your life.
However, freelance work can easily lead to burnout, especially if you’re not managing your time or projects effectively. Consider the five easy hacks to improve your freelance project management system as listed in this column and avoid getting overwhelmed by your workload.
