Hi,

 

I found forum whilst researching time management for freelancers and I was wondering if you'd be willing to help me out?

This might seem a little weird, but I've been trying to find out about issues freelancers have especially involving time management and procrastination, something every web designer must battle with. So I was wondering if you'd be willing to share about how you manage your time… maybe share any tips advice and issues? Nothing too personal, but I hope I can get some advice from you.

Dave

Hi , "Davant"
Freelancing is a challenging job although I am a new comer on this section but I would like to give you my though. For time maintaining you should follow a routine work and it should be at night because in this time you are able to give highest concentration in your work which not possible in day. But don't pick extra tress you have to work 5 hour a day. ( I think it’s perfect ) . As a freelance web designer you have to keep yourself update always so you must have to a study time every day. I believe 1 hour per day is perfect for this.
Thanks

@@Davant, welcome to the forum

 

From my experience:

Everyone deals with time management differently, there isn't "one size fits all" solution. I like to try new methods all the time.

For example - set priority clients and projects at the time, assign 2-3 hours in the morning to answer emails, then a few hours of work on the most urgent / priority project. Then it's best to have a break. In the afternoons I usually do bits and pieces on less urgent projects and answer emails as and when they come. Another break and a bit of time to research / learn something new / read an article, etc.

I find out working on multiple projects at a time helps, as you can switch between projects and don't have to work long time on the same task.

It's important to take small breaks in between tasks, at least for me, I don't like to concentrate on one task for too long.

 

As for procrastination, there are two tricks that work for me (but they might not work for someone else).

1. Deadlines - if there isn't a set deadline, I can procrastinate forever (plus usually there are plenty of other tasks to work on, so a deadline project always takes a priority over a non deadline project. Unless the deadline is not reasonable). So what I do is to set a deadline and make sure I let the client know this will be done by XX/XX. Then I just have to do the job, otherwise it plays on my mind and I can't sleep.

2. Money is a great motivator. What I do is transfer most of my work income into a savings account, which I can't withdraw from. This way I always have to keep earning. That motivates you to finish projects you otherwise don't really feel like working on.

 

Don't work at night, unless there is REALLY urgent deadline. What happens when you work at night is:

Unless your regular routine is to sleep all day and work at night, your brain is tired at night. So it uses all available resources to perform the work. That's why people find out they are more focused at night, because the brain just doesn't have enough resources to manage multiple tasks and force itself to concentrate. This might be a good short term solution, but shouldn't become a routine.

 

Hope that makes sense

Pretty much how I have been combating my lack of motivation, @@teodora

 

I try and get a good nights sleep so that I am ready to work in the morning. Preparing what is to be done the night before is a good way of making sure that in the morning I am able to start straight away - without sitting at my desk wondering what I should do next.

 

Put the more boring/ important work first before you go and do everything else - or risk being unable to finish a project!

Put the more boring/ important work first before you go and do everything else - or risk being unable to finish a project!

 

Completely agree! Sometimes I don't do anything unless the deadline is the very next day (if it's a small job of course), wake up in 5-6 and have it done by 7, then I have the whole day "free" (of this particular job).

In order to manage time effectively I like to set out a plan to follow for certain days this means that my most important tasks are prioritised & vice-versa

I use Replicon's rostering software and put everything on there. There are also some great apps to download which allow to set a time for certain task. I use a few also for my iphone which do basically the same thing. So I know what I am supposed to be doing at all times and how long it should take me to complete.

I used to write lists of stuff that I wanted to get done, until I realised how much time I was wasting writing lists. Now I have a monetary target for every day I work. As soon as I have met my target for the day i'm happy.