When you are your own boss, it is important to make most of the time you
have to get stuff done.
As a freelancer it is easy to spend the whole day rushing from one task to
another without really accomplishing a lot.
It is also easy to get distracted. It is all fun and game until you call it
work, then it is work. Here are few productivity hacks every freelancer
should know.
1. Have a realistic schedule
This may seem obvious, it is essential to keep your schedule realistic.
Setting a timetable gives you a sense of responsibility and make you
appreciate the time. Decide when to start work, set your alarm in the
morning, get up brush your teeth and go to work.
Instead of slowly easing yourself into the day, have a clear routine that
helps you get straight into a productive morning. Take breaks, you need to
learn to take some short breaks from work to recharge your batteries.
Take some time off for lunch, skipping meals, working with a
growling stomach does not help productivity. Strive for quality over
quantity.
2. Set smart goals
Set short term, medium term and long term goals. If you do not set goal, you
are likely to lead an aimless life. Write down your goals for productivity
improvement.
Make a do-list for daily, weekly and monthly goals. You can use mobile
application such as asana for task management.
A well planned day will help you stay focused, which is very important for
freelancers. As the day comes towards an end, assess your performance.
This is an important step towards boosting your productivity.
3. Do not eat and work
Eating while freelancing is dangerous for both the computer and you.
Accidents like liquid spillage on keyboard, which would in turn damage the
computer. Eating while working would prevent you from moving your body which would in
turn hamper production.
Here is one of the most useful tips. Do not drink carbonated drinks nor eat
food containing a large amount of sugar. It gives lots of energy that
dissipates quickly thereby cutting down production hours.
4. Avoid multitasking
Multitasking is a myth. The human brain cannot multitask at a time, one of
the most important skill to develop in order to become more efficient is to
focus on one thing at a time.
One method of focusing is called the Pomodoro Techniques, which involves
using a timer to do a task for 25 minutes.
Splitting your attention between several tasks leads to decrease in quality
and much less productivity.
5. Eliminate distractions.
Place phone on silence during work hours, turn off social
media, message notification, stop checking mails. Put on headphones, which
would be a pointer to everyone that you are busy and probably stop them
from bothering you.
