Without a doubt, the great benefit of freelancing is management of time at your own discretion. You decide when you’re up to writing, researching, having a break, going to the gym, etc. But, on the other hand, time management appears to be the greatest pitfall freelance academic writers experience – lots of writers find themselves snowed under.
How to avoid it? Below are 7 useful time management tips that will help you a lot improve your productivity!
1. Set Up Your Own Schedule. Stick To It
When we have a lot of time on our own we tend to procrastinate a lot. This can hardly be effective. Thus, you’ve got to pull yourself together and have a schedule, where you’d indicate the best time for rest, work, and … procrastination as well. Make this schedule regarding your own interests and your activities throughout the day. If you like to work late at night, there’s no point making yourself work from 9 am to 6 pm. This will simply not work for you. Follow your own schedule!
2. Say “No” To All Distractions
There’s time for joy, and there’s time for work. Alienate yourself from all possible distractions, including Internet, TV, pets, relatives, etc. After a session of fruitful work, you will have all the possibilities to devote yourself to them.
3. Plan Your Workload a Week in Advance
Being a freelance academic writer, it’s often impossible to plan your activities long time in advance. But a week is quite ok. So at the beginning of the week review all your tasks you’ve got to accomplish the coming week:
- deliver a certain number of projects;
- bid on another number of projects;
- write at least one post to your blog;
- self-development activities;
- household duties;
- social works;
- etc.
Here’s how WritingPapers put it: freelance academic writing is more about strategic planning. In the course of my writing experience, I have realized that developing an operation schedule is one of the most effective ways of working. Through having a clearly outlined plan, I have been able to enjoy my writing experience to the fullest.
4. Look Business When Doing Business
Oh, this is very important. Take a minute, look through your wardrobe and put on the business-looking clothes. Make sure you also have a clean and well-arranged working space. This will set you to the working mood.
5. Vary Your Activities
There’s nothing worse than facing a monotonous work for several next hours in advance. But you are the master of your own time and you can change this! Say, 2 hours of writing, 1 hour for reading, 1 hour for bidding, then an hour for dinner and rest, which will be followed by another 2 hours of writing. Looks better than jogtrot 4 hours of writing, right?
6. Exercise in a Gym
How many hours a day do you spend in front of a screen? At least 6 hours. With time you are likely to experience negative effect of sedentary job. So you’d better get ahead of it and give yourself a bit of a workout. Not only will you prevent possible illnesses, but will also have some rest and get inspired.
7. Don’t Be Afraid to Change Your Plans. Be Flexible
Plans don’t always go the way they are supposed to go. You’ve got to accept it. One client fails to send order specs, another customer requests some amendments, something else comes up. No need to get frustrated. You can always shift some activities and make it all. Good luck!