4 top tips for increasing freelancer productivity
There are many ways you can increase your freelancer productivity and your operational efficiency with it.
When you’re working solo, the phrase “time is money” really rings true. After all, the buck stops with you. If you’re able to make yourself more productive, you can increase your overall profitability without putting in extra hours.
We’ve prepared this useful list of our top four tips for increasing freelancer profitability to help get you started:
What can I do to increase my freelancer productivity?
Use these simple tips to become a more productive freelancer:
1. Allocating your schedule
When everything’s resting on you, it’s all too easy to push on without even considering taking a break.
However, this can quickly lead to burn out, which saps your productivity and makes you susceptible to distraction.
Many freelancers advocate something called the ‘Pomodoro Technique’. In short, this involves working for 25 minutes flat out, resting for five minutes and repeating. After every four sessions, you can give yourself a break of 30 minutes.
One proponent claims to have used this technique to complete what had been 40 hours’ work in just 16.7 hours.
So, set yourself a timer (or, download a mobile app) and get underway.
2. Using detailed checklists
Checklists might sound basic, but their pedigree for productivity is proven.
Create checklists for all your repetitive procedures (such as client briefings) to keep yourself focused and prevent you missing steps that might take time to resolve later.
This should also give you a better idea of how long these procedures might take.
Think about creating a quick bespoke checklist covering your entire workload for each day before you start work. Estimate the time each task will take, using your procedural checklists as a guide where possible.
3. Grouping similar tasks
As a freelancer, your day is likely to consist of a variety of different tasks.
Some of these will exercise your creative mind, while others might be related to basic admin or general procedures.
If you think about how long it takes to set up the relevant systems and switch your mindset to a new type of task, you’ll quickly realise how much time you lose by shifting your focus regularly.
Instead, try allocating blocks of time to specific types of task. For instance, you could dedicate the start of your day to accounting and administration, followed by an hour or so of planning for active projects, then have a dedicated slot in which to get creative.
4. Utilising accountancy software
There are some tasks you’ll probably want to cut down on altogether – such as accounting.
Advanced accountancy software – such as Xero – enables you to save time on a host of financial admin tasks, including:
- Dispatching invoices automatically and recording client payments
- Calculating a cash-flow overview
- Logging and declaring expenses
- Filing your Self-Assessment tax return
- Keeping an eye on your project timings
If you use an accountant, you can even give them access to this software so they can provide you with timely financial advice.
So, get stuck in with these four methods and you’ll find your freelancer productivity starts increasing in no time.
Call on 3 Wise Bears for more expert accountancy tips for freelancers.
