Whether you’re just working part time to earn a few extra bucks, or working full time to help support your family. Freelancing at home can be really productive. On a good day, you can power through your work quickly. But a bad day can be full of distractions, causing you to be less productive and even produce lower-quality work. These easy time management tips can help ensure you make the most of every workday, keeping your productivity and quality as high as possible.
Keep a To-Do List
Whether you use a notepad and pen, sticky notes, or an app on your phone, tablet or computer, a to-do list can set the tone of your whole day. Try to create your list the night before and follow it during your workday. Include everything you need to do for that day (including non-work related things like creating a grocery list during a break), and include how long you expect each task to take. Then check off each item as you complete it. If a new task comes in during your workday. Either add it to the bottom of your list. Or start working on tomorrow’s to-do list and add it there.
The goal is to complete your to-do list before you stop working for the day and looking at your list and seeing everything checked off is extremely satisfying. But if you don’t get everything completed, don’t worry. Simply add what you couldn’t get done to the top of your list for the next workday.
Don’t Multitask
I know it may seem like multitasking is the way to go. People have been doing it for years, right? But in reality, it doesn’t save you time or increase productivity. In fact, it can take your brain 15 minutes or more to refocus every time you switch tasks. And if you multitask between two or more products, your brain has to constantly switch focus, which can seriously hurt your productivity. Try to always focus on one task at a time, and only switch to a new task when you finish. You’ll find that you’re less distracted and may even complete tasks more quickly than if you tried to work on multiple tasks at once.
If you’re working on multiple projects, try working on one in the morning and another after lunch. That way, your brain has time to rest after project 1 and refocus for project 2.
Avoid Doing Personal Tasks During Work Hours
This is probably one of the biggest challenges when working from home. Those dirty dishes and loads of laundry are calling your name and they won’t wash themselves. While it may seem like washing the dishes or throwing in a load of laundry will only take a few minutes, but you’ll often find that once you start taking care of personal tasks, you’ll find others that need doing. Washing the dishes can easily turn into folding laundry, taking the dog out and paying bills, and before you know it, half of your workday is over and you’ve got no work done.
You wouldn’t be able to take care of personal or household chores if you were going to work in an office every day, and you should treat freelancing in the same way. Well, you may not be able to ignore the dog if he needs to go out, but for other personal tasks, write them down as you notice them and then start on them when your workday is over.
Avoid Surfing the Internet
I know, I know it’s easier said than done. When creating eCommerce content, we have to be on the Internet; we have to look at the categories or products in order to write about them. But, it’s easy to get distracted, especially if you’re working on a category or product you’re interested in, or find a buying guide that really grabs your attention. Before you know it, you’ve wasted a lot of time, got nothing done and your day is almost over. If you find something you want to look at a little more closely. Bookmark it and go back for a deeper look once your day is over.
Email and social media can also be a huge distraction, so unless you need them for work. Turn off your mobile devices so you’re not tempted, and walk away from your computer if you feel the urge to check Facebook, the local news or the weather.
Use the Getting Things Done (GTD) Method
A popular time management process created by David Allen, the GTD method is based on the idea that the more things you have running around in your head, the more difficult it is to figure out what you need to do. So, you spend more time thinking about what needs to be done than doing anything. This can cause you to become stressed and overwhelmed. The GTD method is a simple, 5 step process that can help you better manage your tasks and your time.
Step 1: Capture – Whether it’s work or personal, big or small, capture everything that crosses your mind. Use your favorite tool for this, whether it be a notebook, app or simply pieces of scrap paper.
Step 2: Clarity – Create a few lists such as:
- Trash
- Maybe
- Reference
- Complete it now
- Waiting for
- Do it next
Look at what you’ve captured and clarify whether it’s something that’s actionable (like a project or task or even an event you need to attend), some useful information you want to keep as a reference, or an idea you want to run by somebody. Then put it on the appropriate list:
Example:
- If it‘s something you no longer need or have to do – put it in Trash
- If it’s something you don’t have to do right away but may in the future – put it in the Maybe list
- If it’s useful information – it goes in Reference
- If it’s something you can do in 2 minutes or less – Complete it now
- If you aren’t the right person to do it, figure out who is and put it in the Waiting for list
- If you are the right person to do it but need help, contact your PM or whoever can help you and put it in your Waiting or list until you get the help you need
- If you have to do it, but it’s going to take longer than 2 minutes, put it in the Do it next list and add it to your calendar or to-do list
Step 3: Organize – If you’ve followed step 2, everything should already be organized. But, if not, now is the time to put everything in the appropriate place.
Step 4: Review – For the Getting Things Done method to work correctly, it’s important to review your lists often. This will help you keep everything under control and reduce the risk of you getting overwhelmed.
You should review as often as you feel necessary, but be sure to go over your to-do list every day and do a deep review of all your lists at least once a week.
Step 5: Engage – With steps 1 through 4 completed, you know what tasks you should prioritize and it’s time to get working. Remember to check things off as you complete them so you can see your daily progress.
Figure Out When You’re Most Productive
I’m a morning person. I know I’m most productive during the early hours of the day, and less productive after lunch. But, everyone is different. Figure out when you most feel awake and the time of day you find it easier to focus. Then, schedule the important tasks during those times. Save emails, slack messages and less important work for the times of day when you’re tired and find it harder to keep focused.
Take a Lunch Break
It’s easy to grab your lunch and sit at your desk trying to eat and work at the same time. But, it’s really a bad habit to get into and your productivity will probably suffer. Try to take a real lunch break, where you walk away from your computer and ignore your phone. Use the time to eat, take a short walk, work out, meditate or whatever helps you rejuvenate and get ready for the rest of your day.
If You Can, Create a Dedicated Work Area
If you have the space, create a specific place in your home for work. It doesn’t have to be an entire room (although I’m sure we all dream about a dedicated office space). A corner in the living room or kitchen to set up a small desk or table is enough. Just try to stay away from the bed, recliner or couch, as they are spots for relaxing, not working.
Even if you only follow a few of these tips, you’ll quickly find that you’re able to be more productive and less stressed in both your work and home life.