10 Tips for Creating a Freelance Work Routine that Works for You
Successful freelancing thrives on routines. It’s how I get more work done each day without overextending myself. It’s also how I make time to focus on my physical and mental health. But building a freelance work routine didn’t come naturally to me at first.
I did a lot of trial and error to find my perfect work cadence. I also spent some time learning about my chronotype so I could best utilize my most productive hours.
I asked the Fleurish Freelance community: What is one tip you have for establishing a work routine as a freelancer, solopreneur, or small biz owner?
Here’s what 10 freelancers had to say:
TL;DR:
Focus on Consistency
A very basic definition of a routine is doing the same thing at the same time each day (or for a time period).
Try to wake up, eat breakfast, and take your lunch and your breaks at the same times (or approximately the same time) each day. Using alarms or other prompts can help you with this.
At time same time, one of the best things about freelancing life is the ability to be flexible with your day. So, don't be afraid to schedule meetings during your usual break times or prolong your work if you're "in the zone" when you normally have a break scheduled. Flexibility is key.
Rob Swystun, Content Strategist, Rob Swystun
Do Your Highest Priority Tasks First
Understand your most optimal working window and use it to get your most pressing or important task out of the way. I read Gary Heller’s book The ONE Thing, and it has helped me get more done throughout the day.
Many writers are procrastinators (myself included). Prioritizing and working on my most important task first thing in the morning makes the rest of my day easy and breezy.
Claudia Melatini, Senior Content Marketing Manager, The Powerful Page
Plan for Tomorrow
Before shutting down at the end of the day, I review and prioritize what I need to do the next day. I also jot down reminders and notes or questions for meetings and things to follow up on.
Then when I log in the next morning, I can quickly and easily remember what I need to get done and hit the ground running.
Of course, there are some days when urgent emails come in and my priorities need to be adjusted, but it’s easier to shift things around when you have a clear picture of what needs to get done and by when.
Mimi Moore, Owner and Content Marketer, Wolfson House
Set Strong Boundaries
If you set rules for yourself early on, then you’ll have an easier time developing a work routine that best works for you and your clients.
It can be something as simple as no meetings after 3 pm during the week; however, if you decide to break your own rules, your clients will think it’s okay for them to break as well.
Setting boundaries takes time, but when you figure out what allows you to work efficiently, your work routine becomes your favorite routine.
Abby Santillana, Social and Brand Freelancer, @abbyandhercurls
Master the Art of Timeboxing
Managing all of my projects makes me feel like I'm spinning plates, running from one to the other to keep them from crashing. Timeboxing and scheduling time blocks of intense focus on a project, or task, have saved me from that.
A time block is like a fortress for total concentration. I schedule the time box (If I think my task will take two hours; I schedule 2.5 hours) and then make an absolute commitment to focus on nothing but the task. I turn off notifications and put my phone in another room and close the door.
I plan these time blocks at the beginning of a project and make adjustments for my week every Sunday. Sometimes I have to move things around, but I stay true to the time and box myself off from any distractions.
By the way, in your daily schedule, don't forget to time box for the unexpected and miscellaneous things that always come up.
Paul Long, Founder, New Way Forward
Carve Out Time to Rest
No routine is sustainable if you don’t prioritize rest. Understand which types of work drain you the most and build buffer time around those tasks so you can recover.
Make sure you set aside time for essentials like sleeping, eating, and doing restorative movement. Not every moment of your day should be productive.
Embrace that you may not always be able to stick to your ideal routine when you need to take extra time to recalibrate and care for yourself.
Keagan Perlette, Content Writer, Keagan Perlette
Make Time for One Non-Work-Related Task
As freelancers, we have the luxury of a flexible schedule. Lean into it! Start your day with a walk or a good book, take a long lunch, or end your day early to run a few errands.
I like to break up my workday by going to an afternoon Pilates class, and I come back to my desk feeling so refreshed and ready to finish the day strongly.
When your work routine fits around your life (and not the other way around), it's easier to be productive and build a long, sustainable career.
Sam Lauron, Freelance Content Writer, Sam Lauron
Build a Hierarchy for Prioritizing Tasks
While we can’t add more hours to the day, we can prioritize tasks to stay focused on the highest-priority, highest-impact work that truly moves the needle.
Throughout the day, as tasks come in, I like to put things into 1 of 3 categories:
Do it now
Do it later
Delegate it
My daily workflow stays on track and productive without feeling stressed, and I’m able to address and track time-sensitive items efficiently. Give it a try!
Lindsey (Linds) Pfeiffer, SEO Content Marketer, Freelance
Leave Space for the Unexpected
It's tempting to pack your schedule with projects, but the biggest lesson I've learned from 12 years of owning my business is that you never know what's coming around the corner.
A great freelancer figures out how to handle curveballs with grace. I strive for my billable hours to stay around 20 hours per week so I have time to meet potential clients, market my business, handle administrative tasks, and take on special opportunities like speaking engagements or partnerships.
One of the great joys and frustrations of freelance life is knowing that anything is possible, so don't forget that your routine needs to be flexible enough to handle the reality of your day.
Ashley Laabs, Copywriter and Marketing Strategist, Composure Digital
Make Friends with a To-Do List
I have tried many methods for managing my schedule as a freelancer, from Pomodoro timer to scheduling my day into 30-minute chunks. What works best for me, however, is detailed to-do lists.
I use my notes app and always have multiple lists running: personal tasks, professional projects, school work, event planning, etc. Then, when I have time each day, I dive into my to-do lists and accomplish as much as I can in the time I have.
These help me get started on extensive projects by doing minor tasks first and allow me to see what tasks are the most pressing and prioritize those. They are also great for breaking down enormous tasks (planning an event) into manageable chunks (reaching out to venues, crafting invite emails, contacting speakers, etc.).
As a college student and freelancer, these have allowed me to manage all the various items on my plate at a time and stay on top of my personal life as well.
Owen Piehl, Freelance Digital Marketer, Piehl Marketing Management
Alli Hill's Two Cents on Freelance Work Routines
I have personally tried all of the tips and advice my fellow freelancers shared with me. But I also believe that nothing is ever foolproof.
I’m a creature of habit: Monday through Thursday, I drop the kids off at school, walk two miles, shower, then start work. It rarely changes.
My laptop and I have a standing date at Chick Fil A every Friday as I work on personal projects and the Fleurish Freelance blog. They know me so well there — they save the same table for me each week and have even given me an employee discount.
On the days that I work, I “eat the worm.” I handle my least favorite task first to get it out of my way and off my mind. That way, I can give my best work to the rest of my clients’ projects. But this only works if I don’t have a pressing deadline (in which case, I handle the most timely task first).
Bottom line: Find what works for you. It might not look like everyone else’s freelance work routine. It might change over time. Just give it enough time to figure out if it’s worth sticking to.