Evergreen Times

My boss hates me – and I’m my own boss! Just as I thought that I’d better spruce up my portfolio and go job hunting, I got hit by an avalanche of work from clients, all of whom would like me to treat them as if they were my only client.

It’s a problem a lot of us have, and even though I acknowledge myself as boss, the customer is king. So I have a whole lot of kings to keep happy. Woe is me! Or perhaps not… After all, being in demand isn’t a bad thing, and my “kings” recognize that too!

I once posted “fully booked” as a status on the freelancing platform I used at the time, and I suddenly got more offers than I could shake a stick at, all without pitching. But before I digress too much, let’s return to the question of how freelancers should manage their time.

Remember that Every Day Isn’t Your Best Day

When i started out, I’d plan my work and set my prices based on my most productive speed. That isn’t going to work for you. It certainly didn’t work for me.

There will be days when things you usually breeze through are an uphill struggle; when your computer keyboard becomes your worst enemy; and everything you do seems to tun into horse manure. Quite often, the “horse manure” part is subjective and you’ll go back to find that you’re pleasantly surprised by what you achieved, but the point is that you won’t always be working at your top level of confidence and productivity. Contrary to internet wisdom, there’s no magic bullet. You won’t believe how hard it was to find a source that said “If you’re tired, get some rest.”

People really do get tired. People get ill. People sometimes just feel uninspired. And if you’re a freelancer, you keep on working no matter how ill, tired, or uninspired you might feel. Moral of the story? Estimate the time you’ll need to complete a project somewhere between your best and worst speed. When you’re fast, you can get ahead. When you’re slow, it’s not a train smash.

Keep Your Calendar Up-to-Date and Your Clients in the Loop

Whether you use an old-fashioned diary or your phone’s calendar to track your commitments, keep it up to date. The minute a project comes in, add it. While doing so, check your other commitments for the day as well as what you plan to do on the previous day.

If it looks like meeting deadline could be a tall order, see if you’ve got an earlier gap you can use, and if the notice is too short for that, yell! Well, don’t exactly yell, but warn your client that you may need a day or two more for the project.

If you’re already booked up for weeks in advance, as I sometimes am, be honest about that. A surprisingly large percentage of clients will be fine with as much as two weeks’ delay – provided they like your work well enough.

Managing customer expectations often leaves you looking good. If you can deliver earlier than you expected, your client is delighted! If, on the other hand, you ask for an extension at the last minute, your client will certainly be less than pleased.

Stick to Your Best Work Hours

Did someone tell you that you set your own working hours as a freelancer? Up to a point, it’s true. But if you want to be a successful freelancer, there will be working hours, and they’re going to happen every day unless you’ve VERY carefully planned a holiday.

So, if you’re at your best in the mornings, your most challenging projects are scheduled for that time, with more routine work occupying the afternoons. If you’re a night owl, you’ll go nocturnal, but if you actually want time off, you’ll have to plan for that or else make up for it in hours you wouldn’t ordinarily work. Personally, I’d advise against the latter course.

I once promised a client that I’d work evenings for him. I was writing product descriptions, and I could usually bang out six in an hour. In the evenings, however, it took me literally twice as long. Now I know.

A Caveat and a Quick Roundup

Sometimes, the unexpected happens. Your ISP goes down for a full 24 hours and there’s only so long you can spend at a coffee shop, your family responsibilities intervene, and so on. Most clients are very understanding, but there are limits to their patience.

Despite your best efforts, you might end up working that graveyard shift when you’re not at your best, or working seven days a week even though you promised yourself a day off. It goes with the territory, and it’s worth it in the end.

In general, however, my top time management tips are:

• Never overestimate your capacity
• Check your schedule before you commit and err on the side of caution
• Communicate, communicate, communicate (three tips?)
• Build a routine that works for you and stick to it
• Be willing to cram in extra hours when you have to

I have to admit, I’m past my best already today, so if you can think of a few more time management tips, feel free to comment. The one I’m still struggling with is “make time for yourself.” How about you?