Let’s be honest. One of the hardest jobs in the world is being a freelancer and getting work done. It can sometimes feel like everything out there is meant to keep you from finishing your tasks. From Facebook to Twitter to the news to that squirrel who just went by your window, there’s something for everyone.
And, yes, procrastination makes it seem impossible to get anything done at times. As a freelancer, you’ll have to deal with this sooner or later. Otherwise, you may see a decline in profits and clients fleeing left and right. No one, absolutely no one, wants to work with a lazy freelancer!
We’ve selected some of the best procrastination tips available below. If you don’t put off reading this post, you’ll definitely learn something!
#1. Start your day with the hardest tasks first
One of the most effective (and counterintuitive) strategies is to begin your day with the most difficult tasks on your to-do list. “That makes no sense,” you might be telling yourself right about now. Shouldn’t I start with the easier tasks because they’ll take less time?”
Correct! Those tasks will be completed in less time. Consider how you’ll feel once you’ve completed that challenging project – accomplished and ready to take on the world! So, you can channel that energy towards completing the remaining simple items on your list.
#2. Find an accountability partner
Next, you’re going to dial your “Phone-A-Friend” number. Getting a friend to be your accountability partner is a terrific way to get things done and end your procrastination problem (you can think of a cooler name, later). This is the individual who will be your go-to person when it comes to staying on track.
This person, for example, could text or call you in the middle of the day to check in on you and see how you’re doing. They can help you get back on track if you’ve been procrastinating.
#3. Create a no-phone zone
Setting up a phone-free zone where you work is a great method to stop yourself from turning on your phone and checking Facebook if you work from home. Your workspace should be isolated from the outside world. That way, your phone will be on the opposite side of your house when you’re freelancing.
There are no distractions!
#4. Keep only tabs that you need open
As freelancers, we spend most of our days on our computers. That means there are plenty of things to distract us — YouTube, Facebook, your aunt commenting on an old photo. The simplest way to deal with this is to close all of the tabs you don’t need open during work hours.
Close Facebook, save that YouTube video for later, and focus just on the tabs required for work. There are even apps and extensions on your laptop that can help you with that.
#5. Prioritize your to-do list
To-do lists and freelancers are inextricably related. What happens when we try to write down all we need to do every day? We wind up with an unfinished to-do list at the end of the day. What can you do about it?
Next time, prioritize the items on your to-do list. Yes, you should continue to write down everything that needs to be done. But what exactly do you need today? Or first thing in the morning? Separate your list into 4 sections:
- Priority 1: Urgent and Important
- Priority 2: Urgent, but but not important
- Priority 3: Important, but no urgent
- Priority 4: not urgent and not important
Cross-platform Todoist App embraces this system and makes it easy for you to focus on getting stuff done.
#6. Take a break as needed
OK, this one may seem counter-intuitive, but if you want to overcome your procrastination problem, you should…procrastinate? No, but don’t be afraid to take a break when necessary! Nobody expects you to work all day every day without taking a break.
Set a timer for 10 minutes every couple of hours to read the news, check social media, or take a short walk around the block.
Last thoughts
Freelancers and procrastination go hand in hand. Procrastination is a common problem among freelancers, especially when they initially start out. So, if you’re battling with this beast, give these 6 pointers a shot and see how much more work you can get done!
