The average American works a full-time job and then some. But many of us also work in freelance industries, from graphic design to social media marketing. Whether you’re a full-time freelancer or side hustler, sometimes it can be really challenging to stay focused with your project.

So what does it take to stay productive as a freelancer? Here are some tips that have helped me work hard and rest hard:

Find a system that works for you.

It can be difficult to stay on top of things when every client seems to have their own framework and processes. It’s okay to not have a system in place when you first start out but overtime, you start to find out how you like to work.

I know people who swear by Notion, but I also know others who prefer Google Calendar to schedule and plan. Once you have an idea of what works best for you, you can start to optimise and automate.

Figure out when you’re most productive.

Another way to increase your productivity is by scheduling work sessions for the times when you are most productive. For example, if you’re a morning person and tend to get more done in the early hours of the day, it’s best to schedule your most difficult projects then. Or if you’re an evening person who prefers working after dinner, then that’s a great time to tackle some less taxing tasks like proofreading or sending emails.

Allow yourself to take breaks.

But it’s not just about when you work; remember to schedule breaks as well! I know it may seem counterintuitive to take breaks while working on projects but taking small breaks every hour or so will help keep your mind fresh and focused throughout the day.

While scrolling through social media can also be a break, I find that staring at the screen can sometimes make me more fatigued. My mind would engage with the content and it wouldn’t be a restful time. So taking some time to do offline activities would still be the most beneficial!

For example, would give myself a break during the day where I would either work out or go for a walk around the neighborhood while listening to music on my phone—it helped keep me sane during those stressful days at work!

Taking that time away from work will help clear the mind so when it’s time to get back into things everything feels much more manageable.

Stay organized, so that you don’t waste time trying to deal with time-consuming disorganization.

You can’t be productive if you’re running around trying to find things. If your organization skills aren’t up to par, it will take longer for you to get things done—and that means more lost time.

When working from home as a freelancer, it’s especially important that you stay on top of your organization game. Here are some ways I’ve found helpful in keeping myself organized:

• Use descriptive file names when saving documents or photos
• Back up important files digitally; this way, even if something happens to them physically (like water damage), they’ll still exist somewhere else so that they can be restored again later on
  

Be honest about your limitations.

One of the hardest things for freelancers is knowing what they can and can’t do. There’s a tendency to over-commit, but it’s important to be honest with yourself and your clients about how much time you have to devote to projects.

If you’re going through a busy period, let potential clients know upfront that you’ll need to postpone a meeting or two until you’ve caught up on other work. Be honest with yourself as well: don’t take on more projects than will fit into your schedule (unless they’re all short-term), or else everything will pile up and overwhelm you in no time flat.

As a freelancer, there are many people who rely on your services—and if any of them feel like their trust has been broken because of unrealistic expectations on either side, it could seriously damage both parties’ relationships with each other over time!

It’s okay to take it easy.

As a freelancer, you will have to learn how to balance the need for relaxation with the pressure of getting more work done. If you take too many breaks, you’ll find yourself less productive later when it comes time for your next big project.

On the other hand, if you don’t take enough breaks at all and keep working non-stop, then there is also a good chance that your productivity will suffer and lead to burnout down the line.

There’s a balance that looks different for every individual, so take some time to find your sweet spot☺️ Since you are the face of your brand, it’s important to know yourself so that you know how best to run your business!

We hope these tips will help you stay productive as a freelancer. If you’re looking for more resources on productivity and managing your time, check out how to start freelancing from scratch or how to find time to start a side hustle!