How to Manage Time as a Freelancer

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freelancer at work

So you’re a freelancer. Maybe you do some side work, maybe it’s a full-time gig for you. Maybe you’re the entrepreneur behind a small startup, still functioning like a freelancer.

In these and many other cases (I’m looking at you, workaholics who don’t stop when you get home), people often have trouble managing time.

This article looks at some of the main time management challenges freelancers (and others) have to face, and considers some practical solutions.

Key Takeaways

  • Redefine your concept of work to include activities that boost your online presence, portfolio, or ability to generate leads, and prioritize them accordingly.
  • Achieve work-life balance by setting clear boundaries for work and leisure time, planning ahead, and learning to say no to additional tasks when necessary.
  • Utilize task management systems such as Todoist, Wunderlist, OmniFocus, Trello, or Asana to manage your workload and avoid overloading your schedule.
  • Address the problem of non-billable time by accounting for business overhead in your rates and ensuring you bill for all time spent on client projects, including research, meetings, and quoting time.

What, Exactly, is “Work”?

It’s important to understand the difference between work and leisure.

You sit at your desk flipping through Twitter; or skimming articles as you research a topic; or maybe note-taking; or contributing to an open-source project; or helping a colleague with a problem.

These activities can look like leisure activities—not only to outsiders, but even to yourself. Of course, in some cases they are! But often, they help to further your skills or career goals, and aren’t simply for entertainment.

Redefine Your Concept of Work

If your activities help to boost your online presence or portfolio, or enhance your ability to make money or generate leads, then they’re related to work. They are work. So treat them like work.

Maintaining a Discipline

Of course, you still have to prioritize. Do these activities have a higher priority than other work? Than leisure activities? Than family time? You need to work out a realistic balance between all these.

juggling many tasks

It’s a difficult balance, as a freelancer or other working professional, because these “grey area” activities creep into your life. With social networking applications, news and email on our mobile devices, we can literally be working anywhere, at any time, in one way or another.

Setting clear boundaries of what is work, and then stopping work when it’s time to do so—for however long you intended—is very important. Give yourself a mental break before returning your nose to the proverbial grindstone.

The Elusive Work-life Balance

This leads into a topic that many of us know and love—the elusive “work-life balance”. In the United States, a 2014 Gallup Poll says that the average work-week is 47 hours. That, unfortunately, is not including the random, off-the-clock work done at home. And it definitely isn’t the norm for freelancers or entrepreneurs, who may work many more hours than that! So how do you balance these things?

Don’t Confuse Work for Leisure

Firstly, define what your work involves. Be clear about this, so that you don’t fall into the trap of working when you’re supposed to be relaxing with the family etc. (Are you sure you’re relaxing with that phone in your hand?)

Schedule It

Secondly, plan ahead. If you want to have a bowling night, movie outing or date, schedule it. It makes it more real to you, and the time really seems blocked off, preventing you from filling it with other stuff.

Saying No

Thirdly, learn to say no. This is an age-old adage, but it’s a good one to remember. And it applies, most of all, to yourself.

Freelancers and entrepreneurs are often constantly busy—either because it’s in their nature to be, or because it’s in the nature of self-employment.

Say no. Set aside time to manage the other areas of your life, and don’t put any more tasks on this day’s list. Say no to yourself, and to others, and begin filling another day.

Task Management Systems

It’s crucial that freelancers and entrepreneurs manage tasks effectively. Yet many of us don’t, or at least don’t do so effectively.

When tackling the exciting—but daunting—adventure of working for yourself, or starting your own business, you may find yourself with much less free time than you previously had. It can help to manage all of the various things on your plate—both work-related and not—using a task-based rather than time-based approach.

managing tasks

I recommend that you use a task management system to organize your schedule. Examples of these include Todoist, Wunderlist, OmniFocus, Trello, Asana. I currently use a combination of Todoist and Trello.

If apps aren’t your thing, at least use a pen and paper system to organize yourself. Either way, take some time to assess the options and choose one or more that work for you. And once you’ve make your decision, try to stick with it, at least for a while.

Of course, once you’ve chosen a system, you can adapt it to your way of working. Decide when you’d like to organize yourself—be it first thing in the morning, or last thing before bed—and start doing it.

To get the most value out of a task management system, create tasks for everything, including work, online activities, family things, chores, and overhead for your business.

Also, limit your tasks in a day. At some point, draw a cutoff and stop adding more things to your plate. You can only do so many things in a day!

The Non-billable Time Problem

Let’s talk about the implications of non-billable time, what it is, and the different methods you’ll need to consider to deal with it.

For most freelancers, non-billable time can really be classed in two ways: as business overhead, and as an illusion.

Business Overhead

“Business overhead” can include a lot of things: admin tasks; checking on your services (hosting platform, social media accounts, any number of things); dealing with your accountant or attorney; marketing for your own business; networking; and much more.

Get a realistic picture of how much of your working week you spend on this sort of overhead task. Time-track yourself if you must. Then make a note of it. The most important thing to remember about this type of non-billable time is that you should account for it when doing estimates or quotes, or when figuring up an hourly rate.

An example of incorporating non-billable time

You deduce that you spend approximately 20% of your time on non-billable business overhead. You have a job in your queue that you are about to quote, estimating that it will take 100 hours, at around $50/hour. So you’re quoting the project at about $5000.

What you may be forgetting, though—as a business—is that you have to account for that overhead somewhere. So you should either add time to estimates, or raise your hourly rate to cover that extra 20% of time required to run the business.

Illusory Non-billable Time

Secondly, and perhaps just as important, is the amount of illusory non-billable time you spend on client projects. “Illusory? What does that mean?”

It means that this kind of non-billable time is only not billable in our imaginations. Many freelancers and entrepreneurs are simply short-changing themselves.

Are you doing research for a client project? Add the time to the total, or account for it when you estimate.

Are you having meetings with the client? Does that involve travel time? What about quoting and estimating time? You need to account for all of that.

There is no such thing as non-billable time spent on a client project; there’s only time you are choosing not to be paid for.

Tracking your time spent on projects is a good idea, even on non-hourly projects. The more time you track, the better you’ll be able to estimate in the future. When building, say, a simple WordPress site for a client, with 5–10 pages and no special features, you’ll already know from the last three similar projects roughly the amount of time it will take—including any project overhead that you may not have included previously.

You Have More Time Than You Think

freelancer relaxing

You don’t have an infinite supply of time, but you probably have more than you think.

Using the methods I’ve covered—defining what “work” is to you, creating a work-life balance, organizing your life, working with task management, and using careful time tracking to eliminate non-billable time—you can create more free time, and/or get more income out of the time you have.

You have to eat, sleep, and get things done, though. So the last piece of advice here is simple. Remember that there are only so many hours in a day. Don’t overload yourself. If a task can’t be done today, put it on tomorrow’s list. If a project won’t fit in your schedule, don’t take it on.

Anxiety, stress, lack of sleep, under-performance on jobs and damaged relationships won’t help your freelancing career!

Be mindful how much you allow on your plate at once. Don’t overload it, but also don’t stop looking for ways to do things more efficiently and thus maximize the value of your time! Good luck!

How have you dealt with the challenges mentioned here? How easy do you find it to manage your time, balance work and non-work, and to avoid too much non-billable time?

Frequently Asked Questions about Managing Time as a Freelancer

How can I effectively manage my time as a freelancer?

As a freelancer, managing your time effectively is crucial. Start by setting clear goals and deadlines for each project. Break down larger tasks into smaller, manageable parts and prioritize them based on their urgency and importance. Use time management tools and apps to keep track of your tasks and deadlines. Also, remember to take regular breaks to avoid burnout.

What are some common time management mistakes freelancers make?

Some common time management mistakes freelancers make include not setting clear goals, procrastinating, not prioritizing tasks, and not taking breaks. These mistakes can lead to stress, burnout, and decreased productivity. To avoid these, it’s important to have a clear plan, stay organized, and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

How can I balance multiple projects as a freelancer?

Balancing multiple projects requires good organization and prioritization skills. Use project management tools to keep track of all your tasks and deadlines. Prioritize tasks based on their urgency and importance. Also, don’t be afraid to say no to projects if your plate is already full. It’s better to deliver quality work on a few projects than to spread yourself too thin.

How can I avoid burnout as a freelancer?

Avoiding burnout as a freelancer involves maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Make sure to take regular breaks, get enough sleep, and engage in activities you enjoy outside of work. Also, don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s okay to have off days and not be productive all the time.

How can I stay motivated as a freelancer?

Staying motivated as a freelancer can be challenging, especially when working alone. Set clear goals for yourself and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. Also, find a work routine that suits you and stick to it. Surround yourself with positive influences and seek support from other freelancers or online communities when needed.

How can I improve my productivity as a freelancer?

Improving productivity involves setting clear goals, staying organized, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Use productivity tools and apps to help you stay on track. Also, remember to take care of your physical and mental health. Regular exercise, a healthy diet, and adequate sleep can greatly improve your productivity.

How can I handle distractions as a freelancer?

Handling distractions involves creating a conducive work environment. Find a quiet, comfortable space to work in and eliminate potential distractions. Use tools and apps that block distracting websites and notifications. Also, set specific work hours and stick to them.

How can I manage my clients’ expectations as a freelancer?

Managing clients’ expectations involves clear communication. Be upfront about your availability, deadlines, and rates. Regularly update your clients on your progress and immediately inform them of any potential delays. Also, don’t be afraid to say no to unrealistic demands.

How can I handle the isolation of freelancing?

Handling the isolation of freelancing involves staying connected. Join online communities of freelancers where you can share experiences and seek advice. Also, make time for social activities outside of work. Remember, it’s okay to seek support when you’re feeling lonely or overwhelmed.

How can I handle the financial instability of freelancing?

Handling the financial instability of freelancing involves careful planning. Save a portion of your earnings for times when work is slow. Diversify your income sources and consider having a part-time job or passive income. Also, make sure to price your services fairly and don’t be afraid to negotiate with clients.

Jeff SmithJeff Smith
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Jeff works for a startup as a technical writer, does contract writing and web development, and loves tinkering with new projects and ideas. In addition to being glued to a computer for a good part of his day, Jeff is also a husband, father, tech nerd, book nerd, and gamer.

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