There’s a lot to be said for being a freelancer, for anything really, whether you’re a designer, illustrator, marketer, etc. Being a freelancer is directly related to independence and having very clear your processes of self-management. Very few people think about it, but there are many things behind those processes that have nothing to do with creativity or fun. For example, there are days of my week that I spend half the time answering emails or budgets. There is also the time I have to spend on advertising my projects, updating my portfolio, etc.
In between, everything can get out of control, but in the last year that I have worked as a freelancer, I have developed a series of good practices (a kind of checklist) related to my work and how to organize my time. I wanted to share them with you to help you find whatever works for you.
Register work as time-blocks
This goes beyond establishing a work schedule as such, because that is already a basic. By this, I mean establishing pieces of your day linked to specific tasks according to your available energy. For example, administrative tasks, payments, design, etc. All this knowing in which times of the day you work less and when not.
As an example, I dedicate myself to administrative tasks or content generation in the mornings. On the other hand, all the creative activity is done at the end of the day.
Regularize your status
I understand that this varies depending on the country you are in and the size of your venture, but as long as there is a possibility to organize your finances and your status as an independent worker, do so. Get advice from experts and invest in the peace of mind of keeping your accounts up to date. This has several benefits in economic matters: credits, loans, etc.. As well as providing a receipt or proof for large companies that require it.
I’m not lying to you, I’m very afraid of taxes. That is why I always consult with people who know about the subject and keep a record of all the data of my clients, suppliers and expenses.
Set a minimum number of delivery days
This was a game changer for my business!
I did this to avoid taking jobs from one day to the next or with very short production times. I made a list according to the services I offer and then set the minimum number of working days needed to carry it out. This also helps me a lot to avoid overlapping deliveries from different clients. Currently, my minimum delivery time is 5 working days.
And if you need to work on a project right now, I recommend you to have a fee or rate for express work 😉
I hope this helps!
