When I first began freelancing I had a few growing pains getting used to the schedule. As a freelancer, you now have tons of freedom. However, even though I had more time on my hands, the time between an old project and new project would often drag out. I decided that even though I enjoy the freedom freelancing gives you, I needed to create a schedule for my work week. Below is my guide on how to set up a freelance schedule.
Batch Scheduling:
I like to do batch scheduling which is to set a specific day of the week to accomplish a task. Here is an example:
- Monday: Social Media Planning
- Tuesday & Friday: Client Consultation
- Wednesday & Thursday: Project Work
By setting up specific days for tasks I can be flexible and move days around depending on my workload.
Sprint Implementation
I previously worked for a software company. One of the things that I learned there was the Agile Methodology and the use of Sprints. A sprint is a short, time-boxed period to complete a set amount of work. Duration for a Sprint is under a month but usually two - one week.I like Sprints because they allow you to set up a structure of what to accomplish in a set amount of time. Being a freelancer can be overwhelming sometimes as there is always something you want to accomplish. However, organizing a set amount of work and establishing a backlog in the future will help in relieving that stressful workload.
Summary: How to Set Up a Freelance Schedule
In conclusion, organizing my freelance schedule made me a lot more productive. Freelancing provides a great deal of freedom. However, having a schedule each month provides a way to track my goals and accountability.
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