One of the funniest jokes about being a freelancer goes like this: I didn’t want to work 9-5, so I quit and became a freelancer, and now, I work 24/7. Although it sounds funny, it is largely true. Most freelancers work more than regular people. However, there is a way to get a freelance job while working regular hours. The trick is to stay productive. Here’s how I do it.
I hate uninvited guests, last-minute events, and disruptions to my schedule. At least, it caused a lot of friction between me and those close to me. It got to the point where I refused to take calls, reply to texts, or communicate of any kind while I was at work. This is not me being mean, this is me taking my time working so I can later spend time with the people that matter. Let’s dig deeper into the mystery behind a freelancer’s work schedule.
Be Your Own Boss: More Curses Than Blessings
The most common myth about being a freelancer is that you are your own boss and it is up to you to decide when to work and when not to. On the surface, this looks great. You can simply decide not to work on Tuesdays and no one will prosecute you for it. You may also decide to work more hours one day and fewer hours another. I’ve used this method and always justify procrastination with “I’ll do it when I have time.” How can I get things done if something always comes up? A spouse can call and ask to meet, or mom can ask for help, or god forbid, a last-minute shot pops up. The outside view of freelancers is that they are always available and able to push the work forward.
However, the truth is far from that. Unless I work regular hours, I won’t get anything done. If anything, I usually work well beyond normal hours. My day is sometimes really hectic, it depends mainly on its type of day. An admin day is usually the standard 9-5, while the write date, edit date, or shoot date really messes up the schedule. I could easily sit at work until 3am. I love my job (I can’t keep track of time). This means I’m sitting, focused, and focused on the task at hand.
It’s easy to let your mind wander. This happens to me a lot. I’m a procrastinator myself, which makes it extremely difficult to focus. This is why I’ve been working hard to tackle this habit of mine.
The biggest problem with staying focused is social media. The dopamine rush we get while browsing Instagram can hardly be compared to spending hours and hours writing an article. For me, the only way to stay focused is to stop myself from accessing social media and any distracting activities. For better focus, I use SelfControl: an app that blocks certain websites for a while. My list includes Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Obviously I don’t have any games installed. While the games are fun, the last time I played was when I was 15, so this shouldn’t be a concern anyway. Another thing I do is put my phone on silent and out of reach. The more steps I take to take on a bad habit, the less likely I am to do it. There are always messages waiting for a response in my inbox, which sometimes makes it extremely difficult for me to focus. I feel pressured to reply as soon as I see the message, that’s why I also turn off notifications. If there is something really urgent, the other person will call. 
After trying the 25/5-minute Pomodoro technique, I found that it wasn’t very effective, as getting back to work after a 5-minute break can be difficult. Perhaps this is for science, but for writing or editing. It’s about catching a wave of inspiration and being inactive for 25 minutes. That’s not to say I don’t set sensitive deadlines for myself. There is a limit I have set for myself on an image, article and even a photo session. That way, I move forward, get more done, and improve. Done is better than perfect, because it’s never perfect.
Prohibit unnecessary visits, respect your own time
The myth that all freelancers make of sitting in a coffee shop with a laptop while having a white desktop is not true but is very common. Your surroundings may tend to casually pull you out for a pint during work hours. The point is, for every hour of work you lose, you have to make up for it. If every day, you only spend an hour to hang out, that is 5 hours a week, 10 hours for two weeks. In two weeks, you worked less than a day. This adds up, and in a year you are easily several weeks behind someone with the discipline and strength to say no.
Being your own boss is a curse and a blessing. While you decide which career path to take, you have to be much more disciplined than someone who has a manager overseeing them. There’s no immediate penalty for laziness, but as we’ve seen, it does add up over time. Developing a sense of discipline and self-control is something every freelancer must master. Otherwise, you will be surpassed by others. Why do people slow down their progress by neglecting the work they have chosen? Sure, not every day is filled with motivation, but next time you’re slacking off, ask yourself if this is worth doing. Maybe it’s like a romantic career that turns out to be another 9-5, just more difficult (albeit more rewarding).
The current version of work ethic suits me best. Although this is a fairly new system, I have seen results. Simply eliminating distractions, setting deadlines, and banning “hanging out” during work hours works wonders. There are really only some things that can’t be done on text. I kindly ask that my family and close friends call only in emergencies. Otherwise, it becomes too messy. There’s nothing wrong with asking people to respect your work hours, quite the contrary.
Stop thinking
As a freelancer, I banned anything unrelated to work to improve my discipline. Behind a notorious procrastinator, I know all too well how bad it can get, which is why freelance work is best for those of us who are self-sufficient. control well or try to be great. If there’s a time when I procrastinate, I try not to fail twice in a row. Taking a day off may be okay, but not two days in a row. I’m far from perfect, though. Productivity and self-discipline can still be improved.
What are some productivity tactics you use as a freelancer? Share with us in the comments!
