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4 Amazing Productivity Hacks For Freelancers

Freelancers often struggle with distractions. It can be hard to maximize productivity on a daily basis. These 4 tips will help.

Freelancers often struggle with distractions. It can be hard to maximize productivity on a daily basis. While we welcome the days when we “kill it” on the productivity front, realistically those days can be few and far between.

The freedom that comes with freelancing requires discipline. To become a successful freelancer and exceed client expectations productivity hacks are essential. Here are four practical tips ever freelancer can use to boost productivity.

 

1. Rise and shine early

Working from home has its perks. One of them includes waking up when you want to. But for some freelancers, conquering the alarm clock seems like a lofty wish. When the morning alarm goes off, all the good intentions in the world couldn’t pull you out of bed. Sound familiar?

 

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Some of our most productive hours are in the morning. The morning routines of successful people often include rising before the break of dawn. It makes sense. While the rest of the world is sleeping, distractions are low. Meanwhile, tackling the most important work of the day, first thing in the morning, gives you a sense of accomplishment. It can also reduce stress.

“Recruit a friend to hold your feet to the fire,” says Loren Pinilis. “You can have weekly meetings or even call or text each other when you wake up.”

 

2. Procaffeinate

Plenty of studies have shown that an appropriate amount of caffeine can boost productivity. This can come in varied forms: coffee, healthy energy drinks, or supplements.

 

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According to Livestrong.com, “consuming less than 400 milligrams of caffeine per day is generally regarded as safe.” Too much caffeine can negatively impact productivity as symptoms of nervousness, anxiety, increased thirst, and digestive issues.

 

3. Carve out space

If you work from home, carve out space for a home office. If that’s not feasible, consider a coworking space or reserve a group study room at your local library, for free. Family and friends don’t always respect “office hours”. So your workspace should be free of distractions. Meanwhile, you’ll resist the urge to run errands or play with your dog when you have a dedicated office environment.

 

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4. Use workplace chat apps

Back and forth email is a huge productivity drain. In contrast, the benefits of instant messaging are clear. Team collaboration tools with real-time messaging, bring all your communication together in one place.

Workplace chat apps, like Slack and Voxer, are much more reliable than waiting hours or days for a client email response. This can even be a great way to build a personal relationship with clients.

 

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Be mindful of chat etiquette. Don’t bombard people with questions, pay attention to grammar and spelling and keep jargon to a minimum. And remember: jokes get lost in translation. What was meant to be funny can easily be perceived as an insult. Ensure professionalism and think before you chat.

 

This article has been edited.

Tommy Wyher is the founder of Husky Marketing which helps connect freelancers to agencies. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Marketing is his passion and feels lucky that his passion is profitable. Connect with @wyher17 on Twitter.

 

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