Can you ever be too busy?
As a freelance writer, it is always good to be busy. After all, when you are working you are making money. With that being said, is there ever a time when you can be too busy? This all depends on what you believe in, and how much time you are willing to put into your business.
The more hours you work the more projects you will be able to accept. The question is: how many hours are you willing to put in each day? If you work a traditional eight hour day, you will definitely be able to get a lot of work done. But if you increase this to 12 hours, you are obviously going to have more time for additional projects.
Personally, I do not mind if I am super busy; even if I have to work a few extra hours. I know that there will be months when I can work six hour days, but also times when 12 to 14 hours will be the norm. One thing you should know about being self-employed is that you do not have a set schedule. You can try to stay on the same schedule as often as you can, but it can be difficult no matter how hard you try.
If you feel like you are overwhelmed or about to crack, it is time to start cutting back. Remember, if you begin to get bogged down, all of your work is going to suffer. The end result will be disappointed clients; and that is never a good thing.
What should you do if you are already too busy, but have another project offer on the table? If you are absolutely sure that you do not have the time, the best thing you can do is be honest with the client. Tell them that you would love to help with the project, but you cannot proceed for a few days, a week, or whatever will give you enough time to clear some space. If the client really wants to work with you, they may be willing to wait.
You should never be upset when you have too many projects to work on. This may make for long hours and lots of stress, but it will also increase your freelance writing income. When you tally your income numbers at the end of the month, you will realize that staying busy was not all that bad!
