Over the past few weeks it seems that questions surrounding my freelance writing schedule have come up time after time. Many members of my course have been asking, as well as some others. Although my work schedule does not have to be the same as yours, this is definitely a good subject to look at more closely.
Before we go any further, keep this in mind: it may take awhile to find the best work schedule for you. Some freelance writers find the right schedule early in their career and do not change very often. Others switch from time to time as they try to get into a groove.
Personally, I enjoy waking up as early as possible. This allows me to get a lot of work done, and to feel as productive as possible. In most cases this means getting out of bed between 6 and 7 am. While this may sound early to some, once you are up and moving it really is not that bad.
Does this mean that I knock off eight hours later? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Generally speaking, my work days last until the late afternoon – somewhere around 4 or 5 pm. Of course, this is not written in stone. There are times when I work straight through dinner because I am on a roll. You never know how you will feel as the end of the day closes in.
To find the best work schedule for you I suggest experimenting as much as possible. Try to get up early, try to get up late, and try everything in between. The more schedules you experiment with the better chance there is that you will find the one that is perfect for you.
Early in my career I found that the morning hours were a great time to get work done. For many this holds true. For others, this is a joke – these people don’t like to rise early. If you are interested in working more effectively in the morning, follow these three tips:
1. Give yourself time to wakeup. In other words, don’t roll out of bed at 630 and sit down to work at 632. Instead, give yourself a few minutes to get up, move around, and get ready for the day. You don’t want to waste time, but you definitely need to make sure that you are 100 percent energized and ready to go. If your mind is still sleeping it is safe to say that your work is going to suffer.
2. Eat. No matter what, make sure you get something in your stomach. You may be one of those people who don’t like breakfast, but give it a try anyway. I have found that getting something little in my stomach is a great way to wake up. Of course, if you are a coffee drinker this is the time to get your fix.
3. Know what you want to accomplish. As I have said before, at the end of every workday I write down my tasks for the next day. This way when I wake up in the morning I know where to start. Do you have a to-do list staring you in the face when you first sit down at your computer desk? Hopefully your answer is yes.
These three tips will help you work more effectively in the morning hours. Even if you are not used to waking early, give this a try. You may be surprised at how much more work you can get done.Â
If you are like most freelance writers there are some clients you enjoy and others that make your life miserable – this is just the way it goes. While you may get the urge to talk down on or get mad at a “bad†client you need to keep this in mind: treating every client with respect is very important. Even if you are not receiving the same treatment you should keep a smile on your face and do whatever you can to take the high road.
I have been lucky enough to avoid bad clients, for the most part. Sure, somebody comes up from time to time that makes things difficult for one reason or the next, but these situations have been few and far between over the past couple of years.
If a client is annoying you for any reason the first thing you should do is look at their side. Are they all over you because of something you did? You may find that the client is acting a particular way because of something you did or did not do.
Don’t get me wrong. There are some freelance writing clients that are going to treat you poorly no matter. Dealing with these types of people is never easy. The first thing you should do is try to fix the relationship. Don’t stoop down to the client’s level. Instead, stay professional in hopes that this will rub off on them. At some point you may have to decide if continuing your relationship is the right thing to do. If the client refuses to change and you are becoming fed up, it is better to cut all ties than to get into an argument. Only you know if this is necessary.
No matter what, always treat clients with respect. Even if you plan on cutting a client loose, be respectful up to the very last minute. You don’t get anywhere by burning bridges.Â
