Freelancers: Stay Focused
June 4, 2008 by Deb
Filed under Freelance Writing
by Cherrye Moore
One of the toughest things about freelance writing, as with many jobs requiring control and self-moderation, is staying focused. This task becomes even more challenging when a freelancer, such as yours truly, doesn’t write full-time. Many of us have other responsibilities pulling us from our computer screen; we have another job, we have children, we have commitments.
In my ideal freelance writing world, I’d have a fully stocked office with sounds of a natural waterfall somewhere in the distance, and a limitless supply of freshly brewed java, that I didn’t have to make myself! But, we make do.
After battling too many days that ended with, “But, what did I actually get accomplished today?” I took action!
I signed up for calendar notifications through Yahoo to remind me of important deadlines and tasks I need to accomplish each day, and I arrange them to send me two notifications per task. I then leave the message on my desktop as a reminder of what still needs to be done before I can call it a day.
Additionally, how many of you have ever started a project you expected would take two hours, only to look up and see that four had passed? Unfortunately for those of us who skim that perfectionist/realist line, it happens. To combat this, I set an alarm to ring every one or two hours, so I am always aware of how much time has passed in the day. This simple step has done wonders to increase my productivity, and I end each day with a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.
Oops. My bell just rang.
You guys give it a try, and let me know how it works for you. What other tips do you use to stay focused and productive throughout the day?
Cherrye Moore is an American writer who owns Il Cedro Bed and Breakfast in Catanzaro, Italy. She blogs about her life, travels, and adventures at My Bella Vita.
I’ve set my computer to tell me the time at the top of every hour. Alerts certainly jolt one into staying on task.
It’s funny to read this, because I actually just got a timer to help me stay on task better.
Great idea! I’ve never thought of this.
One of the things that used to distract me was the mail notification in Outlook. I keep that program running all the time in the background (the reminders, notes and tasks functions are very useful) but I found that I was paying too much attention to the little notice when new mail came in. Simply turning off the notification made a world of difference for me. I also use a timer, which has been very helpful.
An amazingly simple but amazingly useful thing I taught myself to do: I use the stopwatch function on my cell phone to keep track of how long I’ve spent on any given task. I write for a local paper that pays by the hour, so I time my interviews as well as the time I spend writing and editing my articles. My phone also has an alarm function, which takes the place of a timer when I’m out on an interview. I tend to use that function when I’m out doing an interview and I know I have someplace else I need to be at a certain time.
Great ideas — and right on time!
I use Outlook Tasks and Calendar with set reminders – they definitely keep me on task, otherwise I’d be all over the place! Plugging my earphones into my laptop and listening to music keeps me focused to.
Great tip with the timer. I’m getting to the point where I have to set a specific time to check my email like after a finish an article. I find I check it often as a distraction which leads to more distractions. Thanks!
I love the timer idea, Cherrye. It’s so easy to get carried away doing something and not realize how much time you’ve waster, er, spent wisely.
It’s great for keeping track of billing hours too (I’m still a lawyer at heart)
Kasey – the alarm is jolting. Sometimes I think, “IS this thing broken!?!”
Great timing, eh, Sara?
I hope the alarm can help you, Ern.
AC – I notice the emails I get distract me, as well. When I have an important deadline, I do have to turn them off. I *love* the stopwatch idea to track your hours. I am afraid to add up how long I spend on certain things. I will realize I am getting paid, like 50 cents an hour!! lol
Why thank you, Kimberly.
Those task reminders have saved me a few times from getting to the end of the day and remembering “one more thing” I had to do. I am jealous, Kari. I WISH I could listen to music. It distracts me and I just wanna dance!
That is great discipline, Lori. I check email WAY too much throughout the day.
Bleeding Espresso – wasted time? Who, me??
Billing hours would be great, if I got paid by the hour!! I’ll just have to get me one of those gigs, eh??
I write 1000 words a day. I keep track and add up the total each month in my journals. I only total the month so that if I have a bad month I don’t keep beating myself up over it. The next month is new and I start it with a renewed sense of vigor. However, at the end of the year I total things up and have a look at the year in total.
Forgetful and often purusing 12 or more projects at a time, I am meticulous about note keeping. I may only be actively working on 1-3 projects during any week but it helps not to forget about the other projects.
Hey, thanks for the website. I’ve been trying to move away from roleplaying into novels and other works and this has openned my eyes to a few more possibilities. I’ve made 3 applications in the last couple of days since finding your site. A fellow over on RPGnet mentioned the site.
Mark Charke
http://www.Charke.ca
Thinking Outside the Box
Simply a great post! I’ve learned a lot from this and I’ll be trying these tricks, too! Gotta increase my productivity…
That is a great idea, Mark. I am learning (after a few “lost” ideas) to take better notes along the way. I love that you keep track each month. Great idea!
Thanks, Arlette. If only we didn’t have to eat or sleep, right?!?
Does this mean I should stop coming to this blog? It is rather distracting to read everyone’s posts!
I have found that I write better on my laptop because I don’t have it connected to the Internet with all the distractions that causes.
I’m new to the world of freelance writing and can relate. I also have a full-time job in marketing, help my husband with his own business, am a marathon runner and triathlete and am juggling all my other obligations while trying to make a living at freelance writing.
Thank you for the alert tips, what a great idea.
Yes, Adam. Drop the mouse!
WAHMBrenda – That is good willpower. I can’t help myself.
Wow, Rachel. I am tired just reading your list. I hope the tips can help you!
Ah, hot coffee in endless supply…
Thanks for this bit of motivation. I freelance on top of working full-time (the freelance money’s going straight to my upcoming wedding!) so I can relate to the urge to just hang out with my beau and play with the dogs instead of hunkering down. It’s all for a great cause though. Love the Yahoo reminder idea!
Cherrye at My Bella Vita,
It can be a little disheartening sometimes to see how much time is spent on a given piece – BUT I must say that it’s great motivation to streamline your practices and techniques. I find that when the stopwatch is running, I am less inclined to take phone calls from friends, thus allowing me to stay on task. If the caller ID shows a familiar number, and it’s not one I know I need to talk to, I just let the call roll to voice mail and keep on working.
Congrats on the upcoming wedding, Chrissy. You will be glad you worked hard when you can buy that extra-special item for the Big Day.
Thanks for the advice, AC. I really should keep track of it. It will be good to know how much I have spent on something, and who knows – I might be happily surprised!
I am also very easily distracted, but the one thing I do to sort of focus is to devote mornings to working. My daughter tries her darndest to pull me away from it, but if I stick to my morning routine, that frees me up to spend the afternoons with her uninterrupted.
One of the major reasons I freelance is so that I’m not constantly Pavlov’s dog-jumping when bells ring.
I work best with large swaths of unstructured time.
I keep track of deadlines and meet them, but I do much better without a structured day — and I can get a HUGE amount of work accomplished without structure — than with it.
The more structured my day is, the more lists, bells, etc. are involved, the more I resent it. And then I start to procrastinate.
I’m glad you found something that works for you, but what works for me is the exact opposite.
I focus, I complete, I move on.
Of course there are bad days, but then I have the option to change things around, take off a few hours, do something that refreshes me.
I have a “floating” day off — I don’t stick to a regularly scheduled non-work day. I see how my week goes and pick my day off as to how my energy and focus are running.
And yes, for the record, I am a full-time freelance writer.
Andrea, that is a great way to stay focused … like a reward! I reward myself, too, but it usually with chocolate!
That is great if you can do that, Devon. I am jealous. The alarm and lists (yes, there are more than one) help me to be more productive. I rotate my day(s) off, as well, but always try to take at least one day “off” a week.
Great post. That’s a helpful tip. Life does come at you so fast and it’s easy to let some things slide.
Hey Nadine. Fancy seeing you around here.
Very good advice Cherrye! I wish I could be that organized but I just don’t have the time. And I think I’ve become very Italian in my work, in the sense that sometimes out of chaos comes beauty. Or at least I hope so!