Many freelancers love the flexibility the profession offers, especially in how much and what type of work they can take on each time. One works at their own leisure and drives themselves hard for every project.

But this flexibility does have its disadvantages. If you pile your work too much, you may end up piling your schedule and have to deal with customers without any break. The very benefit you wanted to exploit, the freedom to control what you do and when you do it, will be difficult to achieve unless you make a sacrifice with the quality of your work or your credibility.

If you don’t want this to happen to you, it is best to pace yourself to help you with your freelance work. Don’t know how to do it? Here are some great tips to pace yourself as a freelancer:

Make the Right Goals

Taking on more work than normal is not uncommon for freelancers because, in most cases, work is not consistent. But, even if this is the case, you mustn’t binge work and find ways to not be idle for a long time.

You can avoid this by having the right goals to guide you as a freelancer and keep your business sustainable.

When setting goals, they must be achievable, realistic in scope, and worthwhile. For example, if you want to avoid burning out, you should set a schedule with regular breaks. You can also use a time block to focus on your priority tasks and avoid piling on additional work.

But when building goals, it is best not to pressure yourself into doing them all at once. Focus on two to three goals and finish them before tackling the next goals.

Have a Work Schedule

Since you are a freelancer, you don’t necessarily have a schedule of when you work and how long you work. But having no schedule prevents you from staying consistent and getting the job done without having your work overlap with your personal schedule.

Your schedule doesn’t have to be as strict as an office schedule. It must have a structure you can follow.

For example, you can set a time to work, a time to take breaks, and a time to work again. Pick the time when you are most productive and block it as your work time. Then divide this work time among the tasks you have to do based on their priorities. Once your set work schedule is complete, take a break and do your personal activities.

Use the Right Tools to Help with Work

As a freelancer, you may get used to doing things manually because no one is working alongside you. You are your own boss and have full control of how you operate. But doing things manually can take up a lot of your time and affect your efficiency.

If there is work you cannot do on time or that you are not familiar with, consider outsourcing it to others. While you may find this idea unattractive, it can help you meet your deadlines and create strong working relationships that can help you score more high-paying jobs in the future. It is best to research whom to approach for this collaboration and ensure you have the right budget. You will also need to get your client’s approval if they are okay with you dividing the work with another person.

If outsourcing is not your preference, you can also use the latest tools and materials to do your work efficiently. For example, if you find yourself taking a long time to complete your finances, use bookkeeping software to help you. Automated tools for email and scheduling can also assist, as can project management platforms. Make sure to try them out first before fully adopting them in your operations, so you have time to tweak them to your preferences or find another tool to use.

Keep Active

Since freelancing is a one-person job, you will need to be on top of everything. But, this can be very straining to the body if you don’t take breaks and take care of yourself.

With regular exercise, the right diet, and taking a break when you hit your limits, you will be able to prevent burnout and stay healthy. Take the time to examine your body and get a medical test to determine your current status and the actions you can take to keep yourself fit and healthy.

Remote Work Isn’t Bad

If you can’t achieve a work-life balance because you are always working at home, why not bring your work with you elsewhere?

You can do your work while in a cafe or in a new country. As you finish your work, you can explore and do something new. It will make your freelance work more exciting, and you get more than just work experience.

Just make sure that you use a virtual private network when working remotely to secure your work.

As a freelancer, it is okay to take on more jobs if you want to save up or have targets in mind. But you need to pace yourself if you want to do a good job in each job you accept and build the credentials to get more clients. With the tips above, you are guaranteed to meet your quotas and enjoy life outside work.

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