One of the biggest challenges design freelancers face is learning to balance multiple projects and clients. If you are new to working independently, this can feel stressful or as though you are doing something wrong. However, the workflow for freelancers can often ebb and flow, meaning each week can look different for tasks or deadlines.
With over 57 million Americans working as freelancers, it’s clear how important it is for these professionals to master time management to secure new clientele while still meeting deadlines on their current projects. In this article, you can find helpful tips to manage working on several projects at once to help boost your career as a design freelancer.
Create a Schedule
While this may seem apparent, creating a weekly and daily schedule is one task many freelancers overlook. It’s common for freelancers to start each day trying to balance every project in their head, leading to missing deadlines or important meetings with clients.
Working independently and on your own schedule is a significant benefit of freelancing, but that’s not to say there is no need for a schedule at all. There are free tools like Google Calendar that freelancers can use to plan their day to ensure they maintain a healthy work-life balance while meeting all professional obligations.
Prioritize Based on Deadlines
Once freelancers are comfortable creating and adhering to daily/weekly schedules, prioritizing work based on deadlines is another way to make managing multiple projects easier. Essentially, prioritizing based on deadlines means taking tasks and organizing them by the due date, required time, and room for error. This means that you should consider not only the deadline of the task but also how long it will take to complete.
It’s also recommended to leave a small window of “extra” time for each task in case there is an issue. This ensures you will still have enough time to fix any errors and submit the work prior to the deadline.
Use Daily Checklists
While some freelancers prefer to create weekly schedules, having a daily checklist can ensure you are not overlooking any important tasks or deadlines. Instead of working off one schedule that can change throughout the week, try setting up daily lists in the morning before starting your workday. This allows for more flexibility with day-to-day tasks and provides greater room for accommodation if there needs to be a last-minute adjustment to your schedule. Using daily and weekly schedules together allow freelancers to optimize their workflow.
Try a Time-Tracking Tool
If you are struggling to complete tasks on time or need a way to easily track time spent working on different projects, there are a variety of free tools available that can monitor these hours. Time-tracking tools are also an excellent way to help freelancers stay focused on their tasks rather than get distracted by outside factors.
Once you sit down and “clock in” to your time-tracking tool, remember to treat those hours as billable and work solely on your prioritized projects. Some of the most popular free time-tracking tools for freelancers are Toggl and Clockify, both of which allow you to track hours from multiple projects.
Communicate With Clients Often
One of the best ways to keep your client relationships strong is to communicate with them often regarding updates and any potential issues that may prevent you from making a deadline. It’s always recommended that you reach out to a client as soon as possible if you think there will be any sort of delay with content past a set due date. Keeping communication open with clients is also important if you run into any issues, as you can reach out and ask for an extension or additional clarification on a task.
Don’t Procrastinate
Another huge issue that many freelancers face is dealing with procrastination, especially while working independently. It can be extremely challenging to keep a solid structure when it comes to freelancing, which can lead to many designers feeling overwhelmed and burnt out. While it’s common for procrastination to pop up during these stressful times, there are some ways to combat it. Setting realistic goals, giving yourself enough time to complete tasks, and staying positive during challenging times are great ways to gain the motivation to handle difficult tasks head-on.
Work on One Task at a Time
Another helpful way to manage multiple projects is to work on just one task at a time rather than trying to balance it all at once. When balancing several due dates and outstanding tasks, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and start jumping from project to project. While this may seem helpful, this can actually lead to missing important deadlines and tasks taking longer overall. The best way to remain focused and complete work promptly is to work on one task at a time, prioritized by the due date and need.
Set Helpful Reminders
If you have tried making schedules or checklists but still find yourself missing important deadlines, try setting reminders to help you stay on track. There are several different free applications that can send reminders directly to your email or phone to ensure you meet all of your important due dates. Some design freelancers choose to have their reminders and calendar synced to their phones so they can stay up to date while on the go.
If you are ready to boost your career as a design freelancer, graphic design classes provide all the training needed to join this bustling field. These courses are an excellent way to gain content for your portfolio and learn additional skills in the field. There are also live online graphic design bootcamps from providers like Noble Desktop that help prepare individuals for a switch into a design career. Bootcamp courses provide immersive training in the field with the ability to learn remotely from the comfort of your own home. If you are ready to get started as a design freelancer, try searching for graphic design bootcamps in your area!