Lately, I've been feeling unproductive. This week, I fell short of my writing goal, which only amplified this feeling. Some unpredictable events which drained my emotions happened this week. And it impacted my writing focus.
Additionally, this month is Ramadan, which often presents its own challenges. Managing energy and focus is more difficult while fasting, and there are more demands on my time. While I typically cook once a day, Ramadan requires preparing both Suhoor and Iftar meals, grocery shopping for Iftar, and devoting more time to religious observances.
As a result, I find myself constantly switching between tasks within a limited timeframe. I feel pressure to complete various things, but not necessarily those related to my writing.
This realization has prompted me to start tracking my time again. I constantly feel like I'm running out of time, yet the results don't reflect the effort I put in.
Be a productive freelancers by tracking your activity time
Running a freelance service grants you the freedom to set your own hours. However, to be a successful freelancer and meet your daily needs, you need strong time management and discipline.
You may have heard advice for freelancers like:
"It's okay not to be okay all the time."
"It's okay to have your own timeframe."
"It's okay to have your own method of discipline."
There are many other "okay" phrases out there.
Unfortunately, for freelancers, these "okay" attitudes can backfire.
This doesn't mean all "it's okay" advice is wrong. But without determination, discipline, and motivation, such advice can lead to unproductivity.
I can vouch for this. I've experienced similar situations. There were times when I had countless reasons to delay my work (procrastinate). Excuses like "It's okay to rest first" or "It's okay to relax first, you have control over your time" became my go-to.
The problem is I forgot to set a dedicated "rest" time and it led to wasted hours. By the time I realized it, valuable time had slipped away.
Don't get caught up in the "it's okay" mentality. As a freelancer, you need to commit to your schedule and plan. Of course, flexibility is still crucial, but it's best to have a solid work system to support it.
In my quest to understand my unproductivity, I decided to revisit time tracking. Tracking time isn't my favorite activity, but unfortunately, there's no way to truly understand your time usage without it.
Thankfully, there are helpful applications like Time Logger that can simplify your time tracking process.
Reason why, as freelancers, you need to track your time
Time is essentially your working capital, so you need to make the most of it.
Need more reasons why time tracking is crucial for freelancers? Here are six additional benefits.
6 Reasons why tracking time is important for freelancers
#1. Build a strong work system
The key to productivity lies in having the right system to complete your work plan. It's not just about "how much" you achieve, but "how" you achieve it efficiently.
As freelancers, we often juggle multiple clients to maximize income. Careful planning and a solid system are crucial to handling our workload effectively.
By tracking your time, you gain valuable insights into which tasks take the most time and which projects might be neglected.
For instance, I discovered through time tracking that writing game articles takes significantly longer than health articles, even with similar word counts. Researching unfamiliar game terminology and concepts significantly impacted my writing speed for these articles.
This understanding empowers me to be more selective when accepting projects. If a topic requires additional learning, I can factor in dedicated research and practice time.
Building a strong work system becomes impossible without understanding your time allocation.
#2. Prevent procrastination
Freelancers often face procrastination and the distractions of social media. For freelancers, social media can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it's a great way for freelancers to connect with clients and stay updated. However, social media can easily turn into a time sink. Scrolling through endless feeds can make you forget about deadlines, even if your job involves social media itself.
Just because you're a "deadline warrior" doesn't mean quality can suffer. Rushing due to procrastination might lead to sacrificing good work for a quick finish.
As a blogger, I've experienced this firsthand. Sometimes, I get overconfident about a competition and put off working on my draft. Then, the deadline hits, and my ideas are all over the place.
I realize that a high-quality piece won't be done in just a few hours.
The key is to track your time, even for social media use. This helps you see how much time you spend on non-work activities. By being aware of your time usage, you can make better decisions about how to spend it and avoid procrastination.
#3. Ditch the multitasking myth
Ever feel like doing multiple things at once makes you more productive? Think again! Studies show multitasking can actually cut productivity by 40%. Our brains are wired to focus on one task at a time. Switching between them takes time and mental energy, slowing you down overall.
Time tracking is your weapon against multitasking. If you're atill unsure about it, try tracking your time while juggling tasks. You'll quickly see how much harder it becomes to stay focused.
Tracking helps you identify when you're slipping and get back on track with your main project.
#4. Choose clients wisely
Remember the time tracking example above? If you find Client A's work takes much longer than Client B's, it's time to re-evaluate. Accepting similar projects from Client A can hurt your income potential in the long run. Unrealistic deadlines become a risk, and clients might doubt your ability to deliver on time.
Beware of demanding clients who expect A-to-Z service for a low price and endless revisions. Time tracking protects you in these situations. By logging your hours, you have clear evidence of your work for negotiations, ensuring you're paid fairly.
#5. Better financial decision
Tracking helps you decide between longer, lower-paying projects and shorter, higher-paying ones. While the occasional low-paying project for volunteering or portfolio building is okay, don't make it a habit! You have bills to pay, after all.
#6. Help you choose the works to delegate
Dreaming of earning more but constantly swamped with taxes, admin, client calls, or even housework? It might be time to delegate!
Consider outsourcing tasks like bookkeeping, taxes, or even cleaning to free up your valuable time.
Tools to take your time
There are two main ways to track your time: using an app or taking manual notes, like writing in a notebook.The best method depends on your preferences.
Initially, I tracked my time the traditional way by taking notes on paper for all my daily activities.
However, this system required double data entry (writing on paper and then inputting it into a spreadsheet). As a result, I switched to using aTime Logger app.
If you prefer paper notes, schedule quick reviews during your lunch break and before bed.
You don't need to track time forever. In my experience, one to two weeks is sufficient.
A word of warning: around day three, you might feel unproductive and tempted to adjust your routine immediately. Resist this urge! Sticking with your old routine for the entire week provides a clearer picture of your typical time usage.
Once you have your daily time logs, review them and identify areas for improvement to boost your freelance productivity.
The takeaway
Time Tracking Empowers Freelancers
As you can see, time tracking is a powerful tool for freelancers. It helps you focus, choose clients wisely, make better financial decisions, and even know when to delegate tasks. So, are you ready to take control of your time and boost your freelance success?
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