How to Plan Your Week as a Freelancer
Freelancing offers many benefits: flexibility, autonomy, and the freedom to work from anywhere. However, with this freedom comes the need to set boundaries for yourself. Without proper planning, you risk overworking and burning out, which can impact the quality of your work. To avoid this, it's crucial to plan your week effectively.
I’m a serial planner. I love planning. It makes me more productive, and motivated and just makes my life a whole lot easier. So here are some tips to help you structure your week as a freelancer.
Set Clear Daily and Weekly Goals
Setting clear goals is key to staying productive and achieving both short-term and long-term objectives - especially when you’re working with client deadlines. Clear goals help reduce stress by providing a roadmap for what needs to be accomplished each day or week.
Start by listing your goals for the week and then break them down into daily goals. From there, create a step-by-step list for achieving each goal.
For example:
Weekly goal: Complete Client 1's project.
Daily goal: Finish Client 1’s pitch deck.
Steps to achieve:
Add two slides to the deck.
Insert the data infographic on slide five.
Send the pitch deck to the client.
Issue the invoice.
Breaking down your weekly goals into daily tasks makes everything more manageable and achievable. You can do this on an online document or physically on paper. I love to get a cute notebook and romanticise this task, it makes it so much more fun.
Utilise Time Blocking
Time blocking is a powerful time management technique that involves dividing your day into dedicated blocks of time for specific tasks. This method is particularly effective for freelancers and remote workers. I’m a sucker for a good time block.
Benefits of time blocking include:
Reduces procrastination
Eliminates decision-making struggles
Boosts productivity and efficiency
Minimises stress
Improves organisation
Enhances accountability
Don’t limit time blocking to work hours; include downtime and hobbies too. This ensures you commit to personal plans and helps maintain a healthy work-life balance.
A sample time-blocked day might look like this:
7:00 - 8:00: Wake up and have breakfast
8:00 - 8:30: Go for a walk
8:30 - 9:00: Get ready for work
9:00 - 9:30: Set daily goals
9:30 - 10:00: Respond to emails
10:00 - 12:00: Client 1 work
12:00 - 13:00: Client 2 work
13:00 - 14:00: Lunch break
14:00 - 15:00: Client 4 work
15:00 - 17:00: Client 5 work
17:00 - 18:00: Go for a run
18:00 - 19:00: Cook dinner
19:00 - 21:00: Rest
The best way to time block is by using a calendar, which brings us to the next point.
A Calendar is Your Best Friend
Having a calendar is essential for freelancers. Whether digital or physical, it helps you clearly see your weekly plans and manage your time effectively. A calendar also makes it easier to block out time for various tasks and see your availability for new jobs or client meetings. Google Calendar is my personal fave.
Go a step further and use colours or highlighters for different projects so you can quickly identify what needs to be done and for whom. Don’t forget to schedule downtime. As a freelancer, self-care can easily be overlooked, but adding it to your calendar can help ensure you rest when needed.
Set Clear Working Hours and Schedule Downtime
While freelancing offers flexible working hours, it's important to set clear boundaries. Aim to take two days off a week and include scheduled downtime on your working days.
Whether you prefer working mornings, evenings, or weekends, make sure to also allocate time for rest. Setting clear working hours helps improve work-life balance by separating professional time from personal time, preventing burnout. Doing this always helps me ensure I have time for work and to do things I love, like going to the gym, seeing friends and spending time with family.
It might not always be possible, but try your best to keep your clear working hours consistent. By doing this, it will help establish clear expectations for clients, letting them know when they can expect communication and updates.
Maintaining a consistent weekly routine has several benefits, such as:
Enhanced productivity
Better time management
Improved focus and concentration
Reduced stress and anxiety
Supports habit formation
Have a Weekly Review
Schedule a weekly review in your calendar. Use this time to assess the goals you set for the week and see what you've accomplished or what needs to be carried over to the next week. This also helps you set clear objectives for the upcoming week, allowing you to rest on your days off with a clear mind.
A weekly review is also a great time to check on your finances. Managing finances as a freelancer can be tricky due to inconsistent cash flow, so staying on top of them is crucial. Reviewing your financial situation weekly allows you to be proactive and plan accordingly.
Planning your week as a freelancer is essential to maintain productivity, avoid burnout, and ensure a healthy work-life balance. By following these steps, you can stay on track and make the most of your flexible schedule.
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