Comments on: Top 10 Productivity Tips for Freelancers

By: Etiene Segonzac

Etiene Segonzac — Thu, 13 May 2010 06:49:18 +0000

Your “Work in bursts” point is a key one for me (I’m a freelance developer).

For those who wants to take it a bit further I’m a big fan of the Pomodoro Technique (http://pomodorotechnique.com).
It really helps me to keep my rythm.

Cheers.

By: Sam Evanson

Sam Evanson — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 07:18:13 +0000

I really like this article — i find trying to keep to a routine really helps me. I wake up at the same time each day, get showered get the coffee on and look to begin my days work at the same time.

By: Neil Brown

Neil Brown — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 02:57:51 +0000

@Wes: Yes, it certainly helps reduce distractions with a designated room for an office!

@Eric B.: Thanks! I have to remind myself of these from time to time as well. Especially making myself tackle a task that I’ve been putting off for one reason or another.

@Mike: Regular breaks are undervalued indeed. It’s the best way for me to refocus and work in blocks of time to get the most done.

@Luke: Thanks, I struggle with it as well some days. Good tips about not getting overwhelmed by the amount of tasks on your todo list and also numbering them and working through them. I came across this basic little website: http://nowdothis.com where you enter a list of tasks and then it displays them one at a time. As you complete a task you click “done” and move through your list. Simple concept but it really helped me plow through my task list!

@Megan: I’m glad you can relate! When you love what you do, it certainly makes it easier to put in some long hours. I used to dread getting up when I had to go into my 9–5 job, but then couldn’t wait to get home and work on my freelance business!

By: Megan

Megan — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 02:18:39 +0000

Neil, thanks for the great post. I wish I had something to offer, but still so new in the game that I am learning as I go. Good to see that I am not abnormal though! Your comment about your friends wondering how you had time or energy to work at night after your full time job made me smile. That’s how I feel about what I do. Working at least 50 hours full time, then doing my consulting work during the evenings and weekends is tough, but I look forward to the work I do for my own business, not so much the full time gig that pays the bills!

By: Luke

Luke — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:27:05 +0000

Great post Neil. I sometimes struggle with productivity, just like I’m sure most people have their good days and bad days.

One tip I’ve found, especially when the todo list overfloweth, is to simply take things off the to do list. I don’t want my mind to be overwhelmed by the number of tasks I’ve got on.

I have a to do today list, and a to do another day list, and move things back and forth between them as needed.

Another thing I do is to prioritise my to do list. I number each one, get stuck in, and soon enough, it dwindles.

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 07:04:03 +0000

Great list! Taking regular breaks is so under valued. Its so key to operate at full energy throughout the day, and the best way to do that is break every 60 — 90 minutes.

Thanks for the great list!

By: Eric B.

Eric B. — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 04:55:30 +0000

Great tips! I always have some problems with productivity, and this is just what I needed.

By: Wes

Wes — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 04:52:20 +0000

This goes without saying, but definitely having your own separate room (or at least a separate area designated for WORK ONLY) is a MUST.