Working as a freelancer can be incredibly rewarding, yet there are a series of common misconceptions associated with freelancers that perhaps conjure up negative connotations.

You see, those stuck in dead-end jobs often dream about working as a freelancer, and what dreams they have.

In their minds they are their own boss, they answer to nobody, they set the rules, and each and every single job they take on fills them with a sense of reward and feelings of happiness and contentment.

Now, in a sense, this can indeed be true to a point, but life as a freelancer is certainly not how you would imagine it.

If you want to make it as a successful freelancer, it doesn’t matter which services you offer, if you aren’t willing to put the work in, you may as well quit right now.

As freelancers, we will all have days where we seemingly can’t get motivated, no matter how hard we try and before we know it we’ve wasted the entire day with an impending deadline fast approaching like a speeding freight train.

If your get up and go has got up and gone, here are some tips proven to improve your productivity as a freelancer.

Stop working in your pajamas

We’ve all done it, and don’t try to say you haven’t because we don’t believe you. At some point whilst working as a freelancer, we’ve all worked in our

At some point whilst working as a freelancer, we’ve all worked in our pajamas, perhaps on more than one occasion. This

This is, of course, one of the main perks of working from home, and truthfully every now and then you can treat yourself if you’d like.

Generally speaking though, you should treat a day of work at home like you would a day of work in the office.

You wouldn’t go to the office in your pajamas or dressing gown, so don’t wear them at home while working. If you constantly work in

If you constantly work in your pajamas without getting dressed, there’s a small part of your mind that will hold you back and stop you getting into the frame of mind of a seasoned freelance professional.

Before you begin work for the day, have your breakfast, brush your teeth, have a shower, and get dressed.

You will now be in a much better frame of mind and subsequently, you will almost certainly get more done.

Set your working hours and stick to them

Working as a freelancer does give you freedom in a sense, but if you think you can just do a few hours here, and a few hours there, and still earn a full-time wage, well, you’re in for quite a shock.

As a freelancer, you decide which hours and days you work, but you sure as heck better make sure that you stick to them. Again, if you worked for somebody else, you wouldn’t just get up and leave the office whenever you

Again, if you worked for somebody else, you wouldn’t just get up and leave the office whenever you like, as this would quickly result in the boss firing you. If you work as a freelancer you need to create a working schedule and stick to it from week to week. Typically most freelancers will work a typical 9 -5 Mon – Fri, but again, this is all down to you. If you are supposed to be starting work at

If you work as a freelancer you need to create a working schedule and stick to it from week to week. Typically most freelancers will work a typical 9 -5 Mon – Fri, but again, this is all down to you. If you are supposed to be starting work at

If you are supposed to be starting work at 9 am, you must ensure you’re ready to go at 9 am, not 9:15, not 9:20, but 9 am on the dot.

Eventually, you will get into a routine and once in a routine, your productivity rates will sky-rocket.

Take breaks and don’t skip lunch

A lot of freelancers out there are actually guilty of working too much and not giving themselves regular breaks throughout the day.

In their minds, if they work harder and have fewer breaks, they’ll get their daily quota of work completed quicker, and can maybe clock off a little earlier as a result.

In reality, you need to give your mind and your body a little break in between tasks to avoid burnout and to keep yourself sharp and productive.

You also need to ensure you’ve eaten, as food will help stimulate your mind and your body so your mind won’t wander due to hunger pains and a lack of energy.

Numerous studies have proven that people who take small breaks throughout the day will get more done and subsequently will become more productive as a result.

Give yourself a good hour for lunch each day, and perhaps stretch your legs and go for a short walk around the garden every three hours or so.

Once you return to your office, you should be more focussed, which means you should be more productive and should get more done.

Use tools and software designed to help organize your accounts

Ask any freelancer which task they dread doing the most each year, and virtually all of them will tell you that they dread doing their books and accounts for the financial year.

If this applies to you, why not make use of professional accounting software such as ForwardAI, and see just how easy it will make things for you.

If you choose to submit your taxes yourself, accounting software like Forwardly is ideal, though many freelancers hire professional accounting services and have an accountant handle their books for them.

Accounting software will also allow you to automatically send invoices and reminders to clients, to organize payments and create spreadsheets, and much more besides.

If your productivity levels are wavering because you’re too busy trying to juggle your freelance responsibilities whilst trying to be your own accountant in the process, Forwardly accounting software is ideal.

Focus on one job at a time

Most freelancers will have multiple projects on the go at once, and if you’ve got multiple clients to serve, make sure you focus on one job at a time.

Rather than doing a little bit here and a little bit there, draw up a list of jobs in terms of priority and importance and complete them one at a time, ticking each one off as you go.

By focusing on one job at a time you can commit yourself 100% to one project at a time, which again, means your productivity levels will increase as a result.

You will also get a great sense of achievement when you can see each job being ticked off of your list.

Improve your cash flow instantly, so you don’t have to worry about it 24/7. Forwardly simplifies cash flow management, so you can do it all from one place. Amplify your business cash flow and bring certainty to your business’s future. Sign up now for free.

Image: GraphicStock.