What is ONE tip you have for establishing a work routine as a freelancer, solopreneur, or small biz owner?

I have tried many different methods for managing my schedule as a freelancer, from Pomodoros to scheduling my day into 30-minute chunks. What works best for me, however, is detailed to-do lists. I use my notes app and always have multiple lists running – personal tasks, professional projects, school work, event planning, etc. Then, when I have time each day, I dive into my to-do lists and accomplish as much as I can in the time I have. These help me get started on big projects by doing small tasks first, and allow me to see what tasks are the most pressing and prioritize those. They are also great for breaking down large tasks (planning an event) into manageable chunks (reach out to venue, craft invite email, contact speakers, etc.). As a college student and freelancer these have allowed me to manage all the various items on my plate at a time and stay on top of my personal life as well.

Before shutting down at the end of the day, I review and prioritize what I need to do the next day. I also jot down reminders and notes or questions for meetings and things to follow up on. Then when I log in the next morning, I can quickly and easily remember what I need to get done and hit the ground running. Of course, there are some days urgent emails come in and my priorities need to be adjusted, but it’s easier to shift things around when you have a clear picture of what needs to get done and by when.

While we can’t add more hours to the day, we can prioritize tasks to stay focused on the highest-priority, highest-impact work that truly moves the needle. Throughout the day, as tasks come in, I like to put things into 1 of 3 categories: 1. Do it now 2. Do it later 3. Delegate it My daily workflow stays on track and productive without feeling stressed, and I’m able to efficiently address and track time-sensitive items easily. Give it a try!

A very basic definition of a routine is doing the same thing at the same time each day (or for a given time period). Try to wake up, eat breakfast, take your lunch and your breaks at the same times (or approximately the same time) each day. Using alarms or other prompts can help you with this. For example, you could set yourself a daily alarm at 10 am that tells you it's your breakfast break time, and another at noon for lunch, etc. At time same time, one of the best things about freelancing life is the ability to be flexible with your day. So, don't be afraid to schedule meetings during your usual break times or prolong your work if you're "in the zone" when you normally have a break scheduled. Flexibility is key.

Understand your most optimal working window, and use it to get your most pressing or important task out of the way. I read Gary Heller’s book of the same title, and it has helped me get more done throughout the day. Many writers tend to be procrastinators (myself included). Prioritizing and working on my most important task first thing in the morning makes the rest of my day easy breezy.

It's tempting to pack your schedule with projects, but the biggest lesson I've learned from 12 years of owning my business is that you never know what's coming around the corner. A great freelancer figures out how to handle the curveballs with grace. I strive for my billable hours to stay around 20 hours per week so I have time to meet potential clients, market my business, handle administrative tasks, and take on special opportunities like speaking engagements or partnerships. One of the great joys and frustrations of freelance life is knowing that anything is possible, so don't forget that your routine needs to be flexible enough to handle the reality of your day.

As freelancers, we have the luxury of a flexible schedule. Lean into it! Start your day with a walk or a good book, take a long lunch, or end your day early to run a few errands. I like to break up my workday by going to an afternoon Pilates class, and I come back to my desk feeling so refreshed and ready to finish the day strong. When your work routine fits around your life (and not the other way around), it's easier to be productive and build a long, sustainable career.

No routine is sustainable if you don’t prioritize rest. Understand which types of work drain you the most and build in buffer time around those tasks so you can recover. Make sure you set aside time for essentials like sleeping, eating, and doing restorative movement. Not every moment of your day should be productive. Embrace that you may not always be able to stick to your ideal routine when you need to take extra time to recalibrate and care for yourself.

Managing all of my projects makes me feel like I'm spinning plates. Running from one to the other to keep them from crashing. Time boxing, scheduling time blocks of intense focus on a project or task has saved me from that. A time block is like a fortress for total concentration. I schedule the time box (If I think my task will take two hours, I schedule 2.5 hours)and then make an absolute commitment to focus on nothing but the task. I turn off notifications and put my phone in another room and close the door. I plan these time blocks at the beginning of a project and make adjustments for my week every Sunday. Sometimes I have to move things around, but I stay true to the length of time and boxing myself off from any distractions. BTW, in your daily schedule, don't forget to time box for the unexpected and miscellaneous things that always come up.

If you set rules for yourself early on, then you’ll have an easier time developing a work routine that best works for you and your clients. It can be something as simple as no meetings after 3pm during the week; However, If you decide to break your own rules, your clients will think it’s okay for them to break as well. Setting boundaries takes time but when you figure out what allows you to work efficiently, your work routine becomes your favorite routine.

Create a to do list everyday. This ensures you stay productive and the smaller tasks won't fall off your radar. It's easy to get caught up in the hundreds of little things that need to be done everyday, but a to list holds you accountable. It's also a great feeling to check items off your list. In doing so, you'll feel accomplished and have a purpose for each work day.

Determine where you're the most productive. Is it in the home office or a coffee shop? Whatever it is, ensure it's an effective space to complete your work. Some people perform better in public spaces so they can collaborate, and others work better in their own space to limit distractions. Once you discover your best-case office scenario, you can tackle the work day.

One of the worst mistakes a freelancer or a solopreneur can make is to overwork themselves. Those who do not have experience in self self-management and creating a detailed work schedule risk biting more than they can chew. Because they're on their own, they think that because there's no one else, they have to work harder. It is the other way around, though. The argument that you are on your own is precisely why you must establish a work routine that lets you take a breather from time to time. If you burn out, no one else will pick up the slack.

When I first started freelancing, I didn't have any routine at all. I would wake up and just do whatever felt right at the moment. It wasn't long before I realized that this was a complete disaster. If you don't establish a routine and stick to it, you'll never reach your goals. My advice is to set a daily goal for yourself—something small but meaningful—and use it to motivate yourself throughout the day. You might want to start with something simple like "I will write two pages of this report by noon." Or maybe you want to take a walk every morning and get some fresh air? Whatever it is, try setting yourself up for success by giving yourself a goal that's within reach but still challenging enough that it will keep you motivated throughout the day.

An efficient routine is one that gives you time to be productive as well as relax. This means you're making the most use of your time and to do this well, you need to identify any time leaks and overcome them. Whether it's time spent scrolling on social media, organizing your tasks, or redoing any amount of work, it helps to find the time leaks and seal them to have a balanced and efficient routine,

I try to create a list of expectations for my workday and set goals. This helps me to plan for a successful day and maximize time. Tasks are included on dedicated time slots with minimum to no interruptions. Also, I try to include breaks in that routine to refresh my mind, and come back to my workspace focused and motivated to tackle all those tasks.

My experience as a serial entrepreneur has taught me that simply drawing a line between my work and personal schedules never works. When I did this, I invariably ate into my personal time and added on a few too many work hours. Adding a buffer zone is a practice I later developed, and frankly, I wish I had discovered this scheduling habit sooner. If I set aside eight hours for my work, I place a two-hour buffer zone right after it. At the end of eight hours, I consider my mood and energy levels and decide what I wish to add to these hours. If there is a task I know I will be able to wrap up in time, I take it up. If I don’t, I simply switch my work mode off and indulge in some me time instead.

Running a small business or your own venture can be challenging, to say the least, especially during the initial stages. This is why it can be crucial to find someone you can lean on to understand what kind of routine would suit you best. Working with a mentor means you can avoid unnecessary pitfalls and make the most out of your experience. Moreover, they’re well-equipped to guide you so that you can enjoy your work-life balance and gain confidence and experience in the process.

One of the reasons I love being a freelancer is the freedom to work when you want. For example for me, I am great at doing more logic heavy tasks in the morning, crash in the afternoon, and then often do more manual tasks in the early evening. So for me, my day starts at 7am, I work for a bit, take a power nap (maximum 26 minutes otherwise you'll go into REM sleep and wake up more tired), and then work into the evening. Instead of working 9 to 5, find a schedule that fits your personal productivity process. -Kristen Van Nest, Owner of Van Nest Media Inc. specializing in B2B tech copywriting

Since you are working on your terms, a schedule keeps you on track and prevents you from relenting. It’s easy to follow a program when you are the one setting the rules. The plan helps you determine how much you want to work in terms of earnings and volumes. The schedule also lets you choose the best periods for the most productive and off-peak performance. To be successful as a freelancer, you need to have a guide and a schedule.