Chapter 1: Understanding Productivity in Freelancing

As the back-to-school season approaches, many freelancers and business owners are likely contemplating a key concept: productivity. Transitioning from a traditional job to freelancing often presents significant time management hurdles since there’s typically no one around to enforce accountability. Deadlines can be sporadic, which raises the question: how can you structure your day to best suit your needs? What lies between the extremes of constant busyness and burnout, alongside the temptation of procrastination?

Let’s delve into a story: Last year, Leila came to coaching sessions with a strong obsession with productivity. She felt unproductive and believed that maximizing her output was essential for increasing her income in her content marketing business. Despite trying various hacks, nothing seemed effective for her.

My initial inquiry was simple: What does "productivity" mean to you?

According to the dictionary, productivity is defined as "a measurement of output per unit of input." Input generally refers to your time, energy, and effort, while output can be labor, capital (money), or other resources. Productivity is often illustrated as a ratio highlighting an individual's efficiency.

Consider this example: "In 10 hours, I produced one article and earned $400." Here, the hours represent your time investment, while the article embodies your labor output. Essentially, productivity is about optimizing your output; for instance, if you could complete that article in five hours instead of ten, you'd effectively earn more money in less time.

Various factors influence productivity, including your expertise, support systems, environment, motivation for the task, time management skills, and sometimes, a dash of luck.

Leila shared that for her, productivity equated to time management. She sought to refine her daily and weekly schedule, inspired by figures like Tim Ferriss, who advocate for four-hour workdays. She felt pressured to achieve more in less time. All too often, she ended her workday with numerous tasks remaining on her to-do list, leading to stress and self-criticism, which only hampered her progress further.

While she yearned for hacks like time blocking or using a pomodoro timer, what she truly required was a shift in mindset, realistic expectations, and an understanding of her unique work style.

Consider this: The realm of self-employment education is saturated with advice on "optimal" daily setups and time management techniques. While some tips can be quite motivating, it's crucial to first evaluate your individual working style before measuring yourself against others. In my experience, everyone can achieve productivity, but the approach will differ for each person.

Here are a few distinct examples of effective work setups I've observed among my clients:

• Amy starts her day with exercise, followed by breakfast and reading the news before diving into her work around 10 AM. Having transitioned from law, she primarily ghostwrites articles for attorneys and creates website content for law firms. Her work is efficient, allowing her to maintain a high hourly rate. After completing her client work, she dedicates some time to an online graphic design course that she hopes to incorporate into her offerings.
• John typically rises at 6 AM and immediately engages in his creative writing projects while enjoying a cup of coffee. By 8 AM, he has drafted 1,000 words of his novel, prompting a break. A few hours later, he returns to handle client emails and tasks for his assistants, followed by edits on his journalism pieces. He often takes breaks for video games and workouts before preparing dinner, concluding his day by fact-checking and conducting research from 7 to 10 PM.
• Julie follows an unconventional schedule: she works for three consecutive weeks, then takes a week or more off monthly to pursue outdoor activities such as skiing, hiking, and paddleboarding. During her working weeks, she adheres to a 9 AM to 5 PM schedule, working through lunch. In her off-weeks, she disconnects completely from work-related communications.

All these scenarios are different yet equally effective. Each individual is deemed efficient and productive because they utilize their time according to their values, interests, and needs. Therefore, the primary question regarding productivity isn’t about the "best practices" in time management, but rather: How do you prefer to structure your days?

It’s vital to embrace your distinctive working style. Many tend to criticize their methods for not aligning with conventional norms, which may explain why they choose to work independently. Often, creative individuals find traditional jobs stifling, and may feel guilty for wanting a different approach. However, self-criticism and guilt consume mental energy, impede progress, and can feel confining. It’s time to release those burdens! Your work style is your own, and you should optimize it rather than conforming to traditional molds.

Moreover, remember that productivity is not solely about how you shape your day. It also encompasses your support systems, the nature of your work, your environment, and your overall mental, emotional, and physical state.

Returning to Leila’s story, we eventually discovered that her productivity challenges were not about her schedule; she was diligent in maintaining a 9 AM to 5 PM routine! The real issue lay in the type of work she was undertaking. One major client asked her to write on topics outside her expertise, requiring extensive research that led to boredom and frustration. When she became upset with her slow progress, she often found herself needing breaks or struggling to concentrate. Working in her kitchen, hunched over her laptop, she frequently skipped meals and exercise due to guilt surrounding her pace.

Solutions in such cases are always experimental. Leila decided to take several steps: first, she would discuss with her client the possibility of focusing her assignments on her areas of interest and expertise, instead of accepting every task. Second, she established a dedicated workspace in her apartment. Lastly, she scheduled 20 minutes for lunch and another 20 minutes for an evening walk. Remarkably, within weeks, she felt more relaxed and accomplished her tasks more efficiently. This was just the starting point, but it demonstrated to her that she had control over her productivity and that she wasn't failing in the first place!

The most rewarding — and often challenging — aspect of being self-employed is the freedom of managing your time. You can carve out space for what you cherish, but this requires intentionality and self-awareness regarding your needs.

With warmth,

Jenni

Curious about my background? I'm a writer and business coach for freelance creatives based in Central Oregon. I have two small children and work part-time to spend quality time with them. Recently, I've been passionate about non-linear business building and guiding individuals in creating successful ventures that prioritize their human needs.

This excerpt is part of my free newsletter, Mindset Mastery. Check out my coaching offerings here, follow me on Twitter & Instagram, or download my complimentary business planning workbook for creatives!

Chapter 2: Exploring Productivity Hacks

In this chapter, we will examine the distinction between productivity and mere busyness, focusing on practical strategies to enhance your freelance career.

The first video, titled "Productivity vs Just Busy in Building Your Voice Over Career," offers insights on how to differentiate between true productivity and simply staying busy, which can often lead to burnout.

Chapter 3: The Future of AI Workflows

In this section, we will dive into the evolving role of AI in enhancing workflows and improving productivity in freelance work.

The second video, "Agentic AI: Dissecting the Future of AI Workflows with Amir Behbehani (#191)," presents an in-depth discussion on how artificial intelligence is reshaping the way we approach work and productivity.