Picture the scene: you sit down at your desk to finally tackle that all-important piece of work you need to get done, when suddenly the pile of washing in the corner starts calling your name…

Before you know it, you’re folding and ironing, and your work is no closer to getting finished.

Relatable?

Procrastination is something everyone deals with, as we convince ourselves we still have plenty of time left – until we don’t.

Thankfully, there are ways to avoid the mad scramble before a deadline, but it starts with you holding yourself accountable and being willing to make a change.

Here are five things you can try.
 

Set your own deadlines

You might not always get a say when a piece of work is due, but you can still try and negotiate if what’s being asked is unreasonable or unrealistic.

Work backwards from when the client needs the work and determine whether or not it’s actually doable based on your own habits.

If you reach the conclusion that it can’t be done, then say so – or at least ask for a higher pay rate to make up for any potential overtime.

You obviously want to try and be as accommodating as possible, but it still has to be worth your while at the end of the day.

If you’re pitching for work, be sure to pitch deadlines as well. This allows you to space them out according to your schedule (and ultimately work on your terms).

Don’t forget to give yourself a bit of a buffer for potential delays!
 

Manage your time

Perhaps the most obvious way to improve your overall productivity is by breaking large projects up into more manageable (or “bitesize”) chunks, which you can then tackle one at a time.

Another strategy is to plan your schedule on a weekly basis, as this leaves room for the odd off day where you don’t get a whole lot done for whatever reason. Days like this are perfectly normal every now and then; you just need to account for them.
 

Establish a method

First of all, you’ll want to decide how many hours you’d like to work in a given day.

It’s worth noting that some people are more productive at certain times, so pay attention to your own habits.

Not having set work hours means you could be working at all hours without realising it!

For example, you might find yourself trying to finish something late at night because you didn’t get it boxed off during the day.

If this works for you, then great, but it’s all about planning work around what’s sustainable long-term.

You might consider implementing something like the Pomodoro method, which involves 25 minutes of focus with a 5-minute break. Whatever method you ultimately choose, hold yourself accountable to it.
 

Communicate with your client

Communication is key. If you think you might need to move the deadline, just ask politely.

That’s not to say you should move a deadline for the sake of it, but your client is human too. They’ll most likely understand if you have a legitimate reason. Just try to avoid leaving them in the lurch!

More generally, you can also ask for further clarification if you’re unsure about what they’re asking of you.
 

Block out the noise

We all know there’s no better way to waste a couple of hours than by going down a YouTube rabbit hole, so don’t tempt yourself and close all non-work-related tabs.

For some people this will also mean you go dark during your most productive hours of the day, although some freelancers will need to balance this with the need for good client communications.

This might mean turning off your phone and silencing your emails.

If you’re not totally comfortable with this, you could consider using a filter for urgent communications such as from family members, or create dedicated work comms channels which you can silence as needed.

It’s not just about setting boundaries between work and life; it’s about giving your full focus to the task at hand and not getting distracted.

This is likely to result in higher quality work, thus increasing the likelihood of you receiving more work in the future.

 
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