So, you’ve decided to leave the corporate world behind and embrace freelancing—essentially, running your own business. Is it rewarding to manage your own schedule and skip the daily office routine? Absolutely. But, you probably know that it's not always straightforward.

As a freelancer, you find your own resources and strategies for various times of the year. Consider the holiday season: you may have family events or personal plans that excite you. Yet, you also have clients depending on you, particularly when their businesses peak during the holidays. How do you strike a balance? Stay with us, as we offer practical strategies and examples to help you manage freelancing on your own terms.

1. Setting Goals and Prioritizing Tasks

You’ve managed well throughout the year, but as the holiday season arrives, everything seems busier.

Your clients are requesting more than you anticipated, and then there’s the Christmas dinner planning, which is quite an undertaking in itself.

So, when can you fit it all in? 

Here’s how you can do it:

☞ Identify Your Goals: Is it about meeting client deadlines, reaching your income goals, or finding time for family and holiday activities?

☞ Break Down Your Tasks: Divide your bigger goals into smaller, manageable tasks, especially for the busy holiday season.

☞ Prioritize: Focus first on those with urgent deadlines or key personal commitments to maintain that essential work-life balance.

Example:

Imagine you need to redesign a client's website before New Year’s while also wanting to enjoy quality time with your family.

Segment the website project into weekly tasks.

Plan to complete the most demanding tasks early in December.

Then, reserve specific days or hours closer to the holidays for family activities and last-minute preparations.

2. Creating a Daily Routine

Are you a freelancer with an established routine? We hope so.

Having a routine is important for managing your valuable time and ensuring consistent progress towards your goals.

Here’s how you can do it:

☞ Daily Schedule: Determine what your typical day looks like. Allocate specific time blocks for different activities – work, breaks, personal time, and any holiday-related tasks. 

☞  Include Time for Emails and Communication: As a freelancer, you need to stay on top of communication with clients. So, set aside specific times for checking and responding to emails.

☞ Build in Flexibility: Include some flexible time in your schedule for unexpected tasks or opportunities.

Example:

Your daily routine (from Monday to Friday) could look something like this:

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Focused work on high-priority tasks.

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM: Break and check emails.

10:30 AM - 12:30 PM: Continue work.

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM: Lunch and personal time.

1:30 PM - 3:30 PM: Meetings or additional work.

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM: Review day’s progress and plan for tomorrow.

3. Task Management and Use of Tools

Ever stopped to analyze how you manage a task from start to finish? Do you feel focused and productive, or are you caught in multitasking, unsure where to start?

We don't blame you.

Juggling many clients and different projects is not easy at all. Yet, we aim to excel. Have you reconsidered the tools you use for time management?

Here’s how you can do it:

☞ Task Management Tool: Ever tried tools like Excel, Trello, or Notion? They're lifesavers for keeping your tasks, deadlines, and progress in check. It's like having a personal assistant, just digital.

☞ Workspace: A neat workspace, both on your computer and your desk, can work wonders. Make sure you've got all your important files and go-to tools right where you need them. It’s all about making your life easier.

☞ Time: Have you used time-tracking tools like Toggl or RescueTime? They're great for keeping an eye on how much time you're spending on different tasks.

Example:

Imagine you're handling both graphic design and content creation for different clients at the same time (it sounds stressful already, doesn't it?).

The Freelancer's Essential Kit can make your work much smoother.

It includes a client tracker to organize all project information in one place.

The kit also comes with a to-do list organizer, allowing you to sort and keep track of your tasks for each project.

Plus, there's a budget tracker to help you increase your productivity and profits, making sure you cover every detail.

4. Communication with Clients About Availability

Balancing work-life balance seems harder for freelancers during holidays.

But, good news: a bit of open communication with your clients can lead to a holiday season that's both enjoyable for you and respectful of your time with loved ones.

Here’s how you can do it:

Example:

Let’s say you plan to take a week off during the holidays.

A month before, send an email to your clients stating your unavailability during that period.

In your email, reassure them: you'll take care of any pressing tasks before you leave or tackle them as soon as you're back.

And if it helps, suggest someone they can reach out to for anything urgent while you’re away. 

5. Holiday Season Stress 

Stress can peak during holidays, but shouldn't be constant—don't normalize this feeling. Adopting simple strategies can help you maintain health and reduce overwhelm.

Here’s how you can do it:

☞ Manage Expectations: For yourself and others. It's totally fine if you can't do it all. Learn when to say "no" to prevent burnout.

☞ Pause: Regular breaks during your workday aren't just nice—they're necessary. Also, get moving: practice a sport or take walks to keep your energy up and yourself refreshed.

☞ Relaxation Activities: Whether it's a hobby you love, a quick workout, or just hanging out with your favorite people. 

Example: 

Consider a situation where you're facing a project deadline amidst holiday preparations.

Instead of working continuously, balance your schedule.

Work for focused intervals, like 90 minutes, then take a 15-minute break for something relaxing, such as a brief walk or a meditation session.

Conclusion

Embracing freelancing is about mastering both its highs and lows, particularly during the festive season. With you in mind, we developed the Freelancer's Essential Kit as your ultimate resource.

Remember, you're part of The Girl Who Excel—keep excelling, girl! We're here to empower your journey every step of the way.