1. Document your processes

When starting out, you’re likely to be performing some tasks for the first time, so it makes sense to document them and incorporate them into your everyday business processes and standard operating procedures (SOPs). 

This has several benefits and is not just an ‘aide memoire’ for you. For example, if you hire others, outsource, or delegate work in the future, you’ll have practical documentation that details the process to refer them to.

This is also a great habit to adopt when working on a new client project. You can document your processes as you go, making project notes, creating templates, and so on, which can be useful for future projects.

These documented processes and templates, in addition to serving as a training aid, could also be repurposed into info products and templates for other freelancers or used as helpful lead magnets.

You could even discover a new way of streamlining a process, so documenting your processes and procedures is beneficial from several angles and an excellent habit to develop.

2. Send invoices immediately when due

How, when, and what you get paid will depend on your agreed-upon freelancer payment terms and conditions. For example, you may require a deposit before the project commences, get paid at the end of the project or at intervals throughout. Whatever your terms and conditions, it’s important you send out your invoice as soon as it’s due. This will reduce the likelihood of late payment and help with cash flow.

With Invoice Ninja, a leading free invoicing software, once you’ve sent your invoice, your clients can pay you with just 1-click without leaving their client-side portal. What’s more, you can turn an approved quote into an invoice or allow auto-conversion from client approval.

Invoice Ninja also includes multiple payment gateway options, professional invoice templates, automatic payment reminders, quotes, deposit invoices, recurring invoices, time and task tracking, and lots more to ensure you get paid quickly, hassle-free, and on time.

Try it for free here.

3. Keep up to date with industry trends (and always be learning)

This can manifest as a daily habit to check in with online business groups you are a member of, a weekly practice where you spend a few hours brushing up your skills and industry knowledge, or a monthly or longer interval habit where you attend networking events, workshops, or courses. 

The great thing about this habit is that there is no downside to learning, improving your skills, and authentically connecting with others online or in person at events. You simply need to schedule time to do it and stick to it. 

By improving your skills and knowledge, you can also increase the rates and services you offer to your clients. Plus, networking with others increases the likelihood of referrals and new business opportunities.

You can even set up your own events. Find out more at EventSchedule.

4. Know your numbers

It’s a good idea to make it a habit to check what money is coming in and what is due out of your freelance business. 

While you probably don’t need to check your bank balance every day, you should make a habit of checking in at regular intervals to make sure your freelancer money goals are on track and ensure all invoices have been paid (accounts receivable) and business expenses that are due out (accounts payable) are up to date. 

The sooner you discover any discrepancies, the better. For example, unpaid invoices can negatively impact your cash flow and potentially put an easily avoidable strain on freelancer-client relationships.

This is where automated reminders come into play. With the Invoice Ninja Pro Plan, you can create custom email reminders based on the invoice date or invoice due date. You can set them up to be sent automatically at the frequency and timing of your choice. You can set ‘First, Second, Third’ or ‘Endless’ reminders to ensure that invoices are not overlooked and you receive payment on time.

5. Spend time offline

Schedule time to be offline. Or, if you must be online to perform your role, at least be mindful of the time you spend scrolling through online content.

Develop a habit of giving yourself a break during the day and going device-free, or at least away from excessive social media consumption. It might be as simple as turning off your devices and going for a walk outside during your lunch break, scheduling time for a short meditation practice, or doing some stretching throughout the day.

Whatever activity you enjoy, whether it’s a creative hobby or something more vigorous, take time out to be away from the digital world. These breaks can also boost ideas and creativity.

Regular exercise, taking breaks, having a mini digital detox, proper rest and prioritizing sleep are all habits that boost your energy and enhance your mental and physical wellness so you can perform at your best.

6. Maintain a tidy and organized workspace

This may seem like an inconsequential habit to adopt, but tidying your workspace and keeping everything in order at the end of your work session, so you know where things are when you return, can provide a welcome and convenient time-saving boost for the next working day.

Returning to an untidy workspace or being unable to find your online files can be disorienting and time-consuming. Now is also a good time to update your to-do list and prioritize tasks for the following day.

Developing a habit of tidying your workspace daily and keeping your to-do list up to date and files in order can also serve as a nice transition prompt into your free time. You know that once you’ve tidied your workspace and updated your to-do list, it’s now time to down tools and relax!

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By adopting these time-saving and practical productivity-enhancing habits into your workflow, you can improve efficiency, boost productivity, and get paid faster!

1. Have a regular morning routine

A famous quote by Jim Rohn says either you run the day, or the day runs you. And it’s true.

That’s why many freelancers swear by having a morning routine that sets them up for the day ahead. Your morning routine could be anything from exercise to writing a journal that you perform first thing in the morning.

Or it could be as simple as getting up, enjoying a nice coffee, and planning the day ahead. The key is to do what works for (and energizes) you.

2. Have a source of motivation

We are all motivated by different things, i.e. family, financial security, recognition, health, a higher purpose, etc. So, it makes sense to identify what truly motivates us and our why (or purpose) and remind ourselves of it often.

Once identified, find ways to anchor that thought. It could be via a sticky note on your fridge with your favorite mantra. It might be a piece of music or power ballad that inspires and reminds you of your purpose and gets you in the mood for the day ahead – it might even be singing in the shower to get you in the right frame of mind.

Whatever it is, find it – and use it to reframe your mind and get motivated for the day ahead.

3. Get proper rest

Getting a proper night’s sleep is super important for our overall health. Sometimes, as a freelancer, it can be tempting to burn the midnight oil, especially when working to a deadline. 

However, consistently working without proper breaks and rest can quickly lead to burnout. Also, be sure to incorporate breaks and vacations into your freelance schedule. You’ll be amazed how refreshed and replenished you feel after some time away, and it can even lead to fresh ideas you can implement to make your business even more successful.

On a day-to-day basis, don’t dismiss the restorative power of taking a well-deserved nap if you want one. Many famous people throughout history, from Aristotle to JFK, were fond of napping. If it’s good enough for them – it’s good enough for you!

4. Eat nutritious foods

It can be easy to skip meals or snack as a freelancer. We can get so involved in what we are doing that we give little thought to what we are consuming and simply grab a quick bite to eat when we can—or the nearest thing we find in the fridge as we walk past. However, it’s important to fuel ourselves with the proper nutrition so we perform at our best.

Eating nutritious foods makes us feel better and perform better both physically and mentally.

You can combat naughty snacks and fast food by preparing nutritious snacks and meals in advance. For example, you can batch-prepare them for the week ahead at the weekend, which nicely brings us to the next tip.

5. Batch ‘to-do list’ tasks

By batching similar tasks together and doing them on the same day or time slot, you can better organize your working week.

For example, you could do client work on one specific day, admin tasks such as invoicing on another, have a set time for outreach and getting on calls on another, etc.  

This way, you know that important tasks are getting done. Ticking these off your to-do list can be satisfying and super-motivating.

6. Exercise regularly

You don’t have to go on a half marathon or do anything extreme; simply getting away from your desk and going for a refreshing walk can do wonders for your productivity, creativity and, of course, your health.

Adding walking into your daily routine can also greatly boost your mental health.

Whatever you do—yoga, going for a run at lunchtime, or an invigorating game of squash—schedule time for it during your day or week. You won’t regret it.

Exercise boosts your mood, stimulates the brain and makes us healthier and happier.

7. Celebrate your wins

As you accumulate more client testimonials and customer reviews, complete successful projects, and win clients, make sure you celebrate these achievements.

One way to keep you motivated and inspired is to keep your testimonials in a file and review them periodically to remind yourself how far you’ve come and the milestones you’ve achieved.

You might even want to post your wins somewhere you can easily see them. It can also help you combat Impostor Syndrome. You can learn more about Impostor Syndrome in our article here.

8. Use the right ‘power’ tools

It can be tempting to try to do everything yourself as a freelancer—especially if you are on a tight budget.

However, nowadays, you don’t have to go it alone. Many online tools are available to help you run your business, and new ones are constantly being developed.

Having said that, not all software is made equal. It can be easy to get tempted by shiny object syndrome and invest in all the new gadgets, apps and tech available.

The key is to find the right online tools that work for you and your business.

Take invoicing, for example. Invoice Ninja is a leading free invoicing software specifically developed for freelancers and small businesses like yours.

It includes professionally designed invoices, multiple payment gateways, client-side portals, quotes, recurring invoices, time and task tracking, and lots more to ensure you get paid quickly and hassle-free.

Try Invoice Ninja out for free here.

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You are not going to feel 100% every day. There will inevitably be days that don’t go as planned, and you don’t feel particularly motivated. That’s normal. However, consistency in the habits mentioned above and routines will help on the days when you are not inspired. You can read more productivity tips in our article here.

Here’s to having a smashing day and your ongoing freelance success!

1. Follow up

Still waiting to hear back from a prospective client? Waiting to hear feedback from a current one? Need to chase a client to pay an invoice but haven’t gotten around to it? Don’t be shy. Follow up. Follow up. Oh, and… Follow up!

People are busy, and your prompt may be just the thing they need to nudge them into action. Especially when it comes to winning new business – following up with clients is key. It shows that you take their – and your business – seriously. So, make it a habit to always follow up.

When it comes to chasing invoices, with the Invoice Ninja Pro Plan, you can create custom email reminders to prompt your clients before or after invoices are due to ensure you get paid.

2. Market your business

Try to proactively promote yourself and your business in some way or another every single day.

This is a habit you won’t regret and can help lessen the chances of experiencing the notorious freelancer feast and famine cycle. It doesn’t have to be anything significant either; it can be a short social media post (that you can schedule in advance), connecting with potential clients or peers on LinkedIn, or helping your ideal clients out by sharing a valuable tip relevant to them that solves a problem.

In-person networking is also a great way to promote your services, build valuable connections, and keep you top of mind. You may also want to consider email marketing – so you can communicate with people who want to hear from you and are interested in your offer directly to their inbox.

3. Keep informed 

Keeping up to date with developments in your field of expertise, niche, or industry is a helpful habit to adopt.

Whether it’s a daily review of industry news or keeping your ear to the ground via social media, knowing about current developments will mean you can help clients with their issues, develop solutions and products that solve them, and generally be known as the go-to expert in your field.

Just make sure you don’t get sucked in for hours on social media unless it’s doing something productive to help your business.

4. Have a routine

To be as productive as possible, it’s essential to set priorities by having a schedule and a to-do list in place. Otherwise, you can be easily thrown by other distractions or work that comes in. In addition to your to-do list and priority schedule, consider blocking off time for deep work so you can stay focused on one thing.

You could also consider developing a ritual for starting your working day. It could be something like ensuring you have your favorite beverage, some relaxing music, or the first task you cross off your to-do list. Likewise, at the end of your working day, consider a ‘final task’ so you know you are transitioning out of the working day – this is especially useful if you are working from home.

5. Review systems, processes, and workflows

If you regularly review processes and workflows, you’ll be better able to swiftly identify any potential roadblocks, productivity sucks and time wasters, as well as any systems that need to be updated. You’ll then be better positioned to determine what you can outsource, automate or hire a VA to perform – saving you time and, therefore, money.

Take invoicing, for example. The last thing you probably want to do at the end of your busy working day is time-consuming paperwork – even if it involves invoicing your clients so you can get paid!

Fortunately, good invoice software makes invoicing simple, seamless, and fast.

Invoice Ninja is a leading free invoicing software for small business invoicing, online payments, tracking expenses and billable tasks. It also includes attractive, professional invoice template designs you can customize with your logo and brand colors.

Try Invoice Ninja for free at the link here.

6. Ask for testimonials

After you’ve worked with a client (or even during), always remember to ask for a testimonial.

This should be a natural part of your workflow. Testimonials can be a super powerful way of promoting your business, social proof, and winning even more business. You don’t have to limit yourself to written testimonials, either. You could ask for a short video testimonial, create a case study, or ask for a referral.

If your client hasn’t got the time to provide a testimonial, you can draft it yourself and get them to approve it. The benefit of this is that you can ensure the testimonial is about the results and wins you got for your client – as opposed to them just writing something nice and flowery about your personality alone.

7. Declutter your workspace

Taking time to ensure your workspace is decluttered and tidy is a great habit to get into. Working in an unorganized and messy space can slow you down and even lead to errors.

You don’t have to go completely minimalist, either. Just ensure things are neat and tidy and you know where everything is – this also goes for your online files.

If you need help with this, you can hire a professional organizer to help.

8. Review your prices

Schedule time to review your prices on a routine basis. It could be at the start of the new year or some other fiscally relevant date. Otherwise, you could be undervaluing and undercharging for your services.

Likewise, a change in your industry may mean you are no longer competitive or the services you offer need to change. Keeping on top of pricing is a key determiner of retaining a positive and healthy cash flow.

9. Plan time out

Finally, don’t forget to reward yourself for all your hard work and schedule time to take time out and focus on your health and well-being; this is all part of being a successful, well-rested and nourished freelancer and this, along with all the other habits will contribute to your further success.

But remember, with all the above, to make them habits, you need to be consistent.

To your success!