5 Tips for Scheduling and Planning as a Freelance Proofreader
One of the many perks of freelancing is the freedom to choose your own work hours and routine. But it can be easy to lose direction when you have so much flexibility. In this post, then, we’ll cover five tips for scheduling and planning as a freelance proofreader. These include:
- Writing to-do lists for short- and long-term plans
- Creating specific and measurable goals that motivate you to improve
- Knowing when you’re most productive and planning your day accordingly
- Keeping a clear, up-to-date calendar to keep track of your work and personal schedules
- Using project management apps to make organizing all of the above easier
Keep reading to learn more.
1. Use To-Do Lists
To-do lists are a great, and simple, way to keep track of your tasks. You can use paper and pen, a notes app on your phone, or a productivity app designed for making lists. To keep yourself motivated, make sure to keep track of daily, weekly, and monthly tasks (i.e., ones to do with your short- and long-term plans). Here are a few examples of tasks you might include:
- Daily: Emailing clients, posting on social media, proofreading work
- Weekly: Reaching out to potential clients, scheduling social media posts, working on website blog posts
- Monthly: Bookkeeping, checking in with your long-term goals
Writing a to-do list helps you not only to get things done but also to work out what it is you have to do. Lists work because they give us a sense of structure, plus a feeling of achievement when crossing items out.
2. Make Your Goals Specific
The more specific your goals are, the easier it will be for you to meet them.
For example, “Get faster at proofreading” is definitely something to aim towards, but it lacks direction. How much faster? And by when?
Make sure you give your goal a time frame and a measurable objective. For example, “Increase my proofreading pace to 1500 words per hour by September 30” gives you a tangible way to measure your progress.
Have a look at SMART goal setting to help you set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals.
3. Personalize Your Daily Schedule
Listening to your body clock will change the way you work.
What time of the day do you feel most energized? If you’re slow in the morning, for example, set aside this time to do less demanding tasks like replying to emails, scheduling social media posts, and other light admin work.
And whenever your energy levels are naturally higher, focus on tasks that require concentration or creativity. This could include proofreading documents and writing blog posts for your website.
And, of course, don’t forget to schedule breaks. As a proofreader, taking some time away from the screen helps your overall focus and ability to maintain a critical distance.
4. Use a Calendar
Visualizing essential deadlines and meetings can help you better organize your time (not to mention making sure you’re actually on time for various commitments!).
Whether it’s a physical calendar on your wall, an old-school diary, or a digital calendar app, ensure you can see all your upcoming events. With digital calendars, you can also set yourself reminders for specific events or tasks.
With a well-organized calendar, you’ll never miss a client meeting or deadline again!
5. Use Project Management Tools
If you want a helping hand with scheduling and planning as a freelancer, you might want to consider using project management tools. These are apps designed to help you manage and organize your projects and the tasks within them.
These tools are particularly useful if you’re juggling several larger projects. You can even add your clients as collaborators and keep them updated on your progress.
Becoming A Proofreader
We hope you found these scheduling and planning tips helpful. If the flexibility and freedom of working as a freelance proofreader appeal to you, try out two free lessons from Becoming A Proofreader to see if the course is a good fit for you.
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