Increase your income using effective time management strategies

Effective time management can really boost your productivity which, in turn, can increase your income, you become more confident, complete work on time and gain a reputation as a reliable writer.

Here are some tips on improving your time management:

1. Set clear writing goals – some of these will be commissioned work, others may be speculative, and some will be longer term investments e.g. writing a novel.
2. Identify non-writing tasks – these might include marketing activities, making phone calls or keeping your records up to date.
3. For each goal and task set the deadline and identify how much time is required to reach completion. Ensure the time you allow is sufficient and allow for setbacks however do not overestimate the time required.
4. Prioritise your goals and tasks.
5. Create time slots within your writing time and allocate tasks from your list. You may want to plan for the week ahead to ensure you allocate time to all of your goals, even those that have a low priority. This plan will ensure that each time you sit down to write you will know exactly what you are doing.
6. Start work on time. If your writing slot starts at 9.00 in the morning then start writing at that time; make coffee before your writing slot.
7. Focus on one task at a time. If during your time slot you are working on an article then only work on that article. Keep a notebook beside you to note anything that comes into your head that might become a distraction, you can come back to these after you have finished writing.
8. Be flexible. If you suddenly have a burning desire to complete a piece of work or a last minute commission comes your way then adjust your plan ensuring that you still complete your top priorities to their deadline.
9. Finally - have fun.

Happy writing.