This morning I was looking through old emails and came across an “interview” that I did with a reporter looking for story sources. The piece was to be about time management tips for the freelancer. My portion was never published, so here it is below. Looking at this now, some of them seem like no-brainers, although I constantly need to be reminded of no. 5. It could be the most important of all!

1. Have a defined work area that you enjoy spending time in: make it functional, make it pretty, and keep it organized so you can easily sit down and get to work. Also, and probably most importantly, keep this area away from the distractions of general life.

2. Have set work hours. One of the fabulous things about being independent is that you can work at times that make the most sense for you and your clients. Try to determine what these times are and stick to them. That way, you begin to separate work and personal life, even when they both happen at home. Clients will also appreciate the consistency.

3. Potentially the biggest adjustment to freelancing is that you are in charge of ALL aspects of your business. Remember to set aside the appropriate time for marketing yourself, paying bills, cleaning your space, doing the books and networking. If you do these tasks at regular intervals they won’t pile up on you.

4. Track your time! Remember to keep up with how much time you devote to each project and what the particular task was. This will help you in estimating future projects that are similar, and ensure that you are charging the appropriate amount.

5. Get out in the world! Freelancing—especially if you are always working at home—can be socially isolating. It’s important to stay involved in your industry, have networking lunches, and just getting out to smell fresh air. Find ways to build this into your day. Take the time for yourself!