A new survey from technology market research specialists Radicati.com says the average corporate email user sends and receives around 105 email messages every day and that nearly 20% of these are spam or ‘greymail’ i.e. unwanted newsletters or notifications.
Rachel Soothill | Lifestyle & Time out
As the summer holidays approach our minds start to wander to lazy days on the beach, chilled Pimms and time with the family. However, we all know that holidays for freelancers are never quite so easy and stress free. Holidays represent all that is positive and all that is negative about being a freelancer.
Steve Stark | Guides,Technology
Email is a major sap on time, energy and resources. Learn how to manage it better to reduce stress, free up time and get more done. We generally have an unhealthy relationship with our email. Our inbox is a Pandora’s Box enticing us away from what we are meant to be doing and distracting us with a world of things we have not done.
With recent research detailing the colossal expense and burden of niggling administrative duties (apparently we spend 37 days each year on opening letters alone!), isn’t it about time we got hold of the red tape and tore it apart with Hulk-like strength?
Freelancers and contractors can help make their lives significantly easier by offloading many of the menial tasks that blight their day. First though, you need to know when’s the best time to outsource.
Freelancing in the 21st century offers a limitless number of opportunities for helping you become more efficient and finding more work. Technology really is a freelancers best friend.
So, what are these opportunities and how does the 21st freelancer make the most of them. Read on…
A great many businesses (too many, in my opinion) still use old-style POP3 email systems. This means all your email is managed through Outlook or a similar email client. The problem with this is that if you want to access your email from outside the office, you have to set up a separate client, or sometimes even go in through your employers VPN, which is a process so harrowing it’s on the verge of being classified a crime against humanity by the UN.
In a nutshell this is a book about communication and how not to do it. As a particularly blunt and tactless individual I thought this might help me temper my natural desire to be right all the time…. but it has not (apparently). Persuasion is a generally interesting book but it is purely for those people who like the self help genre and does not stray from the core readership market or attempt to engage the business reader.
I’m only guessing here but you probably use a whole host of software to manage your workflow. I personally use a heady mix of GMail, Google Docs, Google Calendar, Wordpress, Twitter, Facebook, Disqus and Tweetdeck.
In part two of our Time Management special, Andy continues his conversation with business coach and author of Time Management for Dummies, Clare Evans. They cover the following topics -
Setting time-based boundaries…
Podcast 28: Ten top tips for great time management (part 2) [ 28:38 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Andy talks to Clare Evans, personal business coach and author of Time Management for Dummies. In part one we cover:
Plus a great round-up from Darren Fell of Crunch.co.uk and some inspiring ‘Getting Things Done’ advice.
Podcast 27: Ten top tips for great time management (part 1) [ 24:38 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
When you’re working as a freelancer or contractor, it’s not just your business you have to manage. You also have to manage your own stress levels. After all, a taut freelancer may soon become unhappy and unmotivated leading to a professional and personal downward spiral.
What follows is a guide to reducing stress levels on the job.
You probably dread coming back from holiday to hundreds or thousands of emails.
The thought of spending the first week dealing with them all and feeling that you’re having to catch up all the time. Here are a few quick steps to help you deal with the backlog.
We all need good time management skills but if you are feeling that there is too much to do and not enough time then it is especially important to take a good look at your time-management and productivity habits.
Most freelancers could do with a little more time in their day, so we’ve asked Clare Evans author of Time Management for Dummies for her top ten tips to help you get back on track and stay in control.
Michael Rose | Lifestyle & Time out
Freelancers need focus; without a boss to keep you in line and being outside a traditional workflow it can be hard to know where to focus your efforts. Combine this with the pace of modern life and it’s easy to get swamped and to feel that there just aren’t enough hours in the day. Not only is there a lot of work there are constant distractions, tweets, bleeps and pings pulling us away from our true goals and aspirations.
Focus: The Power of Targeted Thinking attempts to give the solution to all these feelings of confusion and distraction.
Anthony Hewson | Lifestyle & Time out
Relationships are more important for a freelancer than for any other individual.
That’s a pretty bold statement and I’m bracing myself for a wave of incredulity articulated by examples of people going through any sort of emotional or physical trauma. Ok, leaving that probably overwhelming group aside… here’s why
Anthony Hewson | Working From Home
You gave up working for someone else for a reason. More than one in all likelihood, but one stood bold and proud: freedom.
Such a noble word; such a bright and sparkling principle; such a statement of hope and promise.
Such a lie
Leo Babauta | Lifestyle & Time out
“Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” ~Lao Tzu
One of the best things I did when I decided to simplify my life was to simplify my workday — first at my day job and later, by quitting my day job, in the work I do now as a writer and entrepreneur.
I’ve eliminated most of the routine, boring, administrative tasks with a few simple principles.
Anthony Hewson | Lifestyle & Time out
Freelancing takes courage. No guaranteed pay cheque, no back-up team, no boss to give you guidance, no boss to take the fall.
No excuses – the buck stops with you. It took courage to take that first step into the freelance world, whether it was a bold and brazen stride with an armful of clients ready to commit, or a stomach-knotted plunge born of necessity.
Anthony Hewson gives us some inspiring advice on how to feel the fear and to use it to put some fire in your freelancing belly.
Are some clients more trouble than they’re worth? Freelance information consultant Joanna Ptolomey reminds us that, when time and attention are your most precious asset, and time is money, not all clients are the same.
Her simple steps can help bring some balance back into your books and your business.
Linda Jones | Lifestyle & Time out
Agency director and mum of twins Linda Jones shares some expert tips on how to successfully balance the demands of a freelance career with those of a growing family.
Michael Rose | Lifestyle & Time out
A great little video with a simple message.
“Sure you can speak to me… but if I’m wearing my headphones you should come back later”
Leo Babauta | Lifestyle & Time out
There’s a concept in programming called “feature creep” — when a software developer continually adds one feature after another because “wouldn’t it be nice” and “why not” and “isn’t it cool” and “some users asked for it”. The end result is a bloated program that tries to do everything but ends up being not very good at any of it.
Leo Babauta suggests a few ideas for overcoming feature-creep in your life.
Leif Kendall | Lifestyle & Time out
Is something holding you back? Are you contemplating change, but struggling to make the leap? I can’t tell you how to motivate yourself. But I can write about the things that help me get going…
Leo Babauta | Lifestyle & Time out
Single-tasking: getting more done by doing less.
Developing good, simple habits and maintaining a focused mind can not only help you stay sane but is way more efficient than multitasking.
Guest blogger and productivity-pro Leo Babauta tells why multitasking is bad and how we can avoid doing it.
Emma Jones | Lifestyle & Time out,Working From Home
Recent research has show that home workers and freelancers are more productive than their 9-5, desk-bound colleagues.
Freelance Advisor and Home Business expert Emma Jones takes a quick, efficient look at how you can make the most of your time in the home office.
Leo Babauta | Lifestyle & Time out
Leo Babauta of Zen Habits rises at 4:30 a.m every day. And he’s clearly insane! But before we roll over and pull the covers over our heads… lets hear some of the benefits and, if it sounds good to you, how you can make it a lasting, productive habit.
Leo Babauta | Lifestyle & Time out
As a freelancer with multiple clients, multiple deadlines and multiple todo lists it can be hard to know what to focus on next – so rather than choose we often end up doing two, or more, things at once. As part of a series of posts on Getting Things Done for Freelancers Leo Babauta of [...]
Dianne Bown-Wilson | Getting a Job
Choosing to switch from full-time to freelancing can be a tough decision and the change will go a lot smoother if you have the help and support of those closest to you. Freelance Advisor, Coach and Consultant Dianne Bown-Wilson continues her series of articles on freelance career development issues for freelancers and contractors. Nearest and [...]
Freelance writer, editor and blogger, Laura Spencer shares her experience of going into freelancing and some of the mistakes and failures she’s seen along the way. Freelance FAIL: 8 common mistakes As someone who has worked as a freelance writer for nearly six years now, I’ve observed (and sadly made) many freelance failures. Mistakes can [...]
When you are busy, its easy to forget to keep in touch with friends and family who you don’t see on a day to day basis. Perhaps they live far away, or so close you feel you could get in touch with them at any moment, but always forget. Perhaps you see certain people a [...]
Mark Kirby | Lifestyle & Time out
Our resident time-management guru Mark Kirby starts the first of his regular columns with hints and tips on ways to better manage your time. The techniques Mark uses have enabled him to achieve far more in the week than he ever thought possible, and enabled him to feel more relaxed when not working… If your [...]
