One of the reasons many people choose a web career is for freedom: something that the traditional job might not give you. You’ll work for yourself, you are your own boss, meaning you can take time off whenever you want, work whatever hours you want, and generally do what you want!
Unfortunately for us, life doesn’t really work like that. At least not in the early stages of building a passive income. It takes hard work and dedication to make things happen, with a lot of learning along the way. I don’t know about you, but I was surprised about how much I needed to learn about myself as well as about how to make money on the internet.
Discovering How You Work Best
I’m a firm believer of finding what works for you and sticking to it. The learning curve for me is finding just what that is – what kind of schedule works for me, what kind of goal-setting works for me and so on. Over the course of my web career (which started in August 2008) I’ve come to realise some things about schedules that I wanted to share.
NOTE: We are all different, and all work in different ways. What works for me could be the worst thing for you, but hopefully this will at least give you some food for thought.
1) A Tight Schedule Can Increase Productivity
This is probably something that took me the longest to learn – and, truth be told, I still have a hard time sticking to it – but I wanted to start with it first as I think this piece of knowledge will be hugely important to my web career.
Instead of working all hours, setting yourself a schedule (it doesn’t have to be the traditional 9am-5pm, it can be whenever you work best as long as it’s consistent) means you’ll have an endpoint. And, with an endpoint in mind, you can push yourself harder. For example, if your end point was 5pm and you had just a couple more articles to write at 4.30pm, wouldn’t you work a little bit harder to finish? If there was no end point who knows how long you’d procrastinate for!
For about a week sometime last year I experimented by trying to finish all of my work by lunch. It was fantastic and I used to use the afternoons to just write for pleasure. I’m not sure I really have time to do that right now, but I’d definitely like to try again in future. It motivated me so much!
2) Finding Time for the Important Things In Life
My schedule is geared towards my partner, but it also works for me (fortunately). He leaves at around 8.15 in the morning and gets back at 6pm in the evening. I try to be available to spend time with him outside of these hours, so having a fixed schedule makes sure I can do this. There is definitely overlap, as sometimes I have lulls in my energy after lunch that I make up for in the evening.
I also find that a fixed schedule means you can finish and do what matters to you. Often, for me, this means taking time to cook a tasty and healthy meal (I love my food!), or spending time playing on the Wii Fit, listening to audiobooks or watching some of my favourite TV shows. Unfortunately I’ve had less and less time for these things lately, but it’s a new year’s resolution to make more time for it.
3) Your Schedule Doesn’t Need to Be the Same As Everyone Else’s
I read quite a few blogs where the bloggers work so hard. They truly are an inspiration, but the truth is I just can’t stay up all night working. It’s literally impossible for me to do, I just can’t function. Sometimes I take time off and I feel guilty, because I know how hard other people work. But I also know what works for me, and I know that time off to recharge will make me far more productive than sitting in front of the computer for hours doing nothing (though I must admit I don’t always put this piece of advice into practice!)
I’m always looking for ways to be more productive, and I truly believe that being more strict on myself can help me achieve more. So I’m really working hard to set a schedule and just stick to it. There are hard points throughout the day, but there’s nothing that can beat the great feeling you get at the end of the work day!
~ Web Career Girl
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Forest (4)
Loren Jaslyn (4)
Des @ Affiliate P... (3)
Eric (3)
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Twitter: MichelleRAdams
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January 14th, 2010 at 11:28 am
Ruth nice post! I need to apply tip one. My ‘in tray’ is always full so the tasks seem endless and it’s rare that I put a deadline to any of them in a strict way, I will try that and see how it works out, sounds good!
As a mum of two young children I struggle to set a schedule during the day, in fact anything I get done in the day is a bonus, lol. Night is my time to ‘work’ but it’s a labor of love so that’s handy!
I like your point about the schedule not needing to be like everybody else, mine sure isn’t.
Loving getting to know more of ‘you’ in your posts.
Michelle Adams´s last blog ..Flipping Untangled
Twitter: webcareergirl
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January 14th, 2010 at 11:48 am
Thanks Michelle, I’m glad you can see a bit of ‘me’ in that post because I was worried you couldn’t. As for having kids and setting a schedule, I am sure it is completely different to the way I work. As long as you find something that works for you and can spend time with your kids, that’s a good thing. But I admire you all the more for it, because I have a hard enough time as it is without having other people to be responsible for!
January 14th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
Hi Ruth,
I reckon I’m some way off going full time online, but when I do I think I will have to set myself some sort of timetable for what I need to get done each day or each week. Otherwise I know I will just lose focus.
However the freedom you mention in your first paragraph is the most attractive part of an online career for me, so since a couple of hours out walking in the countryside or reading a novel, or even cooking the evening meal, are all food for my blogs and articles, I will be more than happy to think of those things as part of my working day too. I can’t wait!
Des´s last blog ..A Look Back Over my Shoulder
Twitter: webcareergirl
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January 14th, 2010 at 7:40 pm
Des you have a great point there. At times I manage to work things like walks into my schedule, but recently I’ve been really bad at it. Ideally I want all of those things – the little things that just make life good – into my daily routine, around work. I’m getting there
January 14th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
I have been a freelancer or I have had my own businesses and defining a schedule is definitely one of the most important things I have learned. For me, this is a must do. Otherwise I can not be productive and I end up working very late at night because I am reaching the death line for the projects. I don’t do that anymore. When you are your own boss, you have too much freedom. Probably you have to define some limits for yourself.
Isaac Ben´s last blog ..Steps to financial freedom – First steps
Twitter: webcareergirl
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January 14th, 2010 at 7:41 pm
Isaac – I always used to work late into the night, feeling as though time just slipped away. Luckily I feel that’s getting better now due to my schedule.
Twitter: lbogaerts
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January 14th, 2010 at 4:40 pm
I like the points you touch in your post. You are correct that there are benefits to having a routine in place, even if you work for yourself from your own home. I used to work without a schedule, and it happened more then once that I forgot about time and I would be up all night because I was so busy working. Or I would almost forget to pick up the kids from school because I didn’t notice the time. Now I have set hours for myself. It feels like I’m working outside the home again sometimes, but it helps in making sure my personal life isn’t forgotten because of my work. Which is important too, especially with a partner and/or kids (sometimes I wonder how much I could do if I was single without kids, guess I would work a lot harder and forget about free time. I’m glad I have them to keep me sane LOL)
Leslie
Leslie´s last blog ..Working At Home When You’re A Mom
Twitter: webcareergirl
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January 14th, 2010 at 7:43 pm
Leslie – Same here, I just seemed to work long into the night. I’m glad you have the time to spend with your kids as well as working
January 14th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
Very relevant post. I’ve been freelancing full-time for almost a year now and I’ve found that I can’t always stick to a day schedule. I end up doing my best writing from 9:00 PM to midnight when everyone is in bed and I don’t feel obligated to do anything but write. I do my blogging and networking in the morning and my writing at night. Not the best of schedules, but it works for now.
Deanna´s last blog ..Update on Examiner’s New Local Incentive Program
Twitter: webcareergirl
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January 14th, 2010 at 7:44 pm
Deanna – That sounds like a schedule which works for you, which is all that matters. I have heard a lot of people keeping the evening type schedule. As long as you’re not working on your freelance work all day long!
Twitter: bluepop13
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January 16th, 2010 at 8:35 pm
This is so true. I think I need to start setting a better schedule myself so I can see myself actually get more work done online.
Never hurts to have something steady that works for you.
Eric´s last blog ..Inspiration, Smart Work, Success | The InfoPreneur
Twitter: webcareergirl
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January 17th, 2010 at 8:37 pm
Eric – I find that a steady routine really does help me – and the most important thing is that you really do take action.
Twitter: websiteweekend
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January 16th, 2010 at 9:57 pm
Nice to see your comments picking up, Ruth.
I find a fixed schedule helps me a lot, but only if it’s not too fixed. Half day is about right for me.
Dave Doolin´s last blog ..Help Haiti Blog Challenge: I’m Yours… All Weekend
Twitter: webcareergirl
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January 17th, 2010 at 8:43 pm
Dave – Thanks
I like doing half day schedules too. Ultimately, that will be my goal. At the moment I feel like I am attempting too many things at once! But I’m getting there.
Twitter: websiteweekend
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January 17th, 2010 at 9:24 pm
If you feel you are, you definitely are!
Trust your gut on this one.
I’m not saying do any less, mind you
Dave Doolin´s last blog ..When B.L.O.G. Turns into J.O.B. – Downshift and accelerate
Twitter: Kidgas
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January 16th, 2010 at 10:02 pm
No need to feel guilty about taking time off. You will be more productive after taking a mental break. I am going to end up taking quite a bit of time off during this month. I didn’t necessarily plan it this way, but it is what will happen.
The good thing is that I am not dependent upon internet income to support myself.
Kidgas´s last blog ..Blogging from South Carolina
Twitter: webcareergirl
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January 17th, 2010 at 8:44 pm
Kidgas – Very true. Blogging and working online always has unexpected twists and turns that we can’t plan for. I hope you feel refreshed after your break!
Twitter: lorenjaslyn
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January 17th, 2010 at 8:48 pm
“Finding an endpoint to your day”, well, this is the hardest thing for me. I have found myself working throughout the night all the way until the next afternoon. I had to force myself to sleep because I started feeling sick. Fitting in a schedule can definitely make you more productive. There just gets to be a point where you are spinning your wheels. You are right. Thanks for this post Ruth.
Loren Jaslyn´s last blog ..Home Business Work – Why a Community College?
Twitter: webcareergirl
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January 18th, 2010 at 10:16 am
Loren – I was exactly the same when I first started and was writing for lots of clients (I do a much smaller amount of writing now). I think it takes time to find what works for you. I hope you can find a schedule you are happy with since feeling sick is never good.
January 24th, 2010 at 9:25 pm
I have seen highest productivity in my blogging career when I have a tight schedule. The College day bring in more results because of tight schedule than taking a holiday for the same.
Sushant @ Techooze´s last blog ..The Ultimate List of Dreamhost Promo Codes for 2010
Twitter: webcareergirl
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January 25th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Sushant – Thanks for visiting. I have the same thing, when I was volunteering at two different places as well as doing my work in between I was so busy, yet somehow it helped me to get even more done!