Making Full Use of Your Time As an Independent Professional Contractor

Something we know a lot of contractors struggles with is balancing their time. As a contractor, it is vital that you utilize your time as effectively as possible. Wasted time in the contracting world is basically the same as wasting money. Therefore, it is essential to master this skill to maximize your potential as a contractor. Not only that, but managing a project within the set time frames helps establish credibility, allows you to stay on budget, and will eventually lead to other projects and future clients.

Here are our top tips to keep you on track:

1. Set your Routine!

Without a set routine, time management can be challenging as a contractor. There is no one there to ensure you’re working effectively and efficiently. So, making a detailed schedule can help to keep you on task.

It can help you see clearly which tasks need to be prioritized and which will take up most of your time. For a fully utilized schedule, you should include all relative details such as time allocation and complexity of the task. Try to keep a daily schedule to stay ahead and know what work needs to be done and when.

2. Stay Organised

Being organized will save you time looking for things and allow you more time to work on more valuable tasks. When task after task starts piling up, it isn’t hard to forget one small yet essential step. Don’t miss an important deadline on a project because you got sidetracked when another urgent item came up. Why not try giving yourself mini-deadlines? To help keep on top of your work while also impressing clients, try to set a deadline for yourself a few days before it is due.

Organization and punctuality go hand-in-hand. Why not consider setting calendar alerts, for example, to ensure you do not get too caught up in a task and lose track of time?

3. Reduce Distractions and Disruptions

When working on a project, we can easily get sidetracked by unnecessary phone calls or interruptions which can cause delays. Try to keep interruptions to a minimum to maximize time. Why not try allocating an hour a day to being “unplugged”? Use this time to focus solely on getting work or even a single task done. Try not to check your phone log and answer emails, or choose only to reply to urgent queries.

4. Take Time to Recharge

We can all get bogged down with a project. Sometimes taking short breaks will allow you to revisit a task with a fresh set of eyes, helping you spot any flaws or mistakes you may have made along the way. Although it is good to keep moving through tasks and ticking them off your to-do list, it's fundamental that you know when to take a step back to produce the highest quality work.

5. Work in Chunks of Time

Trying to do too much at one time welcomes mistakes. Try to work your way through your schedule by completing set tasks one by one. Taking on too much at the same time will cause delays and increases the likelihood of getting flustered and overwhelmed. Studies show that setting blocks of time to achieve a certain outcome can not only increase focus but also your output levels!

6. ​​Set Realistic Goals

Working as an independent professional often means being a jack of all trades, you may find yourself with a long to-do list day to day. It can be tempting to make it your daily goal to tackle the entire list, but it’s more important to be realistic with your daily goals. Try not to set expectations for yourself — or make commitments to clients — if you aren’t sure you can meet them. The last thing you want to do is rush through a job and be left with a disappointed client.

7. Set Boundaries

Don’t be afraid to set boundaries with your work. Without a strict work schedule, your personal and professional time can often blend together. Therefore, strong time management skills are essential for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Without them, you can start feeling unmotivated, unproductive, or in the worst case burning out entirely.


Establishing efficient time management is an essential skill as a contractor. It will help to create smooth processes, develop your reputation for your existing and future clients and, last but not least, get the job done on time, every time!

If you are an Independent Professional Contractor and you feel like there are other tips and hints we can include on the above, please get in touch with our team by emailing info@iconaccounting.ie or by

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

5 Ways to Network as an Independent Professional

Image
  Networking is an integral ingredient for long-term success as an Independent Professional. In this piece, we provide tips and guidance on how to make your network have an impact on your net worth! In our work with thousands of contractors every year at Icon Accounting, we see firsthand how the greater independence, better pay, and improved career trajectory are a no-brainer for more and more professionals every year. While virtual work has brought positive changes to the nature of work, one area it hasn’t helped with is networking. It’s all too easy to keep our heads down, stick to the work at hand, and miss the spontaneity that an office or traditional workplace setting can bring. That’s why at Icon we recommend an active approach to networking. Networking can often get a bad reputation as wasted time accumulating business cards and looking for handouts. In reality, networking is simply about building valuable relationships. Real relationships are built with mutual respect, shared
Read more

Our Umbrella Day Special - Learn About Our Umbrella Plan with Rockwell Financial

At Icon Accounting , we speak to first-time contractors on a day-to-day basis. We understand that contracting is a new term for most. Some even have a pre-conceptual opinion formed that their new contract offer cannot provide the same additional benefits associated with their permanent employment. However, this is not the case! Once our clients avail of their complimentary consultation with our wealth management partner and learn about the flexibility and financial rewards which are available, they soon realize it is a worthwhile career choice for their further, and develop a career path around this. When considering this career development path, one of the most common questions we get asked by candidates is how they can plan for their future, particularly how they can organize a comprehensive package in line with a traditional employment package associated with past roles.    What many people don’t realize is whilst you operate as self-employed, you can now have these benefit
Read more

Avoiding Work-Related Burnout As An Independent Professional

Image
We are all prone to occasional stress at work, especially when we are working on a busy project or when we have a tight deadline to hit. Burnout is different, it usually results from more long-term issues, like having overly demanding expectations, working in a highly pressurised environment, or overworking yourself to please as many clients at once.  In general, a person beginning to experience burnout might feel they’ve little or no control over their work situation, they will probably find themselves working longer hours, and may not be able to find any work-life balance. This leads to a feeling of exhaustion, hopelessness, and loss of motivation. It’s important to catch work-related burnout early before it has the chance to escalate into further problems.  Workplace stress tends to snowball for us all. One minute, you’re feeling slightly stressed about an upcoming deadline and the next, you find yourself stuck under an avalanche of missed deadlines, unfinished projects, and ultimat
Read more