What do you do if your time management as a self-employed programmer is falling apart?

1 Assess your situation

The first step is to take a honest look at your current workload, priorities, and commitments. How many projects are you working on? How realistic are your deadlines? How satisfied are your clients? How much time do you spend on each task? How much time do you waste on distractions, interruptions, or procrastination? How do you balance your work and personal life? Write down the answers to these questions and identify the main sources of your time management problems.

2 Set SMART goals

The second step is to set SMART goals for your work. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. These criteria help you define what you want to accomplish, how you will measure your progress, how you will overcome the obstacles, how your goals align with your values and vision, and when you will complete them. For example, instead of saying "I want to finish this project", say "I want to deliver a fully functional and tested app to the client by next Friday".

3 Plan your schedule

The third step is to plan your schedule based on your SMART goals. Use a calendar, a planner, or a software tool to organize your tasks, deadlines, and appointments. Break down your goals into smaller and manageable steps and assign them a time slot. Prioritize the most important and urgent tasks and delegate or eliminate the ones that are not essential. Avoid overbooking or underestimating your time and leave some buffer for unexpected events or changes. Review your schedule daily and weekly and make adjustments as needed.

4 Implement good habits

The fourth step is to implement good habits that support your time management. It's important to start your day with a clear and positive mindset, review your goals and tasks for the day, and visualize yourself completing them successfully. You should focus on one task at a time and avoid multitasking. Consider using the Pomodoro technique or similar methods to work in short bursts of concentrated effort followed by breaks. Minimize distractions and interruptions by turning off your phone, email, and social media notifications while you work. Set boundaries with your clients, colleagues, and family and communicate when you are available and when you are not. Additionally, track your time and performance with a timer, spreadsheet, or software tool to record how much time you spend on each task and how well you meet your goals. Analyze your data to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Finally, reward yourself and celebrate your achievements when you finish a task or goal. Give yourself a treat, a compliment, or a break to recognize your efforts and progress. Appreciate your results!

5 Seek help and feedback

The fifth step is to seek help and feedback from others. You don't have to do everything by yourself. You can outsource, collaborate, or hire someone to help you with some of your tasks or projects. You can also join a network, a community, or a mentorship program of other self-employed programmers who can offer you support, advice, and accountability. You can also ask for feedback from your clients, peers, or coaches on how to improve your work quality, efficiency, and satisfaction.

6 Review and improve

The sixth step is to review and improve your time management regularly. Time management is not a one-time thing, but a continuous process of learning and adapting. You have to monitor your results, evaluate your methods, and make changes as you go. You have to keep up with the changes in your environment, your goals, and your preferences. You have to experiment with new tools, techniques, and strategies and see what works best for you. You have to be flexible, resilient, and open-minded.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?