Digital copywriting is a rewarding and creative career, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges. One of them is managing multiple deadlines, especially when you work with different clients, platforms, and formats. How can you juggle digital copywriting deadlines without compromising your quality, sanity, and reputation? Here are some tips to help you out.
The first step to juggling digital copywriting deadlines is to plan ahead. This means knowing your scope, deliverables, and timelines for each project, and communicating them clearly with your clients. It also means setting realistic and achievable goals, and prioritizing your tasks according to urgency and importance. Use a calendar, a project management tool, or a simple spreadsheet to keep track of your deadlines and progress.
On thing I have found helpful is that: I set several reminders about my deadlines, or tasks. In busy periods I think we have the tendency to look at a reminder, and think we noted that task that needs to be done or the upcoming deadline, whereas in reality, if we are at a middle of another activity, we might forget about the reminder by the time we finish and, then, we are in trouble. So in these busy periods, I set several reminders to make sure I do the things on time.
Sometimes, you may encounter situations where your deadlines are too tight, too vague, or too conflicting. In these cases, you need to negotiate wisely with your clients, and find a solution that works for both parties. For example, you can ask for more time, more resources, or more flexibility, depending on the situation. You can also propose alternative solutions, such as splitting the work, outsourcing some parts, or changing the scope or format.
An example I have seen for overwhelming workload sharing is, when interns or new joiners have some extra time on their hands and want to develop in a certain field, they might find it a great opportunity to help with minor tasks, that might mean a lot to a more experienced person who has a lot of tasks to fulfill.
When you have multiple digital copywriting deadlines, it can be tempting to multitask, switch between projects, or check your email every few minutes. However, this can actually reduce your productivity, quality, and creativity. Instead, you should focus on one thing at a time, and block out any distractions. This means setting aside a specific time and place for each project, and avoiding any interruptions or notifications. You can also use tools like Pomodoro or Focus Booster to help you stay focused and motivated.
Ever since I have put notifications on mute on all apps including my work computer, I noticed an increase in my productivity. I set reminders and alarms for breaks and I know I can check all my emails and messages then. That is when I also get up from my desk and do a little exercise or move around a bit, for better blood circulation, and focus.
Another tip to juggle digital copywriting deadlines is to review and revise your work regularly. This means checking your spelling, grammar, style, tone, and accuracy before you submit your work. It also means getting feedback from your clients, colleagues, or peers, and making any necessary changes or improvements. Reviewing and revising your work can help you avoid mistakes, misunderstandings, and revisions, and ensure that your work meets the expectations and requirements of your clients.
I am an adept of productivity apps, and I use different apps for different things. For work and deadlines, for me Todoist and Google Calendar work best, with a board view in Todoist. Todoist: I put down tasks with the real deadline, details, and other info. While I solve them, I move them around the board view to get that dopamine and determination to stay motivated. Google Calendar: a calendar view helps me plan the tasks also around my social life so I don't burn out. Also, there I set an earlier reminder throughout the week, and the final deadline as an event if it is a bigger task. I hope this helps you manage your deadlines and stay creative.
Finally, juggling digital copywriting deadlines can be stressful and exhausting, so you need to take care of yourself. This means taking breaks, eating well, sleeping enough, and exercising regularly. It also means setting boundaries, saying no, and delegating or outsourcing when needed. Taking care of yourself can help you prevent burnout, boost your energy, and improve your mood and creativity.
Work-life balance isn't a joke. In the agency life, we're often known to disregard personal lives to make way for deadlines. It really is not a Do-Or-Die, none of us are curing cancer or dismantling a nuke. When you take the necessary time for yourself, it becomes easier to build focus when it comes to copywriting. If the action is focused on just the "grind", it leads to faster burnouts and loss of the tunnel focus needed. In simpler words, the more well-planned the copywriting process and well-timed the breaks, the better the creative thinking and copywriting process.