The 5 Biggest Productivity Killers for Solopreneurs - And How To Avoid Them

I've been freelancing for the last five years and it's still easy to get sidetracked and fall behind on your work.?Before you know it, an entire day has gone by and you've accomplished nothing. Thankfully, I have fewer of those days now, but if I've learned anything from my years of freelancing, it's that productivity is a precious commodity that can easily be squandered. So, today I'm going to share with you the 5 biggest productivity killers for freelance writers - and how to avoid them.

1. Procrastination

Procrastination is the number one productivity killer for solopreneurs and small business owners who work from home. As a recovering procrastinator, I can tell you it's not an easy habit to break. After all, it's such an innate part of your process and response to stress. At the height of my procrastinating era, it came as easy as breathing or writing. Defeating procrastination takes more than simply willpower; it requires a change in your thinking and behavior.

There are a few things you can do to help break the habit of procrastination and increase your productivity.

A. Understand Your Why

When you understand why you're doing something, it's easier to get motivated. So, take some time to think about why you want to be successful and what that future state will look like. In his book, Eat That Frog, Brian Tracy suggests writing out 30 goals that, if achieved, will bring you the most happiness and fulfillment.

These could include financial goals, health and fitness goals, or relational goals. Once you have the list, dig deeper and find the core motivation for each goal.

So, let's say you want to double your revenue over the next year. Why? What will that mean for you and your family? How will it make you happier and more fulfilled?

Or perhaps you want to get in shape so you can feel more confident. Why? What will that do for you? How will the time in the gym help you achieve your other goals?

When you know your why, it's easier to get started on your work, even when you don't feel like it.

B. Set Realistic Deadlines

If you're always putting off work until the last minute, you're probably not giving yourself enough time to complete it. This is a recipe for disaster and will only lead to more stress and procrastination. It's destructive. Missing deadlines not only affects your work, but it can also hurt your reputation and make it difficult to find future work.

I've had some amazing clients over the years, and putting off work until the last minute cost me some of them. Don't let this happen to you. Today, I'm more intentional and protective of my time. I set realistic deadlines and give myself enough time to complete the work.

When setting deadlines or planning your projects, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• How many writing projects do you need each month to meet your financial goals?
• How long will it take you to complete each project?
• How many hours per day do you realistically have to work on your writing projects?

Factor in time for breaks, lunch, and other distractions. For example, I have a monthly word count goal of 40,000 (mostly because I charge per word). On average, I write around 3,000 to 6,000 words per day. However, I only have four days a week for client work since the rest of the time is spent on marketing, content creation, self-development, and general admin.

So, when I get a new project, I'll usually block out at least 8-10 hours to work on it, and I give the client at least a 3-day turnaround time. This way, I'm not stressing out at the last minute to get the work done. There's room to breathe and play.

C. Create a Ritual

One of the best ways to overcome procrastination is to create a ritual for getting started with a task. This could be something as simple as using a five-minute timer to start your workday or having a specific routine that you follow each time you sit down to write.

The important thing is to find a trigger or cue that tells you it's time to work. For example, for me, it's playing Johann Pachelbel's Cannon in D on Spotify. As soon as I hear the first few notes, I imagine Julie Andrews as a wedding planner clapping her hands on the big day, saying "Places everyone. Come, come, come." A smile stretches over my face, bringing with it a sense of focus peace, and utter joy.

Then I take a deep breath and sit down to work, lengthen my arms, and hacking away at the keyboard.

Your doesn't have to be as dramatic as mine. It could be something as simple as opening a Word document and typing the words "beginning of article." Or placing a notebook, cup of coffee, and water bottle next to your computer. Find what works for you and stick with it. Eventually, it will become second nature.

2. Multitasking

Multitasking is a myth. You can't focus on more than one task at a time. What we're doing is switching back and forth between tasks, which decreases your productivity.

Research suggests that when we try to focus on multiple tasks at once, there's a stop/start, or juggler's, effect. This means that we're not doing any of the tasks very well because our attention is constantly being pulled in different directions.

In addition, multitasking increases stress and anxiety levels, which again decreases productivity. So, if you want to be more productive, focus on one task at a time and eliminate distractions.

You can use focus sprints to help you stay on task. A focus sprint is a set amount of time (usually 25, 45, or 90 minutes) where you work on one task without interruption. During this time, eliminate all distractions, including email, social media, and phone calls. Once you've completed a sprint, you can take a break or switch to another task for a shorter period (5 or 15 minutes).

For instance, write for 45-minute sprints and research for 15-minute sprints. Or, work on one task for 25 minutes and then take a 5-minute break. This will help you stay focused and productive.

You can use a free web app like pomofocus.io or the built-in timer on your laptop to help you track your focus sprints. Alternatively, join a live coworking stream on YouTube or Twitch and work with others who are also focused on getting things done. Work-with-me live streams usually last for a few hours and offer a great way to get things done without distractions. Plus, depending on the session, the host might include music with a timer, focus tips, and chat support.

3. Distractions

Distractions are the bane of productivity. They can come in many forms, including email, social media, phone calls, and people stopping by your at-home office. The best way to combat distractions is to eliminate them as much as possible.

One way to do this is to create designated work hours and stick to them. During these hours, turn off your phone, close all of your email tabs, and put a sign on your door that says "Do Not Disturb." If people still stop by, let them know that you're busy and will be available later.

Now, this is easier said than done, especially when you work from home with loved ones. My brother and I both work from home and it's difficult to not go down a rabbit hole of the latest Twitter meme or Survivor episode.

In the early days, a ten-minute coffee break easily turned into an hour-long conversation. But we've learned to set boundaries - like knocking and going away when the other person doesn't answer. Or setting a timer to remind us when it's time to get back to work. And if you're a chronic procrastinator who is easily distracted, celebrate the days when you're able to stick to the plan and avoid distractions. Tell a friend and high-five them. That positive reinforcement can help you stay on track in the future. Adults need gold stars too.

4. Poor Time Management

One of the main reasons people aren't productive is because they don't manage their time well. They might have a lot of things to do, but they don't prioritize them or they don't break them down into manageable tasks. Learning to prioritize and manage your time is essential for freelancers.

Rocks, Pebbles, and Sand

Have you heard the one about the rocks, pebbles, and sand? If you think of your time as a Mason jar, and your to-do list as rocks, pebbles, sand, or water:

• Rocks are the big things that need to get done by you and they go in first.
• Pebbles are the things that need to get done, but they're not urgent and can wait a day or two. These might include things like laundry, grocery shopping, and emails.
• Sand is the little things that you can easily put off, do quickly, or delegate to someone else.
• Water is everything else.

The idea is to fill the Mason jar with rocks first, then add the pebbles, and then the sand. If you try to put the sand in first, it will fill the jar and you won't be able to add the bigger rocks or pebbles.

This analogy can help you visualize your time and how to best use it. For example, when you're jotting down your to-do for each day, put an R, P, S, or W next to each item to represent how important it is. Then, do the big things first and work your way down.

This simple trick helped me 4x my productivity in 2022 and is a method I still use today. However, it takes practice and discipline to stick to the process. It's easy to get caught up in the small tasks and put off the bigger, more important ones. But remember, those big tasks are the rocks that will make the most impact.

If you find yourself constantly putting off a certain task, ask yourself why. Is it because you don't enjoy doing it? If so, consider delegating it to someone else who may be better suited for the job. Or perhaps you just need to do it quickly and get it over with. Either way, being aware of your tendencies can help you manage your time more effectively.

Another way to manage your time is to use a planner or calendar. I'm a big fan of the bullet journaling system, which is a customizable planner where you can track your goals, tasks, and appointments. I also use ClickUp, which is a cloud-based task management system that lets you create custom pipelines, projects, and tasks.

5. Lack of Discipline

The last productivity killer is a lack of discipline. This can manifest itself as procrastination, laziness, or simply not having enough time. This is by far the toughest hurdle to overcome, but it's not impossible.

There are a few things you can do to develop self-discipline:

• Change your mindset. Commit to becoming a person who gets things done, no matter what.
• Set small, achievable goals. When you accomplish something, even if it's small, you'll feel more motivated to keep going.
• Create a routine and stick to it. This will help you develop habits that will make you more productive.
• Find a productivity buddy. When you have someone to hold you accountable, it's easier to stay on track.
• Reward yourself for completing tasks. This will help you associate good feelings with productivity.

Developing self-discipline is a lifelong journey, but it's worth the effort. Once you overcome the productivity killers, you'll be able to achieve more than you ever thought possible. And that's a pretty powerful thing.

BONUS TIP: Use a Timer

Using a timer is a hack I learned from the Fly Lady housekeeping system. Set a timer for a specific amount of time, say 25 minutes, and work on a task without any distractions. When the timer goes off, take a short break and then set the timer again for another 25 minutes. This method, known as the Pomodoro Technique, helps you focus on one task at a time and can increase productivity.

Another way to use a timer is to set certain tasks or projects for specific amounts of time. This can help you stay on track and ensure that you are using your time efficiently. For instance, I allocate 45 minutes a day to lead generation tasks, such as reaching out to potential clients or networking on LinkedIn. On days when I'm tempted to procrastinate on other tasks by extending my lead generation time, the timer acts as a reminder to stick to my schedule and not get sidetracked.

As soon as the timer goes off, I check the item off my to-do list and either carry on with the day or take a mini break if I need to.

Need Some Extra Motivation?

Try Rewarding Yourself!

Let's face it, sometimes the tasks on our to-do lists are not the most enticing or exciting. In these cases, using a timer can be a great way to stay motivated and focused. One technique is to reward yourself after completing a certain number of timed sessions. For example, you could treat yourself to a cup of coffee or your favorite snack after completing three 45-minute work sessions.

Do you have any productivity-boosting tips? Share them in the comments.