The Freelancer’s Guide to Working Smarter, Not Harder

My 5 best tips for staying on task

Author

Diana Kelly Levey
April 30, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes

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I recently did an interview with freelance journalist Chris Taylor for his LinkedIn newsletter, where we covered various aspects of freelancing, like how to make it work for the long haul, my advice for recent J-school grads interested in writing careers, and … how to be productive when working from home.

If you’ve been following some of my content for a while now, you might be able to guess them but you can read the full interview on Chris’s newsletter on LinkedIn and ICYMI, I included his longevity tips for freelancers in my newsletter on the platform.

These days, I usually work fewer than 20 hours a week because my time is very limited with small children’s school/childcare schedules. Here’s what I recommend to stay focused.

1. Set Tiny, Achievable Goals Every Day

Big, lofty goals are great for vision boards. But when it comes to actually getting stuff done, you need realistic goals.


Instead of “write website copy,” your daily goal might be “outline homepage intro paragraph.”


When you shrink your goals, you build momentum and avoid feeling overwhelmed before you even start.

I write down three to five goals I want to get done each day. The top three are my “Must-Achieve.”

2. Protect Your "Golden Hours"

Figure out when you do your best thinking — and guard that time like your freelance business depends on it (because it does). These days, I’m getting up at 5 a.m. to get some work done while it’s quiet. I’m not one of those crazy advocates for a 5 a.m. club but I will say that at this point in my life (BECAUSE my kids are mostly sleeping through the night), I’m better off working on my computer in the morning instead of late evening.

I try not to schedule work calls or appointments during the morning hours in general if I can help it when my kids are in school. I schedule “light lifts” for afternoons and days when brainpower wanes.

Know your best times of day to write and block off your peak productivity hours for your highest-priority tasks, not admin work or email replies.

I asked YOU and other freelancers what is the best time of day to write?

3. Know When to Say “No”

Taking on every project that comes your way is a fast track to burnout. Many freelancers—including myself — have done this at some point in their careers, whether it’s when starting out or when the funds are low.

If a project feels off, if the client’s red flags are like a ticker tape parade, or if you just can’t fit it in without working weekends or hours you don’t want to, say no.


Turning down the wrong work makes space for the right opportunities (and better-paying ones).

4. Work in Sprints — Not Marathons

Most freelancers aren't wired to sit still and power through eight straight hours.

That’s how you end up scrolling Instagram "for just five minutes" at 11 a.m. and find yourself looking up after lunchtime. (BTW I’m posting videos on Insta if you DO want an entertaining break with a side of freelance advice.)


Instead, try a sprint method: 45 minutes of focused work, 5 to 10-minute breaks. Or, a Pomodoro (25-minute sprint) followed by a break. It keeps your brain sharp and helps you get more done without feeling fried.

Find out why timers and time-tracking tools are on my favorite writing apps for freelancers.

5. Give Your Future Self a Head Start

Before you shut down for the day, spend 5 minutes jotting down tomorrow’s two to three biggest priorities. It’s my tried-and-true productivity hack to make sure I’m doing what I need to get done the next day (versus the easy task I’m tempted to do when I’m just waking up and sleepy).


Future You will thank Present You for not wasting the first hour of the next workday wondering, “Wait, what was I supposed to do again?”

Diana

P.S. Missed last week’s newsletter or a recent post? Check them out here.

P.P.S. Keep scrolling for jobs. ⤵️

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What’s Happening in Business and Life This Week

What I’m reading online: How to Find Clients on LinkedIn

What book I’m reading: The new client’s book I’m ghostwriting. If you know of someone who needs help with a nonfiction book, reach out to see if they could use my ghostwriting services.

What I’m listening to: THIS podcast with Ed Gandia and Melissa Mitri on “how to stay top-of-mind without being annoying.”

Posting freelance tips and tricks on the ‘gram! Follow me on Instagram for more advice.

Freelance Jobs, Contract Jobs, or Remote Jobs I Found

(These were active and available within a few days of this newsletter going out. I have no connection with them.)

Good luck! Let me know if you get any of these jobs. I’d love to share your success in a future newsletter.

Weekend e-commerce writer for Men’s Journal, The Street, Parade, Autoblog $35/hr

Freelance investigative reporter in Portland, ME area

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