Note from Jennifer: Since launching the Freelance Content Marketing Writer group on Facebook a few months ago, after my book (of the same name) came out, it’s grown a lot. Now, we have nearly 700 super friendly, helpful members, representing all stages of freelance content marketing writing careers. We discuss a lot of different aspects of content marketing writing, and some of the threads are pure gold. I asked Cat DiStasio to pull together some gems to share with my blog readers.

By Cat DiStasio

As a freelancer, there is perhaps no more important aspect of running a successful business and hitting income goals than doing more in less time. We practice writing faster, researching more efficiently, and cutting out wasted time wherever possible when it comes to our actual work tasks. However, many freelancers struggle with the bigger picture of productivity—especially when it comes to balancing the demands of work and personal life.

There are no universal “fixes” to boost productivity, because work styles vary wildly. Some writers need a high degree of structure in order to meet their productivity goals, while others feel empowered by the freedom of a looser schedule. Whatever your style, here is some of the best advice on hacking your productivity as a freelance content marketing writer, straight from the mouths (or, rather, keyboards) of members of the Freelance Content Marketing Writer group on Facebook.

1. Track your time to get a baseline of your current productivity.

“If you track your time for a week, in 15-minute increments (for 24 hours, work and play), then you’ll likely learn a lot about how you’re really spending your time and where all those hours seem to go (these Facebook minutes really add up!)” –Melanie Padgett Powers

2. Take advantage of your peak mental energy times.

“Figure out the time of day you work best and do your most challenging tasks then.” –Maria Kuzmiak

“I write early in the morning when I’m not self-editing every word because my brain isn’t fully awake. Get it out and then edit it all at once.” -Kristen De Deyn Kirk

3. Get organized – whatever that means for you.

“Use the Eisenhower Box to structure your daily To Do list.” –Allie Johnson

“Use color index cards instead of a notebook to write down actionable tasks so I’m not losing stuff in notebook. I also use them to write down leads in batches on them so it doesn’t seem so overwhelming.” –Rachelle Nichols

“Plan for tasks with “If… then…” statements. For example, “If it is 9 a.m., I’ll start work.” “If I’ve finished proofreading, I’ll respond to emails from clients.” I read about this as a tip for developing good habits and I’ve found it helps with getting things done.” –Sarah Brodsky

“Extensive lists. Each morning I highlight the items I must get done that day – and I vigorously cross them off when I complete them. Something about scratching them out is really satisfying.” –Sarah Hall

“I’ve been into the GTD philosophy for a long time, using the OmniFocus app to task manage.” He also recommends reading this post on task management and the book Deep Work by Cal Newport. –Dave Fagg

4. Prioritize your tasks and be realistic.

“Eat that frog: Do the thing that I am most likely to procrastinate on first thing in the day. It changed my life.” –Didem Tali

“It helps if, at the end of the day, you leave yourself an easy task to tackle first thing the next morning. For example, if you need to submit a story tomorrow, leave it open in Word so you can do a final read-through in the morning and send it in.” –Mark Ray

“I will often mentally define for myself, in advance, the baseline level of work I will get done that day so I feel good about I’ve accomplished. I call this the MVP (Minimum Viable Product) after a software development term I picked up from a friend. I try to exceed the MVP on some days, but I always make a pact with myself that if I at least hit the MVP that day I can feel good about what I’ve achieved when I close my laptop. Works for me.” –Rose de Fremery

“Goals setting and reviewing: sticking to your monthly goals but chunking them into smaller more manageable items (by week and then by day).” –Mariana Izturiz

5. Look for tasks to delegate.

“For work, projects, even chores around the house, an old-fashioned pen-to-paper list of what’s bothering me. I guess most call that a to-do list. If certain items start to have swear words in them, “Walk the f****ing dogs,” those are the ones it’s best to try to delegate. Some have swear words and I can’t delegate. Those are usually my highest priority that I need to tackle ASAP so I won’t feel so salty. While my son is walking the f***ing dogs, I can finally tackle finding the d**** photos that coincide with the blog. So, delegate, pen-to-paper lists, swear words used like highlighters.” -Mel E. Hocking

6. Block out distractions when it’s time to tackle the tasks that require the most concentration.

“I use a Mac app called Self-Control to lock my iMac out of Facebook for several hours if I have a huge amount of work to get done. It’s literally like putting on a padlock where you have no key – it locks out the site at the system level and does not unlock it until the timer expires. It seems extreme but it’s the only way to overcome the addictive nature of Facebook.” –Tom Mangan

“I turn off email, phone, text, FB, etc. when I write so I can focus better. I am amazed at how much faster I work when I am unplugged.” –Alice Lesch Kelly

“The single thing that most improved my productivity was getting up 30-45 minutes earlier and tending to all the little chores around the house… that quick sweep of the floors, watering the plants, throwing that load of laundry in the washer or folding the one sitting on top of the dryer… all those things that suddenly scream for attention when I walk past on the way to refill my beverage. Fewer distractions + more tidy environment = hours more productivity for me.” –Janine Ungvarsky

7. Draw a hard line between work time and personal chores… or don’t.

“For optimal productivity, I think it’s important to separate work and home tasks. Since I work from home, it can be tempting to do house chores during the day, but I try my best to only do those tasks outside of my working hours.” –Satta Sarmah Hightower

“I tried so hard to separate work life from home life, and that was part of why I started coworking. But I realized that I feel less stressed when the two are combined.” –Joanne Mason

“Freelancing has always been about integrating my home and work lives. That’s why I started doing it in the first place. I couldn’t imagine trying to keep them separate throughout the day.” –Maureen Salamon

8. Take care of yourself.

“If you’re open to it, practice yoga and meditation. It may help you get out of your own way, stress less and go with the flow, which will all help you be more productive.” –Maria Kuzmiak

What’s your favorite productivity tip?