A freelancer is a sitting duck for all distractions possible. At home, there’s nobody but you to keep yourself in line, and it’s not only about raiding the fridge or watching fun videos every now and then.
The solution is to build effective time management habits. 🕐
It includes avoiding procrastination, automating routine activities, and having a big picture of your progress. Specialized time management software tools can assist freelancers in building up an efficient work routine. They automate repetitive tasks, add clarity to one’s work process, and help find the work-life balance.
⌛ Time Tracking Software
Time tracking is the core part of time management. It shows how efficient you are and where you are on your way to work goals. Using a time tracking tool not only helps you get accurate data for billing but also gives you insights on what you could improve in your working process.
1. actiTIME
Key features:
- Time tracking
- Task management
- Insightful reports
- Billing and invoicing
actiTIME combines time tracking and work management features, providing its users with a high-level project overview and an ability to visualize every single work process. Besides, it integrates with Time Management Assistant, a clever browser extension for a fully automated time tracking process.
This extension keeps a detailed record of all the websites and online tools you use during the day and captures the exact time you spend on them. It also includes four insightful reports for personal productivity management and allows for an automated export of the collected data to actiTIME, where you can get both summarized and detailed data on your performance, generate error-free invoices for clients, and analyze your work profitability in depth.
For more information on Time Management Assistant and how to use it to your advantage, feel free to check out this post.
2. TopTracker
Key features:
- Time tracking
- Task management
- Reports
- Billing and invoicing
TopTracker offers a convenient way to keep a record of work time. It has apps for various devices that help you track your work time in an easy and unobtrusive way. It can record time spent on certain tasks, take screen and webcam shots, and allows you to set your own controls of the project, whether you’re working solo or in a team. It runs reports to show you your results and dynamics and prepares exact data for invoicing and billing.
3. HourStack
Key features:
- Time tracking
- Work planning
- Insightful reports
- Progress management
A visual tool for time planning and tracking that helps freelancers stay organized and follow their plans. It’s sometimes hard to stick with the schedule you created for your workweek, but a tool like HourStack is a reliable way to follow the plan, stay updated on your current results, and get insights on how you can use your time better. In it, you can create schedules for the upcoming work periods, track time for your tasks, and reorganize work processes as needed. Run reports to see the breakdown of your work time by projects and assignments, and visualize the results with colorful charts.
4. Due
Key features:
- Time tracking
- Productivity reports
- Billing and invoicing
Due is a time tracking tool that is focused on collecting data for billing and invoicing purposes. It also includes a payment solution that uses time-track data for calculating billable amounts and allows you to charge your clients for the performed work. This way, Due not only helps analyze your productivity and see where you can improve on your work processes but also provides insights into the profitability of the projects that you’re running.
💸 Billing and Invoicing Automation
Accounting tasks are the hardest ones for most freelancers – except for those who are professional accountants. That said, their importance cannot be overestimated: accuracy of the data used for billing directly influences your income, and clarity in communicating billable amounts to your clients defines your reputation and work perspectives. So, it’s worth automating this area of activity to save your time and achieve flawless accuracy of your billing data.
1. Bonsai
Key features:
- Information management
- App integrations
- Billing and invoicing
The Bonsai accounting tool is designed to allow freelancers to get paid without any hassle. Its integrations and automation features reduce the effort spent on manual data collection, calculation, and processing. It also automates the preparation of the necessary documents – not only invoices but also proposals, contracts, and reports, and covers your business from the bottom to the top. This tool allows you to focus on your actual work and spend less time sorting out accounting activities.
2. Wave
Key features:
- Cost tracking
- Revenue analysis
- Cash flow management
- Client billing
Wave accounting, invoicing, and expense tracking solutions are built specifically for freelancers, small businesses, and solopreneurs. It eliminates the need for any manual work for your finance management, keeps all essential information in one place, and saves you time. This helps you stay informed on all the necessary financial details, manage cash flow, easily bill clients, and get a clear picture of your expenses and revenue.
3. Invoice2go
Key features:
- Invoicing
- Receipt tracking
This invoicing solution is designed to streamline your billing process. It helps you create professional-looking invoices, accepts debit and credit card payments, keeps you updated on invoice statuses, and tracks receipts. With this tool, it’s easier to stay informed on your business performance, manage revenue, and handle outstanding payments. It helps you get paid faster and significantly reduces the time spent on preparing and sending invoices.
4. Momenteo
Key features:
- Invoicing
- Task estimation
- Scheduling
- Progress tracking
Momenteo is a free quote and invoicing software that helps small businesses and freelancers tackle the challenges of financial work. It helps create invoices and manage their status, prepare and send estimates of upcoming tasks, schedule and track your activities in a calendar, keep and manage your client database, and track expenses. Bottom line: the tool is packed with everything you need to run a successful business.
📊 Project Management Software
Many freelancers are reluctant to the idea of adopting project management tools. At the first steps of your freelancing journey, when you can keep every detail of the projects that you run in your head, it seems like overkill.
However, project-related data accumulates as the business expands, and the majority of freelancers eventually find it reasonable to start using a project management tool. In light of this, it’s totally worth choosing a scalable solution and adopting it from the very beginning – just to take the stress out of your future work.
1. Hector
Key features:
- To-do lists
- Task management
- Project planning
Hector is a project management app that’s designed specifically for freelancers and offers simple and convenient ways to manage several small projects. The tool keeps all information on a single dashboard: active and upcoming projects, to-dos, and details. It allows you to collaborate with others and structure your projects by adding and tracking milestones.
Currently, Hector is free, and its creator emphasizes that the tool is meant to be affordable and solve all project management tasks with less time and effort.
2. ProProfs
Key features:
- Team collaboration
- Task planning and management
- Calendar
Whether you’re working on a project alone or with a team, a simple project management tool speeds the collaboration up and helps avoid any miscommunication. The ProProfs app is a simple and intuitive tool for managing projects of any size and automating routine processes. A calendar view helps visualize milestones and stay informed on upcoming deadlines. And team collaboration features ensure timely and clear communication on project-related issues.
3. SquidHub
Key features:
- File sharing
- Team collaboration
- Project planning
SquidHub suits both teams and individuals. It offers rich collaboration capabilities that can be used for communication within a team or with customers. The tool also has internal file-sharing – regardless of what file storage service you’re using: Office 365, Google Drive, or Dropbox. The basic plan is free and includes simple features for project management.
⚖️ Work-Life Balance Management
And last but definitely not least: work-life balance. Freelancers’ income isn’t always stable, so many decide to take on more work than they can handle without getting burnt out. The worst thing about burnout is that you notice it when it’s already hardly reversible – so staying mindful about your workload is key here. Try using special apps as an external stimulus to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
1. TimeTune
Key features:
- Routine planning
- Time tracking
- Productivity analysis
This app is designed to help people optimize their routines and get more of their time. Basically, it’s about keeping a record of how you are using your time, seeing dynamics, and making decisions on what needs to be changed or improved. Consider using this app to discover how much time you spend working and see if your well-being improves with changing the work/rest time proportion.
2. Space
Key features:
- Website and app blocking
- Inspirational quotes
Your phone is indispensable for getting work done, but it’s also one of your biggest distractions. Using it consciously is a challenge for many of us, and this app is built to help develop productive phone usage habits. Consider using it to disconnect from games and social media, stop checking your email every ten minutes, and take back control of your mobile device. The app visualizes your progress, unlocks achievements, and shows quotes for daily inspiration.
3. Pacifica
Key features:
- Goal setting
- Progress analysis
- Stress relief techniques
- Coaching
Even when you’re working on achieving a healthy balance in your daily work, sometimes, overloads do happen. If stress is already there, find a way to relax and meditate. Pacifica app offers various ways of relaxing and finding your inner peace. You can also use it to track your mood and health, set and achieve short-term and long-term goals, and review your progress over time.
