Being confronted with too much work is not necessarily what every freelance translator fears when they branch out on their own. Not having enough work to make is usually higher up on the list of worries. But once you get going with your freelance business, it’s not uncommon to find yourself on the other extreme — with too many projects to finish in too little time, and more requests coming to your inbox seemingly by the minute.
Knowing how to deal with these times of too much work can mean the difference between maintaining your client relationships and managing your business for the long-term, or gradually losing control of your work.
Organize and Prioritize
When it seems like there are too many jobs coming in too fast, and you’re worried about losing track of deadlines and clients, the best way to get a hold on everything is to sit down and organize your requests. This includes grouping them into smaller jobs and jobs that will require more time. That way, you will be able to identify the assignments that you can finish quickly and cross off your list before tackling the larger ones with longer deadlines. In addition to being a great way to face the problem of too much work and get a handle on it, it can also give you some relief by shortening your to-do list.
Be Honest
The ability to be honest about how much work you’re facing is something that a lot of freelancers take for granted. They don’t want to appear as though they’re a novice who can’t manage their own work flow. But heavy times and lean times are just part of the game, and usually clients will understand that. Even if they’re not very interested in your schedule, being upfront about the overload that you’re facing can give them the opportunity to clarify that the deadline for their project is either very strict, or that it can be put on the back burner if need be. This kind of transparency could offer you an amount of much needed flexibility. Alternatively, if every client says their project is urgent, then you can either choose to turn down a few or try the next option.
Outsource When Necessary
This is a common suggestion, but an effective one. If you’ve organized your jobs and gotten the smaller, faster ones out of the way; if you’ve been honest with yourself and your clients about facing too much work all at once, but you still don’t have a solution, the final option is to outsource some of your work. Ideally, you would be able to establish relationships with other freelance translators with flexible schedules that would allow them to help when you have lots of work, and be on stand-by when things are lighter. Managing that is another thing altogether. But outsourcing in any capacity can ultimately help preserve your reputation with your clients as someone who finishes work on time, and as someone who is available to take jobs. And that will certainly help your business.
Say Goodbye to Social Sites
You are probably not aware of how much time you loose every time you comment on those photos your best friend posted or when you are checking twitter every ten minutes. Try closing all those apps and websites that are not necessary for translating and you will realize you can get much more work done.
Take Breaks
Working long hours non-stop will not help your productivity. Your body and mind need short breaks so that you can go back to work with a fresh head. Go for a short walk, take some minutes to listen to your favorite music and relax or just take 10 minutes to stretch your body.
