Keeping Busy: What To Do During Quiet Work Periods

Google reviews
December 22, 2017
n

When the task sheet is empty, employees and freelancers react in very different ways. Staff sit back, twiddle their thumbs, and take a few minutes longer stirring that mid-afternoon cup of tea. They’re a little bored, sure, but they’re also getting paid regardless. For freelancers, quiet work periods mean panic, stress and anxiety. If you’re not completing tasks, you’re not earning money. 

There’s no magic fix to this dilemma, either. It’s often feast or famine in the freelance world; that’s part and parcel of the trade. What separates the successful self-employed worker from the rest of the pack is how they manage these quiet work periods. Downtime is inevitable, so take note of the tips below to use this time as effectively as possible.

Focus on business development

When you spot the tumbleweeds rolling towards you, seize the chance to get out there and show your face. Hit networking sessions and pick up the phone to catch up with old clients you haven’t spoken to for a while. If there’s a skill you’ve been wanting to bring to your business, take an hour or two for some self-training, perhaps even attending a workshop or two in the process.

It’s also worth musing over personal branding ideas and examining the ways in which you can bring in more business next year. This will help to minimise quiet work periods moving forwards as your days fill up with duties.

Create content anyway

There’s nothing wrong with having content on the backburner ready for a rainy day. You never know when someone might need it, and creating templates for similar jobs might even help you streamline workflow.

Consider the types of work your clients demand most, and use this time to look at how you can prepare for (and improve) future projects. It could lead to better feedback and may justify any rate increases you’d like to make.

Get tidy

During intense projects, it’s easy to lose track of things. Most freelancers find themselves staring at decidedly messy work surroundings at some stage, wondering how they managed to let it get so out of hand.

When the work isn’t coming in, get yourself organised and tidy up. This way, you won’t be caught off guard when the work water-flow begins again.

Sort your accounts

They need doing and they won’t go away – so get cracking on with your accounts when work slows down.

Tidy up all the numbers so they balance, make a start on your self-assessment returns, and consider investing in a piece of bookkeeping software. When you complete these essential tasks during quiet periods, you’ll be free to take on more work when demand increases.

Bright Ideas Freelancer & Contractor can help when it comes to accounting. Our specialists offer superb guidance for any freelancer or contractor who needs it, including general advice on expenses and how to accurately submit tax returns. Get in touch for a free consultation today, and we’ll happily help you secure the financial future of your business.

Our team are available on 0161 951 5305. You can also request a callback using our contact form at any time.

OIHEIA0

Resources

Recent Articles

Exporters must make declarations on a new system from March 30

Exporters must make declarations on a new system from March 30

Any trader making export declarations needs to move to a new HMRC system from March 30 this year. The CHIEF system is being fully replaced by the Customs Declaration System, and anyone who has been using the old system will now have to move across. There has been a...

End of tax year planning starts now – use up any allowances

End of tax year planning starts now – use up any allowances

Now is the time to start thinking about your end-of-year tax planning while there is still time to maximise the benefit of any allowances you haven’t used yet this tax year. The end of the current tax year is April 5, 2024, and there are various tax breaks you want to...

The cost of divorce – what to do if you decide to split up

The cost of divorce – what to do if you decide to split up

More people file for divorce in January than any other month of the year, probably because the stress of being together for an extended period over Christmas and New Year brings any cracks in a relationship bubbling to the surface. Or it could be that people want to...

Ready to join us?

Whether you’re a contractor, freelancer, or small business, Bright Ideas can help remove the burden of time-consuming and complex finances. We’ll draw on our years of knowledge and experience earned helping sole traders just like you.

When you choose us, you’ll be assigned a dedicated Account Manager who’ll provide one-on-one support that’s customised to your business. Communication is key, so we’ll always answer your questions or requests as soon as we can. In fact, we offer a same-day response guarantee for emails and calls received before 3pm.

Contact us to get started

Give us a call us or send an email today!

Looking to switch accountants?
We make the transition simple.

Does your current accountant give 1-to-1 support? Are they fast and thorough?
Slap-dash services hold businesses back, so try our experts instead.

Move to an accountancy service that goes the extra mile…

Start the conversation

Let’s make your finances Brighter

Call us Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm

0161 669 4221

Request a call back