7 Tips For Freelancers With ADHD

Or anyone else who wants to stay on top of things.

I’ve been a freelancer for over 20 years but have only recently learned — at the tender age of 55 — that I also have ADHD.

It’s been a weird few months as I’ve been processing all of this and discovering how much having ADHD has affected my life. Suddenly, everything about me has been falling into place.

What is also interesting — fascinating, even — is how I’ve been coping with being neurodivergent in a neurotypical world without even realizing it. A lot of it includes how I manage my life as a long-time freelancer in the publishing and writing worlds.

The path of being a freelancer has not always been easy. There have been stumbles and mistakes. Perfectly understandable whether you have ADHD or not.

At the same time, I’ve learned how to manage my time and project management skills through a long process of trial and error and have reached a point where I have systems in place that work. My systems support my freelance career rather reliably.

I’m thinking some of the things I’ve learned through this process could be helpful to other freelancers dealing with ADHD — and with other folks who just want to get better at time and project management.

These are reasonably simple tips. They don’t require much more than effort and practice.

I think they’ll help.

Don’t Take On More Than You Can Handle

I learned this one early but still ignored my own advice a couple of times.

There are a limited number of hours in a day. You can only work so many hours and still produce quality work.

At the same time, things are tough out there. Money is a significant issue, and the absence of money can drive one into serious distraction. Because of that, it’s entirely understandable to never say no to the offer of some freelance work.

The problem comes in overextending yourself. You get to the point when you have so much on your plate that you risk shutting down entirely. This doesn’t mean turning in work late. It means not turning in any work at all.

That can put you in a tricky spot with your clients.

I was fortunate enough to have clients who were pretty understanding and were willing to give me another chance. But, on the whole, I’d rather not have put either of us into that position.

Look. There will always be jobs coming in if you do good work. There’s no need to panic. Only take on what you can honestly do within a set period, and avoid taking on too much.

In the long run, it will make you a better freelancer and put you in a better position to charge the kind of rates where money is less of an issue.

Keep a Planner

When I shifted from freelance book design to freelance writing, the number of projects I had to keep track of ballooned. Instead of working on a few large projects that were easy to keep track of, I was working with dozens of smaller assignments (in addition to the occasional book design project I still took on).

It’s easy to let small projects like 500-word articles fall between the cracks. Likewise, it’s also easy to lose track of other things in your life when managing a busy freelance business.

What made the difference for me was adopting a planner. In that, I could list projects and due dates, doctor appointments, client meetings, major chores, and bill due dates.

It takes a while to find the best planner for you, and you might find yourself trying a few before settling on the one that works best with your work and home life. Mine features month-at-a-glance pages where I can write in reminders and week-at-a-glance spreads to list individual projects and target dates. There’s also plenty of room for life reminders.

There are a wealth of apps you can use, but I’ve always preferred traditional paper planners. I enjoy the tactile sensation of pen on paper, and I get to indulge in my office supply fetish.

Go Ahead and Be List-Crazy

Life sometimes needs more than just a good planner.

If you have ADHD, you’re probably very detail-oriented yet simultaneously have trouble staying on top of details.

That’s where lists come in. I keep checklists that cover each step in a project that I can cross off as they’re accomplished.

It can be a very satisfying experience.

I make lists for everything these days. They come in handy when I have to pack for a trip. And they come in handy for managing my daily chores.

I just love crossing off items. In the ADHD world, this gives you just enough of a dopamine fix to serve as an award for getting things done.

Limit Distractions

People who work from home, such as freelancers, often have too many opportunities for distraction. For me, it’s things like TV, movies, and YouTube videos.

As much as I tell myself I work better with background noise, the reality is that the distraction of moving images makes concentrating on work difficult.

When I really need to get into the zone, I opt for music instead. Right now, I’m listening to The La’s on Amazon Music.

I try not to select music I feel I have to pay attention to. If I keep the volume relatively low, I find myself less distracted, but I still benefit from some light background noise.

I’ve tried podcasts while working, but they end up being nearly as distracting as video. Music seems to be the consistent solution.

On a related note, if you work in a space with people constantly passing through, try to find a more isolated place to do your work. You could also try getting your co-inhabitants to understand that while you’re working, it’s important you not be disturbed by activity around you.

Embrace Routine

It may not be “cool” to follow routines, but having routines is a lifesaver for folks with ADHD or those trying to build work discipline.

Routines help get you in the right frame of mind you need to be productive. They can also be somewhat comforting.

Go ahead and embrace that idea.

When things happen to disrupt your routine, don’t panic.

Stuff happens.

Instead, deal with the disruption as best you can, then slip back into your positive routine as soon as you are able.

Create Rituals

This is somewhat related to employing routines. The difference is how you approach it.

For instance, when I finish my morning chores, I make a cup of coffee or tea (depending on my mood), close the notebook I use to keep track of household chores and open my planner.

With great purpose, I check my tasks for the day, adjust them as needed, and place it open near my laptop.

Then I sit quietly and contemplate not much at all as I finish my drink.

Then I get to work.

Silly as it may sound, I attach a bit of gravity to this ritual. It helps me transition from one set of tasks — such as chores — to a new set — such as work.

Reward Yourself

Whether you’re dealing with ADHD or not, rewards can be a great little motivator.

We’re not talking about big rewards. I’ll sometimes reward myself after completing a task with a piece of chocolate. For a large project, it might be a book or a digital download of the latest MCU movie.

You’re doing great, and you deserve a treat from time to time — guilt-free.

There’s More, But This Is a Good Start

Honestly, I could go on and on with the little tips and tricks I’ve picked up over the years.

Expect to see a few more pieces like this where I’ll talk about how to use your phone as a time management tool and some strategies for dealing with stress.

Remember, having ADHD doesn’t mean you’re disorganized or lazy. You just organize differently and what motivates you is a little different from what motivates others. Being neurodivergent in a neurotypical world isn’t impossible. Especially not when you learn how to make accommodations for it.

All having ADHD means is that you have to take a few conscious extra steps to support your productivity and quality of work.

Honestly, these tips can be valuable to anyone who wants to manage their time and work more efficiently.

Try them. See how they work for you.

Cheers!

About John Teehan

John lives in Rhode Island with his wife, son, and dog. He specializes in tech, health, business, parenting, pop culture, and gaming. Visit wordsbyjohn.net for more info and rates. Twitter: @WordsByJohn2.

Do you like poetry, short fiction, and general oddities? Check out my new book, Life Among Psychopaths: an unexpected potpourri, now available on Amazon.