Spring Cleaning for Your Freelance Biz
Posted March 22, 2010 in Productivity
It’s spring!
Whether or not you launch into annual spring cleaning your home, consider spring cleaning your freelance business.
It will refresh your biz, re-energize you and help you become a more efficient freelancer.
Here are seven ways you could do it:
1. Start with Your Home Office
Give your home office a thorough cleaning, even if it’s only a small corner of your dining room. De-clutter your work area. Put away documents you don’t use regularly, put unneeded print-outs in the recycling bin, and organize the documents you do need every day.
And because it’s spring, add an indoor plant or two. Replace that broken light bulb (or anything else that needs replacing), and make a healthy addition, such as a stability ball or stand-up desk.
2. Clean Out Your Computer Files
Archive old client files into an external drive and/or an online file storage service. I do this for client files that are six months or older. It’s up to you to decide how long you want to keep client files in your computer.
Also, get rid of sensitive client files that you no longer currently use, such as passwords and other log in information.
3. Make Sure Your Client Database Is Up to Date
Double-check your client database to make sure you have current email and shipping addresses, telephone numbers and other client information you like to keep. You need all this data to carry out certain marketing activities.
4. Sweep the Cobwebs Out of Your Finances
Is your bookkeeping up to date? Are your receipts all in one place where you can easily find them when tax time comes? Whether you use a shoebox or Quickbooks or anything else in between, make sure you’re up to speed.
It’s also a good idea to review your expenses and see where you can cut down so you can keep more of what you earn. Have you been setting aside money every month for taxes? And while you’re at it, follow up on those overdue invoices.
5. Shine the Light on Your Marketing
Now is a good time to assess your marketing efforts. Scrap the ones that haven’t worked, do more of the ones that do, and explore a couple of new marketing strategies you’ve never tried before.
6. Step Up Your Physical Fitness
If winter weather has kept you exercising indoors (or worse, prevented you from exercising at all), the warmer spring temperatures give you the perfect opportunity to get more physical outdoors. As a freelancer, you are your greatest money-making asset, so take good care of yourself.
7. Dust Off Your Mindset
Success begins in the mind. Does yours have dust bunnies that are keeping your business small? Things like scarcity thinking, dwelling in the past, and not taking responsibility for you own life can really hold you back. Take stock of what self-limiting thoughts you have and work to develop new ones.
Take one week or so to go over each of these areas. Before you know it, you’ll have renewed energy and motivation to move your freelancing to the next level.
Do Tell
What does spring move you to do? Does this brighter, warmer season energize you into achieving more? How do you plan to make the most of it?
Image by Alan Cleaver on Flickr
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About the author: Lexi Rodrigo is the creator of The Savvy Freelancer, a blog that's all about achieving creative and financial freedom through freelancing. Check out Lexi's free guide, 31 Days to Start Your Freelancing Business (or Make Yours A Better One).
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42 Comments
Salma Jafri - Content Development
March 22nd, 2010 at 8:40 amWhat does spring move you to do? Does this brighter, warmer season energize you into achieving more?
Definitely does, I removed the decade-old carpet from my home office and had the floor polished. Out with the dust, in with squeaky clean flooring. Planning to get the walls painted a muted yellow in honor of spring/summer, adding a bookshelf for keeping research books and folders (lower section will be dedicated to books & toys for my 2-yr old :), backing up my hard drive to DVD and online, planning to get an energy-saver AC for the summer months, and finally catching up on book-keeping and invoicing.
Its definitely a re-vitalized start in so many ways!
For the summer
Loveleen Kaur
March 22nd, 2010 at 8:42 amgreat pointers for de-cluttering..!
‘Tis even better if they become a habit.. :D
Don’t you think?
Salma Jafri - Content Development
March 22nd, 2010 at 8:45 amWhat does spring move you to do? Does this brighter, warmer season energize you into achieving more?
Definitely does. I removed the decades-old carpet from my home office and had the floor polished. Out with the dust, in with squeaky clean floors :)
I’m also planning to get the walls painted a muted yellow, buy a bookshelf for research books and folders (with the bottom shelf for books and toys for my 2-yd old), backing up my hard drive to DVD and online, and catching up with book-keeping and invoicing.
Its the perfect time to make a re-vitalizing start!
Heather Villa
March 22nd, 2010 at 8:52 amLoveleen, I have to de-clutter every few months. Once a year and I’d be buried. lol
The bright, warm sun is always so motivating for me. The only draw back is that I want to be out there in it instead of working. lol
Jordan Walker
March 22nd, 2010 at 8:57 amI personal clean my computer workstation, sort files, rearrange my office, scan then throw away receipts, and make sure everything is running tip top.
Beth McLain
March 22nd, 2010 at 10:44 amInteresting read. Appreciate your efforts in putting this together.
Thursday Bram
March 22nd, 2010 at 10:56 amI’ve already wiped down all my windows so that I can easily get them open as the weather’s warming up. It’s great to work with all this nice weather. I’m thinking of dragging a chair outside to work, too.
Christina Gammon
March 22nd, 2010 at 11:34 amI just did this over the weekend! Took Sunday off and this morning when I walked in, I was energized! I love having my desk neat, prioritized and READY!
Today and tomorrow project is organizing my online stuff. I have Microsoft One Note (read my review here: bit.ly/9aoffG) and I want to reorganize my passwords, article ideas, work notebook, personal notebook,and website notebook with some extra tabs. A few are getting overloaded. I’m so happy I started using it!
Spring has sprung and all around me their is new growth. I can see it online with new, fresh and creative articles… like this one. Thanks!
Lexi Rodrigo
March 22nd, 2010 at 11:48 amAwesome comments, everyone! You’re all so inspiring, thank you!
Laura Earley
March 22nd, 2010 at 11:58 amGreat tips, I’ve started spring cleaning my business by organizing old files, getting projects squared away and increasing my marketing efforts. Since it’s been pretty warm here in Indiana, I’ve gone on several bike rides and am getting outdoors more. I feel so refreshed after exercising! Being outside clears my mind and fuels new ideas that I can implement creatively.
Amber Weinberg
March 22nd, 2010 at 12:17 pmSpring always motivates me to clean up and organize…I can’t wait for a few weeks until we start renovating the “cave” (my office) I hate working in here!
Jesaka Long
March 22nd, 2010 at 12:31 pmJust reading this post felt energizing. Even though it can be a dreaded chore, spring cleaning can be so rejuvenating and inspiring. In a recent conversation I had with long-time freelancers, several of them told me the best piece of advice they ever had was to invest in their home offices. Once they completed any necessary upgrades, renovating, purchases and/or cleaning, they had immediate and noticeable upticks in their business. Maybe spring cleaning can be as powerful.
Natalia M. Sylvester
March 22nd, 2010 at 1:09 pmI agree! How organized my work area is really makes an impact on how productive I am.
One suggestion for spring cleaning: get rid of client relationships that aren’t beneficial to both you and the client, and make room for those that are. It can be a slow process, but it’s worth it. And spring is perfect for bright new beginnings!
Melek
March 22nd, 2010 at 1:28 pmI try to declutter my desk every week (file receipts, enter accounting info), but I do have a lot of magazines, empty boxes, and CDs laying around. I think spring cleaning the office is a great idea! Maybe I’ll go buy a plant this weekend too :)
Ashley Doughty - Pixel Lily
March 22nd, 2010 at 5:46 pmI am totally in spring cleaning mode – We just bought a house in November (which is where I have my office) and have been waiting for “spring” for doing such things as pulling up carpets, painting, putting up shelves, etc. Warm weather is coming and I am so looking forward to getting started.
I agree with Melek – if I did not do decluttering every week or so, the clutter would drive me bonkers ;-)
Wendy Sullivan
March 22nd, 2010 at 6:52 pmOMG, I need plants. My home office has all the ambiance of an ant farm. Off to Home Depot…
Wendy
Emily
March 22nd, 2010 at 7:16 pmI enjoyed reading your article on de-cluttering. I especially liked your advice on cleaning out your computer, as well as your mindset. Thanks for the advice!
Peggy
March 23rd, 2010 at 4:03 amSpring makes me think of places I want to go this summer!
So it’s work, work, work and try to save just a little bit, so I can take off for a day.
Customized Web Design Studio
March 23rd, 2010 at 8:28 amHere is autumm, so, in Argentina we are taking out the skis of the closet!
BebopDesigner
March 23rd, 2010 at 10:41 amGreat post! thanks for the advice
Ella
March 23rd, 2010 at 10:55 amThanks for the motivation.. a little spring clean really freshens up the day!
Spring starts me thinking about getting out the office and working from a coffee shop.. which reminds me it’s so hard to find a great work-away-from-home location!
Leisha
March 24th, 2010 at 7:27 amThanks for the kick in the pants… I’m off to organize my office, which has been neglected lately.
Hearing Aids
March 24th, 2010 at 1:49 pmAn interesting take on spring cleaning. Thanks for sharing your outlook tidying up one’s business with this post.
Issa
March 25th, 2010 at 2:50 amHi Lexi, This post is so wonderful it reminds me of the Japanese principle of 5S or Seiri Seiton. A clean workplace definitely makes for a clear mind. I guess, i’ll start to clean up all the clutter in my home office. Thanks!
Liz
April 5th, 2010 at 1:11 amAgree with “Sweep the Cobwebs Out of Your Finances”. I used to procrastinate and delay adding my expenses in my record book. It’s so much better to keep up with the expenses in small doses.
And yes, now (or any time) is a good time to make sure those issued invoices are paid. I run a jewelry design business, and I use Billing Boss (http://www.billingboss.com) to keep track of all the invoices owed to me, and all the payments made. It’s kind of like spring cleaning throughout the year. Plus it’s easy to use. I can create and manage my invoices in a few minutes.
Good point about the marketing. This reminds me to brush up and start networking again.
Please note: This author has been compensated by Sage.
PCNS
April 5th, 2010 at 7:35 pmThe Best Content Creation Services on the Internet:
http://www.pcns.info/
whether it’s informal blog posts or formal articles.
Dan Sunderland
April 7th, 2010 at 11:22 amThanks, excellent article. Spending some of my first income on 2010 on a nice new office, it’s such a fresh, optimistic feeling to have a good environment to work in :-D
Webmaster
February 14th, 2011 at 7:46 pmI personally like #5, “Shine the light on your marketing”. I think spring, for the hearing aid consumer, means that they are getting out of the house and enjoying life. Hearing aids can help them do that.
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