Batch tasks, my friend, batch.
👂Whispers in your ear: Baaaaaaaaaaaatch….
Your Busy Freelancer Schedule
If you’re freelancing and running your own business, there are a hundred and one tasks you’ll be performing weekly.
Many tasks will be repetitive, like the daily Instagram reel, your weekly LinkedIn carousel, your latest blog post on your website, your Facebook group update or your email newsletter – phew!
You’re in a mad rush all week to find the time to produce the content just before the publication deadline, and before you know it, you’re into the next week and having to do it all again. It’s Groundhog Day! Again.
What Is Task Batching?
Task batching (aka time batching) involves grouping and completing similar tasks simultaneously.
Here’s a scenario. You want to post a weekly carousel on LinkedIn every Tuesday at 9 am to engage with your ideal client.
You could allocate calendar time every Monday to choose the topic, research, and create the carousel image assets, which will be ready for publication the next day.
That’s not a problem when your calendar is relatively empty, but as your calendar gets ever more crowded or something unexpected happens, like urgent client work, you risk not having the time to create your carousel and missing the publish date.
For tasks like content marketing, consistency is critical. Ideally, you want to publish at the same time every week.
With task batching, you would allocate time on the 1st Monday of each month to create all the carousels for the following month.
You’re in the zone. You have all the tools needed to create the carousel assets open: no context switching, no distractions and a clear focus. Humans work more productively when completing repetitive, structured tasks.
I’ve been using task batching for almost four years, and I’ve seen my productivity increase dramatically, and it works for a vast range of tasks.
- Meetup topics and events
- Blogging
- Social media postings
- Bug fixing
- Retainer tasks
- Code refactoring
- Documentation
- Client communications
- Course content creation
How Does Task Batching Increase My Productivity?
When you batch tasks as a freelance developer, you group similar jobs or things you need to do together. Grouping similar jobs is helpful because it allows you to stay focused and not get distracted by switching between different tasks too often.
By batching tasks, you can get into a “zone” and work more efficiently. It’s easier to remember what you’re doing, and you can finish the tasks faster because you’re not constantly changing your thinking.
For example, if you have to fix bugs in a computer program, instead of fixing one bug and doing something completely different, you can resolve many bugs together. This way, you can concentrate on finding and fixing bugs without distraction.
Batching tasks also helps you save time. When you focus on one type of task, you become more skilled at it and can do it faster.
So, by batching tasks, you can stay focused, work faster, and get more things done,
Winner, winner, chicken dinner. 🍗
The Science of Task Batching For Productivity
Still not convinced? Well, a whole heap of science backs up this productivity hack. Feel free to skip this section if you’re not interested in the science part.
Cognitive Switching Costs
Task switching, also known as context switching or multitasking, incurs cognitive costs as our brains need to adjust and refocus when switching between different tasks.
Research has shown that task switching can lead to a decrease in productivity and an increase in errors. Batching similar tasks helps reduce these switching costs by allowing you to stay focused longer.
Reference: Monsell, S. (2003). Task switching.
Flow State and Deep Work
Batching tasks align with the concept of flow, a state of deep concentration and optimal performance. We achieve flow when we fully immerse ourselves in a job, and interruptions or frequent task switching can disrupt this state.
Deep work, a term coined by Cal Newport, refers to the ability to focus without distraction on cognitively demanding tasks. Batching tasks facilitates flow and deep work by minimising distractions and interruptions.
Reference: Newport, C. (2016). Deep Work.
Time Management and Productivity Principles
Task batching is a time management technique that leverages the principles of productivity. By grouping similar tasks, you can allocate dedicated blocks of time and energy to specific types of work, allowing for increased efficiency and output.
Prominent productivity methodologies like the Pomodoro Technique and Time Blocking emphasise the benefits of focused work sessions.
References: Wang, X. (2010) Turning time from enemy into an ally using the Pomodoro technique; Lakein, A. (1973). How to Get Control of Your Time and Your Life.
Do Try It
That’s Dilma’s tea advertisement campaign slogan from 30 years ago.☕And it applies perfectly to task batching. Any productivity hacks are only going to be helpful if you give them a try.
So don’t run around from task to task like a headless chook. 🐔 Try some task batching.
Until next time.
Wil.
PS: Get more freelancer productivity hacks and business tips, like this one, on my website blog.
