5 ways to manage time when you are a gig worker

Being a gig worker can bring the satisfaction of working on diverse projects, but not having a formal office also means that distractions are aplenty. ET spoke to experts on how best you can manage time when you’re a gig worker.

PRIORITISE
Don’t oscillate between two tasks, said Aditi Pareek, senior manager (HR) at Pepperfry. Instead of doing tasks in an ad-hoc fashion, prioritise the time you devote to projects based on the allotted deadlines, duration and assured deliverables.


SET BOUNDARIES
Decide on times when you will only work, and times when you will spend with your family or do personal stuff. Otherwise, both can suffer, said Neha Bagaria, founder of women’s only jobs portal JobsForHer.

DELIVERABLES
It’s important to know beforehand exactly what deliverables are expected of you, make sure they’re measurable and know the exact timelines to deliver them, said Bagaria.

KEEP A BUFFER
“Assume that your tasks will take 30% more time than you think it will take,” said Bagaria. That way, you will have enough of a buffer for unpredictable occurrences that could throw a spanner in the works.

PEOPLE
Does your work depend on deliverables by others? If yes, then you need to over-communicate and ensure everyone is on the same track as you, said Bagaria.