Top 5 productivity hacks for translators - July 2022 version

Once summer rolls around, people often lose motivation to work (or exercise, or study, or basically anything other than going to the beach and swimming). Sounds familiar, right?

Nevertheless, summer is a great time for translators to find new clients and opportunities. As Tim Renders, Founder & CEO of Entre les lignes Agency, wrote on LinkedIn, “In July and August everyone takes off, [so] agencies struggle to find freelancers. They reach out to their ‘back-ups’ or to unknown freelancers (and that could be you!)”.

So, whether you're considering focusing on work (and taking a vacation later in the year) or rushing to get things done before taking off, productivity is certainly one of your top priorities. 

In an attempt to make this summer a little less stressful, we’ve put together a list of five productivity hacks to help work hard (and rest even harder!).

Table of contents
1. Batch similar tasks
2. Start with the hard stuff
3. Distraction-free zone
4. Analyze to maximize
5. Break things down

1. Batch similar tasks

Sure, there are some days when it seems like your brain is on fire, but putting it into ‘eco-mode’ can help maximize its magical powers.

It’s fairly common knowledge that the amount of time we waste when having to switch tasks is much higher than most of us even realize. What’s more, it takes your brain time to adjust to a new task and to achieve maximum focus.

Therefore, in order to make good use of your time, it’s a good idea to group similar tasks together on your calendar. For example, if you’re self-employed and have a lot of administration to do on a weekly basis, set aside a couple of hours specifically for this instead of working through it bit by bit.

PRO TIP: Are you a freelance Spanish translator who hates admin work?

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Read his five fundamental tips for freelance translators here.

2. Start with the hard stuff

It happens to the best of us. There’s always that one task that you put off until the end of the day (or even the end of the week!) because it just seems too much to handle first thing in the morning.

Although it may seem a little counterintuitive, getting those ‘too hard to do’ tasks out of the way as soon as you start your working day can in fact give you a boost of enthusiasm and make the rest of the day’s tasks seem easy in comparison.

Practically speaking, getting the hard stuff done right away stops you from worrying about it while trying to concentrate on other projects, and means you’re more likely to produce top-quality texts for your clients.

3. Distraction-free zone

Although we like to be available around the clock, this can be both positive and negative. If you’re working to a deadline, or just trying to focus on a jargon-filled text then hitting airplane mode or simply silencing your cell phone can stop you from getting easily distracted. 

It’s also useful to install some software or a browser extension that blocks certain apps and websites that can lure you away from what's important (e.g. YouTube, Facebook, etc.).

If you work from home, informing your housemates or family members of your working hours can also help you stay focused and prevent unwanted interruptions during an important video call or interpreting session.

PRO TIP: Even social media have their silver linings.

LinkedIn, for instance, can be more than just a time-waster. If used properly, it's one of the best ways to get more clients. If yot sure where to start, this self-paced TranslaStars online course is just what you need.

It contains all the information and strategies you need to get seen by and reach out to the right people as well as super useful worksheets, checklists, and templates to put all your new skills into action – there's even a cheat sheet with heaps of ideas for LinkedIn posts. Sounds good? Then click here and enroll now!

4. Analyze to maximize

Sitting down at your laptop at 5:30 am may sound like a top productivity hack, but in fact, those early hours of the morning may not prove particularly productive for everyone. 

It’s worth noting down the times of the day when you’re most productive and the moments when your energy is a little low. This can help you schedule tasks according to their level of difficulty and therefore maximize the time you have available.

At the end of the day, it’s hardly worth burning the midnight oil to get a head start on a complex legal text if your brain just isn’t on board.

PRO TIP: As the saying goes, "time is money". Nowhere is this truer than when you're working for yourself as a freelance translator. With all the unpaid hours spent bidding on jobs, searching for new clients, taking translation tests, completing applications, and looking after the admin/financial/marketing side of your business, it's important to ensure that you're taking home a decent salary.

Signing up for this course is guaranteed to help you do just that.

5. Break things down

Large projects can seem like translation Everest and a packed schedule can often become extremely overwhelming or lead to a lack of concentration.

By breaking large tasks down into manageable chunks you can help to maintain enthusiasm and motivation, and produce high-quality texts.

Of course, this involves planning out your time and sticking to a set schedule - that means no ditching today’s section for a Netflix session.

Written by Helen Hadley