Time, Energy & Freelancing: My Favourite Tools as a Neurodivergent Creative
Freelancing can be freeing - but it can also be overwhelming. You’re your own project manager, scheduler, client liaison, finance department, and creative all at once. For me, as a neurodivergent freelancer, that can sometimes mean feeling pulled in a hundred directions, or losing track of time completely. Over the years I’ve experimented with a lot of tools, and I’ve found a few that really help me manage both my time and my energy.
Here are some that have made a big difference:
Trello (or any visual project manager)
I need to see things laid out clearly to make sense of them. Trello gives me a way to map out projects visually, move tasks between columns, and break big jobs down into tiny, do-able steps. There’s something grounding about dragging a card from to-do to done - and it keeps me from holding everything in my head at once.
Pomodoro Method
The classic 25-minute work sprint with a 5-minute break. My focus can fluctuate wildly - sometimes I’ll hyperfocus and forget to eat, other times I’ll find myself staring at the same email for an hour. Pomodoro gives me structure without being rigid. It’s short enough that starting feels possible, and it builds in breaks so I don’t run myself into the ground (well, most ofthe time).
Calendly
Managing communication around meetings used to drain me. The endless “what time works for you?” back-and-forth was exhausting. Calendly takes all of that away. I set my boundaries (no early mornings, breaks between calls, max number per day), share a link, and let people book themselves in. It protects my energy and makes scheduling accessible for both sides. I’ve also linked my personal and Pansy Studios calenders in Google Calender so that it’s clear to me when I’m in Ellen Jones the author/speaker/consultant mode and when I’m Ellen Jones Founder of Pansy Studios mode.
Visual Timer
This one feels almost too simple, but it’s powerful. I use a physical or digital visual timer so I can literally see time moving. I have a little green one with buttons that is designed to help children learn to focus on reading, but it helps me regulate tasks that might otherwise balloon forever, and it makes abstract time feel concrete.
I’d love to know what works for you. What tools or strategies help you stay grounded in your freelance life?
