Set longer freelancing deadlines
Strengthen your boundaries in the process
Aside from writing, editing, and the ability to write a killer headline (a skill I have yet to properly develop), one of the most important skills to develop is boundary-setting.
I know, if you’re a new freelancer hearing the phrase “boundary-setting” might cause you to break out in a cold sweat, filled with worry that the second you push back you’ll hear the distand sound of a client sprinting in the opposite direction. And sure, some clients don’t love boundaries, the right clients respect them.
Even more important is that boundaries are crucial for a sustainable business.
One of the easiest ways to practice boundary-setting is giving yourself more time for a project than you think you’ll need.
When you always say “yes” to a client’s tight deadline, you’re letting them control your schedule. You get stuck in a cycle of rushing from project to project, with no time to catch your breath, refine your work, or plan for the long term. You also leave no buffer for unexpected events, whether that’s a last-minute revision request, another client needing something urgent, or life unfolding as it always does and upending your plans.
Your life will feel like you’re stuck in an endless loop of university finals week, facing one deadline after another, racing to finish before the next one hits, with no break in sight.
It’s tempting to work on the shortest possible deadline to please your clients. But that’s not sustainable. When you always say yes to tight turnarounds, you train your clients to expect you to drop everything for them—and worse, you start normalizing it for yourself. Suddenly, rushing through projects becomes your default mode, and before you know it, you’re constantly putting out fires instead of working on your own terms.
Rushing to finish a project often means:
❌ Working late nights and weekends to meet unnecessary deadlines
❌ Changing your schedule to make clients happy
❌ Feeling like you never have control over your own time
And here’s the kicker: clients often think they need something “ASAP” but when you scramble to get done overnight, then they don’t review it for three weeks. It’s happened to me and many other freelancers. And I can tell you from experience, it’s disheartening to upend your schedule to meet their tight timeline, only to learn that urgent “set-in-stone” timeline was for you, not for them.
Take control with smarter deadlines
The good news? You don’t have to stay stuck in the endless deadline race. By setting smarter deadlines upfront, you can create a workflow that works for you, not just your clients. Here’s how to take back control of your time:
✔️ Ask for more time than you need. If you think you can finish in five days, ask for seven. If you need two weeks, request three (or at least 2.5). This gives you breathing room for unexpected revisions, other client work, or life.
✔️ Set a rush fee. If a client truly needs a faster turnaround, they can pay for it. Your time is valuable, and accommodating last-minute requests should come at a premium.
✔️ Push back when necessary. If a deadline is truly unreasonable, be honest about what’s possible. “I can’t do X by Friday, but I can deliver it by Tuesday” puts you in control and sets clear expectations.
Strengthen your boundary-setting muscle
Pushing back on deadlines is a great way to start practicing boundaries—and like any skill, the more you do it, the easier it gets. Today, it’s negotiating an extra few days on a project. Tomorrow, it’s confidently saying no to a scope creep request or enforcing your late-payment terms without hesitation.
Every small step in boundary-setting reinforces that your time is valuable and that you deserve to work on your terms. And the best part? The clients who respect your boundaries are the ones worth keeping.
When you set longer deadlines, you’re not just protecting your schedule—you’re training your clients to respect your time. And over time, you’ll find yourself working smarter, not harder—with less stress, fewer all-nighters, and more freedom in your business.
Read more of my thoughts on establishing boundaries in your business.
Here’s to building the business of your dreams,
Heidi
📌 P.S. Only three spots are left in my upcoming LinkedIn workshop! If LinkedIn feels overwhelming (or you’re just not seeing results), I’ll help you break through the mindset blocks that hold freelancers back and show you how to build a profile that attracts your ideal clients. Plus, every participant gets a LinkedIn profile review and my proven DM templates to help you land more clients—without feeling salesy. Grab your spot before it fills up!