Freelancing is hard, and I don’t think it matters who you are — if you freelance, you will have days when you become frustrated and feel like giving up. Let me tell you something: everyone feels this way at one point or another. Even the people that “make it” as freelancers, still face challenges every day. The only difference is how they choose to deal with those challenges.
There are many reasons people love freelancing. They get to work from home, set their own hours, and often choose their own clients. What’s not to like?
Well, for starters, the isolation can be hard to take. Even if you like having your own space, it can be difficult working in that space day in and day out without interacting with other people (except maybe your spouse or children). Plus, it’s easy to fall into bad habits when nobody is looking over your shoulder.
Another reason freelancing can be tough is that there’s no guarantee of income. Those who freelance full-time still have to put food on the table even when clients are scarce or slow to pay.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Freelancing can be a stressful career choice. |
| 2. There are ways to make freelancing easier and more manageable. |
| 3. Implementing strategies for stress management is crucial. |
| 4. Creating a dedicated workspace can improve productivity. |
| 5. Balancing work and personal life is essential for well-being. |
| 6. Seeking support from peers and professionals can help cope with stress. |
| 7. Financial planning and stability are crucial for reducing stress. |
| 8. Continuous learning and skill development are valuable for staying competitive. |
| 9. Embracing uncertainty and adapting to changes is part of the freelancing journey. |
| 10. Prioritizing self-care and mental well-being is necessary for a successful freelance career. |
Overcome Freelancing Challenge
The good news is that there are a lot of ways to overcome the challenges of freelancing. I’ve been running my own freelance business for about two years now, and I know exactly what it’s like to struggle as a freelancer.
I have made all the mistakes, but I learned from them and grew as a result. And today, I want to share with you some of the things I did during the freelance journey that helped me overcome my struggles and get me where I am today.
So let’s get into it…
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8 Tips for Overcoming Freelance Challenges
1. Maintaining Consistent Workflow
Most people who become freelancers want to do so because they want to work for themselves and control their own schedules. But when you first start out as a freelancer, your client base is small (or nonexistent), which means you don’t have any consistent workflow. You might go two weeks without any work or income only to get bombarded by three clients all at once. There’s no guarantee that you’ll have consistent income or workload when starting out, but there are a few things you can do to ensure some degree of consistency.
2. Don’t Give Up
I know it’s hard, but I also know that if you’re determined, you can make it as a freelancer. It won’t be easy and it won’t happen overnight
You must have a passion for what you do and you must have a strong desire to work for yourself. You have to be able to motivate yourself and you have to be able to sell yourself.
You have to know how to find opportunities and how to negotiate. You will have clients who won’t pay on time or clients who don’t pay at all. Sometimes you make bad decisions and take the wrong path. Sometimes you lose money over projects that go nowhere. Sometimes things go terribly wrong and then it seems like everything goes wrong after that too.
It’s frustrating and scary at times, but if you work hard, find ways to solve problems, learn from mistakes and push forward, eventually it gets better and easier. And then it gets really good!
3. Work In A Dedicated Space
A dedicated workspace will help you stay focused on your work. It doesn’t matter if it’s a home office, coffee shop or kitchen table. The important thing is to identify a space where you can work effectively and productively.
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4. Set A Schedule And Stick To It
Whether you’re working from home or not, a routine will keep your body and mind in sync with your daily tasks. Be sure to set aside time for meals, exercise, breaks, and family time. Without these activities, you’ll find yourself exhausted and unproductive.
5. Be Open About What You Do
When you meet someone new—whether at work or socially—don’t be afraid to tell them that you’re a freelancer. In fact, the more people who know what you do for work, the better chance that one of them may want to hire you for something later on or refer you to someone else looking for your services. The more clients you have, the more money you’ll make!
6. Find Your Niche
When you’re first starting out, it can be tempting to say yes to any project that comes your way. But if you want to take your freelancing career to the next level and make real money from it, you’ll need to specialize in a particular niche — and that means saying no to anything else.
Finding A Niche
For many freelancers, “finding their niche” is the hardest step. After all, when you’re just getting started, it seems like every project is a good one — it’s income in the door. But taking on work just for the sake of income doesn’t help build a sustainable business.
The truth is that if you try to be everything to everyone, you’ll end up being nothing to no one. You’ll have trouble marketing yourself effectively because no one will know what you do or who you do it for; and eventually, this lack of clarity can make clients feel uncomfortable about hiring you because they won’t know what to expect from the results. It’s better to be known for something specific than not known at all.
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7. Set Your Rates
It can be difficult to put an exact number on your work if you’re just starting out as a freelancer. But it pays to set your rates at a reasonable level right from the start. Don’t overprice or underprice yourself — instead, do research by checking out other freelancers in your industry and determining typical rates for their services.
Once you have a ballpark figure in mind, take steps to justify the price point that you want to charge: build up your portfolio, take freelance courses or workshops, and improve your skillset so that you’re worth charging a little more than everyone else.
8. Follow Up With Existing Clients Regularly
If you’re not constantly marketing yourself and promoting your services and skills, you may find that your career or business runs in fits and starts. The best way to avoid this problem is to follow up regularly with current clients. Check-in at least once a month to see if they have any additional needs. And keep in touch even if they don’t need anything right now—they may need something in the future.
9. Network With Other Freelancers
Being a freelancer can be lonely, and it is easy to feel isolated from the world. You are no longer part of a team and you may even miss the watercooler chat.
One of the best ways to get over this is by networking with other freelancers. There are plenty of freelancer groups on Facebook, LinkedIn and other social platforms that you can use to connect with others in your field. These groups will allow you to talk about common issues and concerns you may have as well as your successes, which will help to keep you motivated.
Your family and friends, for example, might think that you have it easy because you work from home and set your own hours. They may not understand why you’re working so hard on a Friday night or why you feel stressed out when you’re not bringing in enough money.
But if you network with other freelancers, they will understand exactly where you are coming from because they’ve been there before.
Here are some Facebook groups that are specific to freelance writers:
Writers Helping Writers
Writing Jobs for Beginners (for new writers)
The Online Course Guy Community (for online course creators)
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10. Make Self Care A Priority
The beauty of being your own boss is that you get to choose when and where you work. Freelancing means you’re not confined to a cubicle or an office and you have the flexibility to take time for yourself. No one is going to notice if you take a long weekend or go to the gym at 3 PM.
So, be sure to make self-care a priority. Whether that means saying no to a project on a Friday so you can enjoy the sunshine or taking a mid-day walk at lunch, make sure you schedule time in your day to step away from your work and focus on yourself.
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11. Learn From Others Mistakes
The biggest mistake of all is not learning from others’ mistakes. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel and struggle with the same things other freelancers have struggled with. The good news is that you can learn from their mistakes and avoid making them yourself.
Further Reading
Dealing with Mental Stress as a Freelancer: Discover effective strategies to cope with mental stress and maintain well-being in your freelancing journey.
Stress Management: How to Be a Happier Freelancer: Learn valuable tips on managing stress and fostering happiness while navigating the challenges of freelancing.
Handling Financial Stress as a New Freelancer: Find practical advice on dealing with financial stress and securing stability as you embark on your freelance career.
Freelancing is Hard But You Can Overcome It FAQs
Question: Do I have to be an expert to freelance?
Answer: No! You don’t have to be an expert. In fact, being a total beginner can actually help you stand out from other freelancers.
Question: How do I find clients?
Answer: Many successful freelancers rely on a mix of referrals and online job platforms like Upwork.com, where you can browse potential jobs and apply for them with your online portfolio and resume. Another option is LinkedIn, where you can use the search bar to find people or companies that need the skills you offer. Just make sure your profile is up-to-date with skills listed that match what people are searching for.
Question: What if I suck at negotiating?
Answer: Don’t worry if you’re terrible at negotiating. For first-timers, it can help to create a standard contract template that includes all the details of your service (and anything else important) so that you don’t need to negotiate every time you get hired. This way, you only need to negotiate the price!
Question: What if I’m not tech-savvy?
Answer: A lot of people assume that freelancing requires high levels of technical knowledge and computer savvy, but that’s not necessarily true. Many freelancing jobs are low-tech.
Question: My fees are too high/too low?
Freelance platform websites like Upwork and Fiverr are great for getting clients if you’re just starting out but don’t feel obligated to accept their rates as your own — especially when you’re just starting off. They set their prices at a certain level because they want customers to work with them, but don’t feel like you have to match them. If they’re too low, set your own rate based on your experience and expertise in the field (which should be higher) and make sure it matches up with the value you provide customers. It may take a while before you land your first client
Question: I don’t know how to get new clients?
Answer: Freelancing is all about networking and building relationships. The best way to find new clients is through personal relationships — your existing network and personal brand.
Question: I struggle to sell my service or product?
Answer: There is nothing wrong with being humble, but there is something wrong with selling yourself short. Understand the value you are providing, understand your target audience and be confident in your knowledge and skills.
Question: I don’t have enough time to complete all the work?
Answer: It’s hard to balance work and life, but it can be done if you’re organized and disciplined. Have a system for managing your time, stick to it and make sure you dedicate some time for yourself every day.
Question: I feel like a fraud because I’m not an expert yet?
Answer: This can be a common feeling when you first start out but remember that nobody becomes an expert without putting in the work. Focus on building your craft, getting experience and growing as a professional. You’ll get there!
Question: I lack the discipline to continue working on my own terms?
Answer: Do what you love- If you do not do something which you love then it is impossible to be disciplined and work on your own terms. So the first thing is to find out your passion and start working on it.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.