Freelancing Is The Working Definition Of Extraordinary

Freelancing has brought me a lot of joy and fulfillment, but I’ll be the first to admit that it has its challenges.

One thing I’ve learned is that the best way to navigate those challenges is by being kinder to yourself than you think you need to be. It sounds like a cliché, but it’s true. As much as we all say we’re going to treat ourselves better in the coming year, how many times do our inner voices tell us that we’re not doing enough?.

Below are some ways I’ve found freedom from those critical thoughts and have made my own rules for freelancing success along the way.

Takeaways
Freelancing offers a unique and extraordinary working experience.
Freelancers have the freedom to choose their projects and clients.
Freelancing allows for flexible working hours and location independence.
Building a strong network and reputation are crucial for success in freelancing.
Freelancing requires self-discipline, time management, and business skills.

Set The Bar Low And Keep It There

Every big goal should have an associated set of small goals. When you start out, set the bar low and keep it there.

You don’t want to put too much pressure on yourself from the get-go and end up setting a goal that’s too lofty for your capabilities or experience at this stage in your career. If you do, then when you inevitably miss it and we all will miss goals sometimes you’ll feel like a failure instead of just being human.

Setting realistic goals also helps ensure that you’re making measurable progress toward whatever larger goal you’re working toward (e.g., “I want to earn $10k from freelancing this month”).

If you can’t hit those smaller milestones along the way, then there’s no way that things will work out in your favor down the line with whatever bigger goal (e.g., “I want to quit my job because I’m tired of dealing with politics at work”).

The only way this works is if every time one well-defined milestone is achieved, another one is set even higher than before while still staying within reach based on what has already been accomplished thus far (e.g., “Now that I’ve earned $5k this week by freelancing full-time during evenings and weekends, let’s shoot for $6k next week”).

If you’re struggling with freelancing and need some tips to overcome challenges, our guide on 13 Tips for Freelancing That Are Like Sleeping Pills can provide you with valuable insights and strategies for a successful freelancing career.

Surround Yourself With People Who Inspire You

A big part of being successful as a freelancer is surrounding yourself with people who inspire you. Surround yourself with people who can help you grow and achieve your goals, but also support you in staying motivated and positive.

You want to surround yourself with people who are fun and make you laugh, not the kind of person that drags everyone down around them.

Be sure to set up relationships with other freelancers like this because they’ll be able to understand your work life better than others might be able to do so, which will lead to better conversations about challenges faced on both sides of the job market fence.

Get Your Creative Juices Flowing

Take a break from your work: The point of taking breaks is to prevent burnout, but it can also be helpful to give yourself a little distance from the project at hand. This allows you to come back with fresh eyes and begin anew, rather than slogging through what may feel like endless frustration or boredom.

Get some inspiration from nature: You don’t have to spend all day outside (though some people do), but even just taking five minutes away from your desk can work wonders for reenergizing your mind and body so that you can return refreshed and ready for more productive work later on down the road.

Do some research on the topic you are working on: If there’s something specific that’s been bothering me while trying to complete this particular task, then maybe there’s someone else out there who has already done something similar successfully? 

Maybe they’ve done a great job doing what I want them to; maybe they’ve learned how not to do it well; maybe they’ve found some fancy new tool that might be able to help me out! Regardless of what happens next time around though one thing remains true above all else…

Recruit A Work Buddy

You can find a work buddy in your social circle. If you live near someone who is also a freelancer, this person might make an excellent work buddy for you. If not, there are plenty of online communities for freelancers to connect with other freelancers and find a work buddy.

Work buddies can help you stay accountable to your goals and plans. It’s much easier to stay on track when you have someone else keeping tabs on how far along you are in accomplishing them.

Work buddies will also encourage each other in times when things get tough or motivation is low, which can be especially beneficial if one member of the duo tends toward being more self-motivated than others might be!

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Invest Your Time Wisely

As a freelance writer, your time is your most valuable asset. You don’t have the luxury of managing a team (at least not yet) or being able to delegate things that don’t directly impact your business.

While this can be stressful at times and require extra effort on your part, it’s also an incredible opportunity: You get to set yourself apart from others by putting in the energy now so that you’ll reap success later.

Here are some tips for investing wisely:

Identify the goals you want to achieve with your writing career and then map out ways in which each goal can be accomplished with time spent writing and ways it cannot be accomplished by simply spending more time writing.

For example, if you want to write a book but have no idea where to begin, invest some time researching how other authors got started on their projects first before diving into any actual writing work itself; this will help ensure that all of those precious hours aren’t wasted getting lost along the way rather than toward achieving something useful.

And remember: sometimes there ISN’T enough money coming into our bank accounts because what we’re doing isn’t working out so well…be smart about how much energy gets poured into things outside our control (like working hard at getting published).

Be A River, Not A Pond

Be a river, not a pond; The idea here is that when it comes to freelancing, you need to flow with the current to stay relevant and successful. The water that flows down your river can be different every day you never know what will come next.

And if you’re not flexible enough with yourself, you could miss out on some great opportunities because they might require more time than what fits into your current schedule.

Stay open to new opportunities; This goes hand-in-hand with “be a river” if you haven’t been open-minded about new opportunities before now (and how many people are?), then there’s no way anyone would trust their business matters or personal life decisions with someone who doesn’t keep an open mind about things like this.

Also, even though there are days where nothing seems interesting at all–that’s normal for everyone don’t let those times discourage you.

Perfectionism Is Just Procrastination In Disguise

You might be a perfectionist. If you’re like me and have spent countless hours trying to write the perfect blog post or deliver the perfect pitch, only to find yourself getting nowhere because of all the time wasted on second-guessing yourself, then this is for you.

The reality is that perfectionism is just procrastination in disguise. It’s an easy way to avoid doing our work (and all of its inherent risks), by making sure we never get started on it in the first place.

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Stop Staring At The Clock (And Use It Wisely)

“The clock is ticking,” you think. “I need to get more done.” Your brain is like a balloon, inflating as it fills with anxiety and stress. But what if I told you that the clock doesn’t matter? It can be your friend if you use it properly. Instead of staring at the clock, use it wisely:

• Use the clock to plan your day’s tasks so that you know when each task will start and end.

• Use the clock to stay motivated by keeping tabs on how much time has passed since your last break or meal. If anything feels like a chore (even though freelancing means doing what makes our hearts happy), knowing we’re not going on forever helps us push through.

If possible, set an alarm for every two hours or 90 minutes (I’ve been known to do this while working away from home) so that we don’t get too absorbed in our projects and forget about ourselves entirely!

Make Lists To Help You Get Things Done

It’s also important to make a list of all the things you need to do. This can be as simple as printing out a blank calendar or using an app such as EatSleepMakeMoney or Todoist to keep track of your tasks.

Prioritize your list based on urgency and importance. Put those things that are most urgent at the top of the list so they don’t get forgotten, or moved around too much. Break down big tasks into smaller ones that are easier for you to manage, and then put them on your calendar with deadlines in place!

Finally, pay attention to the tasks you are most likely to forget about those might be tasks that require follow-up emails from clients or payments from invoices (or both). What will keep you from forgetting these things? Make sure you have reminders set up so nothing falls through the cracks.

Know When To Step Away And Take A Break

So, you’re a freelancer. You have a schedule of your own making and the flexibility to take breaks whenever you want. Take a minute to savor this situation; it’s more than most people have. But don’t get too comfortable you’ll need those breaks when your work starts piling up, because we all know that life as a freelancer is never boring or routine.

Also, remember that life outside of work can also be quite stressful and exhausting so make sure you take care of yourself by setting aside time for meals with friends or family (and maybe even some alone time).

Getting enough sleep every night, and finding fun activities that don’t involve staring at screens all day long! If none of these things sound appealing right now, I recommend taking up knitting instead it’s great stress relief while still challenging your brain cells at the same time!

Get Out Of Town (Or At Least Out Of Your House)

When you’re a freelancer, it can feel like it’s all or nothing either you’re at home with your family and trying to get work done, or you’re at the office and trying to do both.

But if you take advantage of this opportunity, it can serve as a way for everyone in the family to get back into their routine after the holidays.

You can work in another room during the day while your kids are at school, then spend more time with them in the evening when they’re off their homework or just hanging around. You’ll probably even find yourself getting more done than usual

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Reframe Social Media As A Platform For Professional Growth

Social media can be a powerful tool to connect with other freelancers, promote your work on the platforms they use, and find new clients. On Twitter, you can connect with designers, copywriters, and more by joining hashtags such as #FreelanceChat or #WFH (working from home).

You can also do some research by searching their handles to see who they follow and following them in return; this will help you get connected with other freelancers in your industry that may be able to offer advice or recommend clients to you.

On Instagram, users are encouraged to share what’s happening in their lives by posting photos and videos of themselves doing various activities like exercising at home or traveling abroad during the weekend.

This gives you an idea of how much time someone spends on social media so you know when/how often someone checks their feed when messaging them about potential jobs or business opportunities!

When connecting with other creatives online via Instagram DMs (direct messages), remember: keep it short but sweet and always check out their profile first before sending over any requests!

Take A Walk In The Park (Or Something Similar)

One of the most important things to do when you’re freelancing is to take a walk now and then. Also known as “getting some air” or “going for a jog,” walking is an activity that can be done at home, at work, or in the park (or something similar).

The reason why I recommend walking is that it clears your mind, gets your blood flowing, and keeps you healthy. When you’re working from home, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut where all you do all day long is sit around in front of a screen with no break from staring at words on a page.

If this happens regularly then chances are high that this could lead to burnout which means feeling tired, lethargic, and unmotivated all day long. Take walks instead! They’ll give you fresh air while helping increase productivity levels too!

Ask For Help When You Need It

You’re awesome, and you know it. You’ve got skills and talents that other people envy. You can do things they can only dream of. But sometimes, you need the help of others.

When you’re freelancing or running your own business, it’s easy to feel like you need to be superhuman all the time and that you should be able to do everything yourself without any help from anyone else. And sure, sometimes that’s true: Sometimes there is no one better at doing something than you are! But other times?

The answer is yes: There is someone who could do a better job than you at this thing, and it would make more sense for them to do it instead of you and if that happens often enough, then why not ask for help?

The truth is that none of us are infallible even the most seemingly amazing people have their weaknesses and limitations. So when we try to pretend otherwise (especially when it comes to our work), we end up hurting ourselves in ways we never expected and rarely recover from easily or quickly enough.

Be Aggressive About Being Kind To Yourself

This is a big one. I mean, you’re not just going to be working for yourself you’re also going to be living with yourself all the time. 

So make it a priority to treat yourself as well as possible. Be kind and forgiving of your mistakes, give yourself breaks from time to time when things get frustrating or overwhelming (and they will).

And don’t compare yourself to others who seem like they have their act together more than you do (it’s not about who has their life more together than anyone else; it’s about doing what works best for each person).

And if something comes up where you need help from someone else? Don’t hesitate! Go ahead and ask for it.

Break Big Projects Up Into Smaller Ones

One of the best ways to stay accountable and motivated is to break big projects into smaller ones. This way, you can see progress towards your goal with every step forward.

The trick is breaking down tasks into smaller chunks, which allows you to see the end goal more clearly and helps you stay focused.

Plus, it’s a lot easier to achieve an accomplishment when it doesn’t seem too daunting or impossible!

Schedule Time Out For The People You Love

One of my favorite parts of freelancing is that I’m able to set my schedule. However, this freedom can also be a curse if you’re not careful.

It’s easy to get so wrapped up in the work that you forget about other areas of your life, especially relationships with friends and family members. Make sure you schedule time away from work so that you can spend time with the people who matter most to you.

Forgive Yourself If Things Go Awry (They Probably Will)

You will make mistakes, and they will be costly. You will have bad days, weeks, months, and years. You’ll have bad decades. If you’re lucky enough to live long enough, you may even experience a lifetime of bad things happening to you.

It’s part of the process. Forgive yourself if things go awry (they probably will). And remember that every time we take on something new and different in life whether it’s starting a business or learning an instrument we’re learning through trial and error. 

So don’t beat yourself up too much when things go wrong; instead, look at your mistakes as learning experiences that are helping build your resilience so that next time it won’t feel so scary or difficult!

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Final Thoughts

I hope that you found these tips for being a successful freelancer helpful. If there’s one thing I want to leave you with, it’s a few key tips that I use every day in my own freelance life:

Do the work even when you don’t feel like it; The best way to get over the hump of not wanting to do something is by doing the thing anyway. Your brain will thank you later!

Stay organized and set boundaries for yourself; These will keep your freelancing life in order and give you time for fun things besides work.

Have a support system around you; Lean on friends, family members, your partner, or significant other; they can help pick up the slack when things get hectic.

All in all, freelancing can be a great way to get experience (and make some money), explore your passions, and find new interests outside of work. When you’re working on your projects in-between gigs, you’ll probably discover something that resonates with you and makes life feel more meaningful once again!

Further Reading

Here are some additional resources for further reading on freelancing:

Indeed: Freelance Work: Explore Indeed’s guide on freelance work, providing insights into finding and securing freelance opportunities.

Investopedia: Freelancer: Read this article on Investopedia to learn about the definition and characteristics of a freelancer.

Toptal: Millionaire Freelancing Career: Discover how freelancing can lead to a lucrative career in this insightful piece by Toptal.

People Also Ask

What Is Freelancing?

Freelancing is the working definition of extraordinary. You’re not just doing a job you’re creating a life. You’re designing an experience. You’re living out your dreams and making them happen, one day at a time. It’s not just working it’s a lifestyle choice.

How Do I Become A Freelancer?

There are lots of different ways to become a freelancer you can set up shop on platforms like Upwork and Fiverr, where employers post projects they need done and then hire people who bid on them

You can also find clients directly through networking events or even Craigslist ads (though this method tends to be less effective). If you’re just starting and want advice on finding clients, check out our blog post on how to find freelance work!

What Is The Difference Between Freelancing And Working As An Independent Contractor?

Freelancing is a way to work as an independent contractor, but it’s also a lot more than that. 

Freelancing is about being able to choose your hours and work in a setting that fits you best. It’s about being able to focus on the task at hand without having to worry about office politics or other distractions it’s all about getting things done!

Why Should I Become A Freelancer?

There are many reasons why you might want to become a freelancer:

• You can have greater control over your time and work environment, which means that you’ll be able to focus on exactly what needs doing without worrying about office politics or other distractions.
• You can work from anywhere, which means that you can travel while still earning income without any trouble at all.

How Do I Get Started?

It’s simple. Sign up for our free trial and choose the type of project you want to work on (e.g., writing, data entry, etc.). After that, simply go through our vetting process and submit your proposal. If it gets accepted, you’ll receive payment for your work within 48 hours.

How Can I Earn More Money?

You can increase your earnings by applying to more projects and bidding higher on them. We recommend that you apply to at least five projects per day. You can also make sure that your quality score is high by submitting high-quality proposals or completing tasks promptly.