Freelancing can be a great way to earn a living, work hours that are suitable for your lifestyle and be your own boss. However, it can come with its challenges, and sometimes things go differently than planned. Whether this is on a micro level (things in your business) or macro level (the market and your industry), it can impact your general outlook.
With this in mind, here are 5 helpful tips to keep a positive outlook as a freelancer.
1. Take stock
A good outlook-boosting exercise for freelancers is taking stock of everything you’ve achieved. Whether you schedule this as part of an annual review at the end of the year or something you do on an ad hoc basis is up to you, but it pays to focus on the highlights of the year, new clients, projects completed as well as challenges and obstacles you successfully overcame.
Write down all your achievements and progress, and you’ll soon see how far you’ve come. It’s a great exercise to address any areas that need professional development, learning opportunities, or skill acquisition, and it might even uncover new potential opportunities. Was there a project you excelled at this year, a client you particularly liked working with, and an area you hadn’t previously explored that turned out profitable? Write all these things down to fully appreciate an overview of where you are in your business right now.
Another great way to boost your mood and remind yourself why you are a freelancer is to reread former client testimonials (and remember to share them on your social media channels). Look at all the people you’ve helped, and cut yourself some slack.
2. Phone a friend
One of the attributes of being a solopreneur is that you often do things on your own, as the name suggests, especially if you are a freelancer working remotely. That’s why it is a great idea to have business buddies, people who are freelancers or work in your industry, to meet up with both online and in person, so you can share ideas and discuss challenges.
Attending business and networking events is another good way to boost your mood and your confidence and meet new people. Knowing you have business buddies you can get on a call with and talk to when you are feeling a bit low or worried about something is both reassuring and comforting.
These conversations can change your perspective on your business, uncover hidden opportunities you might not have thought of on your own or even ignite product ideas so you benefit from multiple sources of income.
Definitely subjects that will shift your mindset in the right direction!
3. Celebrate
Celebrate all your wins, no matter how minor. Small everyday wins such as getting a task completed on time, finding a quicker way to do something, automating a previously time-consuming process, or attending a productive meeting.
All the small things add up and are just as worthy of celebrating as the big things like closing a deal or winning a new client. It will also put you in a better mood and gain a more positive outlook as you start to appreciate everything going right in your business instead of worrying about the future that isn’t here yet – it’s just in your imagination.
How you celebrate can also foster a positive mindset; get creative with it, maybe you could even gamify your wins, e.g. if you get a specific number of tasks completed in a week, it leads to an even bigger win or celebration.
Maybe after completing a task, you can treat yourself to a walk, or your favorite hobby, or go to the gym – all things that can also further boost your mood.
4. Write it down
Many freelancers journal. You don’t need to be a professional writer to have a journal either, and it’s up to you what you put in it. The act of writing things down can not only be meditative but can be a good way to process your thoughts; some people create a gratitude journal, where they write down all the things they are grateful for. This practice can be immensely helpful, and you’ll soon see you have lots to be thankful for – just like the annual review in point #1, it puts things into perspective.
Having an ‘attitude of gratitude’ can be transformative in all areas of life, not just business.
As a bonus, consider creating your own mantra. Put it on a post-it note or somewhere on your workstation so when you feel a little anxious, you can look at it and remind yourself of why you are running a business, why you went freelance in the first place, and every reason you have to be positive.
5. Get organized
Good time management, working smarter, and having boundaries can all help maintain a positive mindset. At the foundation of all these things is being organized, so you know what needs to be done and when to keep your freelance business ticking over like clockwork. Using the right tools is critical. When your business is as efficient as possible, there are fewer things to worry about, and you can focus on big-picture goals. The more time-consuming tasks you can automate, the better, such as invoicing. This is a task that needs to be done so you can get paid, but it can take up valuable time if you are invoicing manually.
Invoice Ninja is a leading free invoicing software for small business invoicing, online payments, tracking expenses and billable tasks. It also includes attractive, professional invoice template designs you can customize with your logo and brand colors. On top of that, it can help streamline your workflow so you can focus on the bigger picture.
Try it for free here.
Let’s get you back on track!
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Wherever you are on your freelance journey, having a regular check-in with yourself can be a great way to help banish limiting beliefs.
Remember, you’re running your own business, and everything you’ve achieved so far is all down to you – isn’t that amazing? Believe in yourself. You’ve got this!
