Today I want to share a bit about my experience as a freelancer this past year. When I first thought about writing this post, I felt kind of ridiculous because who hasn’t written a “what I’ve learned from x years of freelancing” post? But then I had to remind myself that we all have different perspectives and unique experiences as freelancers, bloggers, etc. It’s been so encouraging to read about what other people have learned from freelancing, so hopefully my experience will do the same for someone else beginning as a freelancer. :)
1. Putting yourself out there is key.
When I moved to Portland, I didn’t know anyone interested in blogging, design, etc. I knew that I needed to dive into the creative community here if I wanted to take any steps toward finding my dream job. There was no one telling me what to do or how to do it, so I just had to find clients and community by putting myself out there. I attended blogger meetups, took a freelance class (with an amazing online community, btw), and joined Facebook groups full of awesome boss ladies (many of them in Portland!). I am by no means an extrovert so this took effort, but I’m really glad I forced myself to be social because only good things came of it.
2. You’ve gotta set a schedule.
I’ve always thought of myself as a self-starter, but when I began working for myself, I realized it’s a lot easier to be motivated when you have a boss to impress. I’ve had to learn what hours of the day I’m most productive and start making a manageable schedule, prioritizing each task so that I don’t try to do everything at once. My schedule is far from perfect but I feel SO much more productive than I did last year.
3. Give yourself a break, or your body will do it for you.
A really easy way to get sick is to take on too many tasks and forget to give yourself time to rest. I have a habit of working all day and night for a few days and then burning out and being completely unproductive for the next few days. However, getting enough sleep and taking a break from my computer screen is really important and definitely makes me happier and more productive.
4. Work parties make everything better.
I can’t tell you how much I love meeting up with friends to work on our projects. Freelancing can get pretty lonely, so it’s always nice to have company while you’re working on your laptop all day. Just make sure that you’re each ready to get stuff done and can encourage one another to stay focused. (If you’re looking for the perfect workspace outside of your home, check out this post!)
5. Slow seasons are an opportunity for growth in other areas.
When I’m swamped with work, all I can think about is what I would do with a bit of extra time. I’d finally finish that creative e-course I started five months ago. Or I’d take up hand lettering or create digital projects. Then of course, when a slow month does come around, I feel a little panicked. I’m learning that with a flexible job like freelancing, having a slow season isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s not always ideal, but it is an opportunity to take on other projects I’ve been pushing aside.
6. Freelancing doesn’t make sense to a lot of people, and that’s okay.
You know how some off-handed remarks can stick with you for way too long? Several months ago, an acquaintance asked, “Remind me what you do for work Jenn? It’s like…not a real job, right?” Whaaaattt?! I wish that tiny comment hadn’t gotten to me but it stayed with me for a while. As difficult as it can be to explain freelancing to others, I think it’s valid that it doesn’t make sense to many people who haven’t experienced it. It barely makes sense to me sometimes. On the one hand, I get to create my own schedule, write my own contracts, and work wherever I’d like. On the other hand, there sometimes isn’t a lot of security/consistency in freelancing, conversations with clients can get awkward, and let’s be honest – self motivation is hard. So anyway. I’ve been learning to accept that it’s a freaking weird job to have and to tell people about.
Freelancers, what significant things have you learned through your experiences? Is anyone thinking about jumping on the freelance bandwagon this year?
Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious says
I would like to start doing freelancing now that I’m in school and have time to do it on the side, but I have no idea where to start?
Megan says
I think the first step would be to decide on what you want to do. Come up with three different packages around the services you want to provide, and the prices you want. Then start marketing yourself through local meet-ups, facebook, and other social media areas.
If you’re unsure of what to offer you could also start by putting a feeler in different facebook groups and seeing what people really need. And then base your packages around that!
Megan says
Great post! I’m on week three of self-employment and man is it an adjustment! I wish someone told me that just like starting any new job, it will be an adjustment and take you awhile to find your footing. But setting up a schedule and sticking to it is so important.
Elizabeth says
Thanks for sharing! I want to start freelancing this year – and I’m terrified. But also excited – I want the extra income (I’ll be keeping my day job for now) and I want to work on my passion for writing. I’ve been gobbling up every bit of information I can find about starting out and everything I’ve learned has been very helpful. One thing I am worried about is how it may affect my marriage. My husband supports me 110% and promises to pick up the slack around the house while I’m working at night, but I am definitely afraid of any resentment, failure and/or tension it might cause. Any tips? xoxo
Angela says
Hey Elizabeth. I’ve been freelancing for two years and have lived with my bf the whole time so I know what you mean. It did change things a bit with him working a regular business schedule and me having sporadic hours, frequently nights. But most of the time I find he’s encouraging me because he knows how stressful it is to have tight deadlines, last minute things etc which sometimes require late nights and weekends. For example if I am still working on things he’ll help cook dinner etc. Though it means working odd hours, sometimes I try to work around his schedule too and we’ll go on a walk in the morning/get coffee and then on nights I have to work I’ll shut everything off for dinner and relaxation and any errands or chores. Hope that helped a little. I think if he says he’s all for it, it’s worth giving a try :)
Aimee says
I’ve really been thinking about getting into freelance writing, to the point that I started doing some research on opportunities and how to get started and……… found myself completely overwhelmed. It seems like you need to have experience to get started. I have no idea where to START.
Aimee
http://www.intherightplaces.com
Angela says
It’s tough! I could definitely write a post on the writing side of freelancing if people are interested. When I started it was major trial and error to find gigs, and in the end my long term projects and most successful ones ended up being things I landed through word of mouth. It gets really overwhelming!