Tag Archives: Freelancer

5 Signs that freelancing is not working for you and how to fix it

February 26, 2018 By in Freelancing/Self-employed Tags: , , , , , , , , , 46 Comments

I must confess that I have experienced times during my freelancing journey where I felt like I was not cut out for freelancing. This may come as a surprise but I want to be 100 percent authentic and honest with you.

 

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But feeling like you’re not cut out for freelancing is completely different from actually not being cut out for freelancing. As I persisted through my dream to live a freedom-based laptop lifestyle, I learned the difference.

Life as a freelancer is attractive, flexible and you get to be your own boss, determine your rates and set your schedule. But what happens when it doesn’t turn out as planned. Should you quit? I have been freelancing for years and have been there. I know how you feel.

Here are 5 clear signs that freelancing is not working for you and how you can fix it.

 

You don’t enjoy what you’re doing

When you started freelancing you actually loved what you did. It wasn’t always about the money. New projects got you excited. You were always open for a challenge. But it’s been 6 months now and you start dreading another project. What ever happened?

The answer is simple. You grew comfortable with where you are. And the best way to shake the feeling of dread is to do something new. Try different styles, different approaches, and different methods. Sometimes changing where you work can make a huge difference. Take your laptop to a nearby café and get busy. Introduce something fresh in your work life.

 

You don’t have a good work-life balance

Have your weekends disappeared? Do you work late into the night every day? When was the last time you actually made time for yourself?

When working at your 9-to-5, it was easy to know when work ended. After work, all you had was free time to do whatever you wished. Weekends were off-limits. But as a freelancer, you may have the entire 24 hours dedicated to work and this can make you lose all sense of personal life.

Set clearly defined working hours and stick with them. If you want weekends off, then set your work schedule in a way that you can have weekends solely to yourself.

 

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You’re overwhelmed with changes in the industry

Establishing yourself as an expert in your industry takes work. But things change pretty quickly. It comes to a point where you start feeling left out on all the latest trends and innovations in the industry. It’s overwhelming and you end up on a plateau with your knowledge and skills.

I struggled with this feeling for a while but during one of my quiet moments it hit me – the reason I was overwhelmed was because I was busy going under in the industry instead of going deeper.

Start off where you’re at and dig deep to find more. Improve on what you know, rather than going after every new thing. Don’t rush it. Take it step-by-step and most of all enjoy the process.

 

You’re worn out

It’s great to have new clients but if your income depends on acquiring new clients everyday then it can get really stressful. Its’ a horrible feeling to be weighed down by a lot of work.

What helped me was to create passive income streams. Passive income streams help to boost your income while you spend your time doing things you enjoy.

Of course, as a freelancer, you define your income. But chasing after clients who will pay you a low rate can wear you out fast. What will help is for you to raise your rates and go after quality high paying clients who will value your work. You can raise your rates and work for fewer people and still make a comfortable income while you have better working hours.

 

The loneliness is getting to you

Being a freelancer is a lonely journey. Although you have the potential to earn more, have flexible hours and actually do what you love, you have to do most of it alone.

To beat the loneliness, go for meet ups and meet other freelancers. Collaborate with other freelancers on a project or course. Join a mastermind. Get connected with people in your industry and invite them over for coffee. You’ll be surprised at how many freelancers are in your area.

 

Are you freelancing? Is it working for you?

 

 

How to Save Money as a Freelancer/Self-Employed

October 6, 2017 By in Freelancing/Self-employed Tags: , , , , , , , , , 33 Comments

How to save money as a freelancer/self-employed is 1 question asked by many. The uncertainty in the freelance/self-employed world makes it even more difficult to even think of saving or pension, and this is the main reason why we must grow our savings – because of the uncertainty.

There is a lot of potential in the freelance business. You can get a good income working from home and doing what you love. The main problem is that some freelancers fail to grow their savings and instead spend more money than they earn. If you are self-employed and have caught yourself overspending without keeping anything on the side, then don’t worry you can start to make amends.

Saving is a habit that you can cultivate. If you’re committed, consistent and dedicated, you will be very surprised with what you can save in a year.

 

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Saving doesn’t have to be difficult. It doesn’t have to be something that you exert a lot of strain on. It’s something that you can achieve and it is so much easier than it looks or what other people make it to be.

Here are some tips on how you can get started in your journey to saving money as a freelancer/self-employed.

 

Start with saving smaller sums of money

Some people find saving a drag because they feel that a lot of money is leaving the sphere of how much money they can spend during the month. The truth is that the idea behind saving is not exactly about how much to keep aside, it’s about keeping something aside.

The best way to deal with this is to start off small and grow into larger sums as time goes by. For example, instead of fixing a particular sum like £200 a month, you can start with a smaller sum like £2 a day. This makes saving less burdensome and then when you’re comfortable with going a little higher you can raise the amount you want to save.

 

Get help from automatic money-saving apps

I love how technology helps save money. There are a lot of nifty apps out there that automatically withdraw money from your bank account and save it in another account where you can have access to it in the future.

With such apps you don’t have to worry about missing the days you set aside to save money. It’s pretty convenient and always on time. I use one with my bank and it has been very helpful.

You can save your time & money by doing online shopping.  DealsQueen have a voucher code for clothing, home decor, furniture, pet supplies, and more. So it is worth having a look on the website.

 

Set a challenge for yourself to save money

Saving money can be fun when you treat it in a creative way. Challenge yourself to save on incremental basis. For example, challenge yourself to save something within 7 days no matter how little. Once you are able to complete the first week, challenge yourself to do the same the next week and then the next until you are able to complete a full month. This will keep you in the frame of mind of saving. So instead of just jumping into making savings, you are growing into it until it becomes a lasting habit.

 

Are you a freelancer or as a self employed person? How do you stay on top of your savings? Please share your tips in the comments section below.

 

Thanks for reading. Have a lovely weekend.

 

*Collaborative post.

6 Reasons Why Self Employment is Good for Mothers

July 30, 2017 By in Freelancing/Self-employed Tags: , , , , , , , 26 Comments

As a mother, we are faced with so many responsibilities. Managing the home, our family and still making time for self-care can be really difficult if you’re employed at a 9-to-5. I can imagine it being more of a struggle to work a 9-5 and run my family, than to be self-employed, running my own business from the comfort of my home, along with my family. There are so many reasons why self employment is good for mothers.

 

 

If you’re still wondering if it’s a good idea to transition into being self-employed, then here are 6 reasons that will convince you to get started.

 

Flexible hours

One of the first things you begin to experience when you’re self-employed is that you can work at any time of the day. You’re not restricted to work at 9am and close at 5pm. You can set the time that is most convenient for you. You can also reschedule, especially when you have to be at your child’s school or you’re feeling under the weather.

 

Self Employment & Flexible Location

You know those days at work, where it feels as if the cubicle is choking you to death? Well, if you’re self-employed you can work anywhere you want to. You can work from the comfort of your home or work on the beach. The location is up to you. When you feel like you need a change of environment, it’s just as easy as taking your laptop and going to the place of your choice.

 

You are in control of the income you want to make

Being self-employed gives you the opportunity to determine how much you want to earn. In a 9-to-5 you are restricted to a fixed salary and before you can get a raise, you should have worked long and hard to be eligible for a raise. When you own your own business, you are the one who determines how much you want to earn.  There’s literally no limit to what you can earn so long as you put in the work.

 

Less stress

The beauty of self employment is the amount of stress that you get to cut out of your life. You don’t have to deal with the pressure from co-workers or an angry boss. Worrying about commuting would be a thing of the past, if you work from home. You don’t have to worry about that late evening meeting and how to still make it to your child’s recital. Let’s face it: working at a 9-to-5 can be overwhelming at times. When you’re self-employed you’re in more control of your life and your work.

 

 

 

Gives you the sense of independence

When you work in a 9-to-5 you’re limited on all sides. Everything you do is focused on pleasing the company you work for. Whether you like it or not, there will be days when you’ll be asked to do things that you would ordinarily not like to do. Just because you don’t want to lose your job, you’ll find yourself succumbing to the whims of your boss.

But in your own business, you are your own boss and you have no one to please but yourself. You do what you like and the decisions you take in your business will not challenge your authentic self.

 

Quality Time

The most important people in your life are your dear ones. Being able to just be a part of their lives and get the opportunity to impact their lives daily is precious. But when you are neck-deep in work from the office (which can get extremely demanding) you miss out on what’s important. Being self-employed gives you the freedom to be with your family and be a part of their lives. Everyday spent with the one’s you love makes your life richer and more worthwhile.

 

Self employment is the coolest way to go, but it regardless of the freedom and beauty of being self employed, it is not the best option for everyone, and may not be the best option for you. This way of life comes with its own issues. It takes a lot of determination, passion and disclipline to make it work.

 

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