There aren’t many jobs where dreams and reality diverge quite so drastically. In the imagination of those in permanent, long term employment, the freelancer rolls out of bed at noon, fixes themselves an espresso (martini) and types a few paragraphs of poetry or prose.
In actuality, it’s a form of employment plagued by uncertain incomes, unpaid holidays and unpredictable hours. Because of this lack of stability, being a successful freelancer often relies on having your fingers in as many pies as possible (leave a couple spare for all that typing, though).
But this emphasis on multitasking can often leave a freelancer prone to stress, overwork or a lack of appropriate prioritising. Fear not; these issues can be avoided. Whether you are creating various forms of content or diversifying your efforts to provide a steady income stream, here are 5 mistakes freelancers make and the IDEAL ways to remedy them.
NOT GETTING APPROPRIATE SUPPORT
Though no man/woman/or non-binary person is an island, being a freelancer can often feel like you’re stranded on one. As such, you might find yourself trying to do everything yourself, both to save money and retain creative control of every process of your precious work.
We don’t blame you. But we can’t stress this enough; collaboration is king and sharing the load (even at a cost) is extremely worthwhile, for your creative output and your stress levels.
Whether this happens via you hiring a virtual assistant, enlisting the help of a company who organises your Microsoft Ads management, or hiring a strategist to help you optimise your web content for SEO, when you are starting out, you need to make the most of the resources out there. Devolve, delegate and depute.
Read: Virtual Assistants: What they do and how to find one
DEVALUING YOUR WORTH
When the hours are uncertain and you don’t have a fixed, stable income, it can be tempting to take on too much for too little, just to maintain some semblance of consistency.
Therefore, we gradually lower our prices until we have enough projects, but this digs us into a hole. When we value our worth, it has a direct knock-on effect on how we perceive ourselves, and ultimately, how we produce.
It’s important to research a fair hourly or daily rate for your experience level and demand it from your clients. Selling yourself short risks a ‘race to the bottom’ situation where the perceived value of your work is cheapened and eventually, you have to charge less just to stay afloat.
NOT LOOKING AFTER YOUR WELLBEING
When you’re a freelancer, the boundaries of home and office converge in such a way that you never clock out, even answering emails in your sleep. The weekends are still work days, and the money rarely arrives when it’s supposed to. There’s no holiday pay, in fact, there’s no holiday; laptops come everywhere and anywhere. No surprise then, that freelancers are particularly vulnerable to stress related mental health problems.
It’s wise, then, for freelancers to take proactive steps to look after their wellbeing. One way to do this is by setting digital boundaries. If you’re not strict and disciplined about your screentime, as a freelancer you’ll likely find that your eyes are fixed on a laptop or phone from the moment you first sit down to work in the morning to the point you turn in for the night. With no true downtime, stress is inevitable.
Consider setting locks on your devices so you’re not able to access your emails and files after a certain time each evening. It makes sense to set one too for your lunch break, even if it’s just for 30 minutes, to allow you a little time to recharge and replenish.
Read: 5 IDEAL ways to be a more efficient freelancer
FORGETTING TO NETWORK
Being a freelancer means getting used to your own company, but for many of us, that can also mean forgetting quite how to communicate in real world settings.
Don’t neglect to make connections with your contemporaries, colleagues and peers where possible. Instead, expand your horizons and launch yourself back into the face-to-face side of things (when COVID-19 restrictions permit it, of course). Networking online is one thing, but if you’re keen to get ahead, then transcending from the digital to the real world will help you do just that.
Nurturing positive working relationships in the flesh as a freelancer can really help you build up a larger client base and, as a result, keep that income steady and stable. So, endeavour to organise meetings in real life and attend freelancing events and industry-specific conferences, to ensure you’re getting your face (and work) out there and noticed.
STOPPING LEARNING
Most people believe that finding that first customer or client takes a freelancer halfway to success. This is true to a certain extent. However, to remain competitive and win well-paid projects, you have to invest in your professional education and always be improving.
Regardless of the type of services you offer, you have to be a life-learner to succeed. As a customers’ demands change – and they will change – so does the industry and niche-related trends. Thus, to make freelancing your stable source of income, you have to develop as a professional. The studying process will help you develop new skills and keep up with the key trends, both essential ingredients to long term success.
