Facing the Freelance Doldrums
By Filip Wiltgren
Working on your own is one of the hardest things you can do: no workmates to
chat with, no boss to force you through inertia, and no steady paycheck to
cushion your less productive days. You have to be on top all the time or risk
sliding down that slippery slope into poverty, depression, and an early grave.
Well, it's not that bad-- but it sure can feel that way. That's why it's good to
set up a mental safety net for yourself, a structure that will keep you moving
when everything feels like it's coming to a standstill. Here are seven tips that
help you avoid freelancer's slump.
1. Make sure you meet colleagues on a regular basis.
Sometimes you need people who know the hurdles in your path as intimately as you
do; people with whom you can shoot the breeze, complain, and get the load off
your shoulders. Some people join a freelance group or work part time in order to
build their social network; I've kept the ties with my last employer, a local
paper, where I go a couple of times a month to drink tea and talk.
2. Write EVERYTHING down.
Remembering takes up mental resources and creates a subconscious fear that you
might forget. Write down everything you have to do and keep your notes in an
easy to see location. A day planner is good but a notice board is even better. I
have a whiteboard by my desk where I doodle and stick Post-it® Notes. Whenever I
feel anxious I've forgotten something I only need to glance at it to feel safe
again.
3. Prioritize.
Knowing when to do what and in what order is guaranteed to ease fears and boost
productivity. And yet many people in all walks of life still lack good ways to
prioritize. Faced with doldrums they have to strive so much harder to avoid
becoming paralyzed. Personally I make lists based on the four category system in
Stephen Covey's excellent The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People:
first doing important and urgent things, then important and not urgent, then not
important and urgent, and finally not important and not urgent.
4. Soft-start each day.
Everyone has days that are tough, when you're a bit tired, a bit sick, and your
motivation is on vacation. That's when it's good to have very, very easy things
planned. Being able to mark a task as finished fools your brain into thinking
that you've gotten much more done and you become motivated. When the going gets
tough I write down a few easy to do, not work related, even outright silly
points like "eat breakfast" or "call Mom." Then I can eat breakfast, cross it
off the list and feel that I've made a good start.
5. Get a job!
Freelancing, especially freelance writing, is an open ended venture. Whenever
you finish something you're already in the middle of something new. Finding a
different, limited activity lets the mind feel closure: Volunteer at a
kindergarten, a charity kitchen or a sports club. Anything that lets you meet
people, doesn't require much mental effort, and has set times is good.
6. Allow yourself to cry.
Freelancing is tough sometimes. Make it a habit to allow yourself some time each
day to let your guard down and lower the mental pressure. Barbara Sher, in her
Refuse to Choose! suggests having a miniature mental breakdown: lock the
door, close your eyes, and take some deep breaths. Then silently say "I hurt"
and "ouch." If you feel something in your eyes or chest then pretend that you're
crying and sigh a few times. If you don't then pretend that you're and
8-year-old kid with the same responsibilities you have now. Say "I'm too little
for this, I'm going to screw up, somebody help me." That ought to do the trick.
Let yourself feel your sorrow for a few moments, then release it and let the
tension melt away. This sounds hokey but it does work.
7. Remember to rest.
Self-employed people often forget the value of taking a break, especially when
things are tough. We're trained to solve problems by working harder; it's easy
to forge on ahead, ignoring your feelings and fatigue. Instead set a timer for
half an hour or so and do something physically absorbing: go for a walk, clean
the shower or bake a cake. You'll burn off some of the stress hormones in your
bloodstream and let your mind rest. Chances are the solution to your problem
will pop up on its own and the timer will keep you from sliding into
procrastination.
Filip Wiltgren is a freelance
writer based in Sweden. He specializes in learning, motivation and analog
gaming.
