It’s February, and you know what that means: if you’re anything like me, you’ve already started dropping those New Year’s resolutions. It turns out I’m not the only one. According to research by Dr. Michelle Rozen, 94% of those who made resolutions will have abandoned their goals within two months. Likewise, February is the month British folks would most like to skip as 45% feel unmotivated (that, and the weather is terrible!). I suspect the two are connected.
Freelancers who set goals in January experience the same challenges. They set ambitious targets but fail to stay the course. So how can we break the cycle? Well, at the heart of it lies procrastination and a lack of motivation. To combat this, I like to change perspective by switching up my environment. Something as simple as choosing a different workspace (cafe, library, co-working area) can act as inspiration. Get out in nature; consume books, art, and films, and converse with fellow creatives. Another trick I use is simply to write. I open my laptop and just start typing. That might be some thoughts, random musings or a practical plan to achieve my goals.
While we’re on the topic of goals, another common reason we give up so soon is that they feel impossible to achieve. Set clear, realistic targets that you can achieve, and break down larger ones into manageable daily or weekly tasks so nothing feels overwhelming or impossible. I keep a content calendar (Google Sheets; it’s free and has calendar templates!) to maintain progress. Depending on your aims, there are also tools such as Hopper HQ and Content Studio which interact with social media. You can also try project management aids such as Trello and ClickUp, and Paymo will help track time, invoicing, and expenses. Loop Habit Tracker is a more personal option for keeping yourself to your goals.
If you’re anything like me, most of your friends and family don’t really ‘get’ what freelancing is all about. Find other creatives by joining online communities like Freelancer Club and Discord where you can share support with like-minded freelancers. Being a member of the Freelancer Club team has afforded me insights into the entrepreneurial process, and it’s clear that being part of a community helps keep me accountable. Create a chat group on WhatsApp to check in with peers and mentors. Consider an accountability partner - a friend or colleague you can rely on to touch base with and track each other’s progress on a desired goal (like a gym buddy). Fellowship with like-minded artists is a great motivator.
It took me a while to identify when I’m at my most productive. Early bird or night owl, once you figure out the hours you work best, try to stick to them. Freelancing can feel unstructured as we have to react to work requests but that shouldn’t mean we can’t organise our non-billable time.
Commit to ‘deep work’, a period without distractions to harness your focus and concentrate on a particular project. That may mean putting your phone away for a couple of hours, or using noise-canceling headphones while you work on a task. Some folks may enjoy a Pomodoro approach, using blocks of time to accomplish work; apps to try are Focussed Work, Forest, and the focus feature on Endel. If you’re looking to expand your skills (and I strongly suggest you do), build time into your week to do so. Be sure to take breaks to avoid burnout.
Speaking of expanded skills, diversifying your offerings, and attentive marketing should be part of any creative freelancer’s practice. Moreover, AI is putting a lot of pressure on freelancers to find new ways to earn and we’re all going to need to top-up our tech skills, regardless of what you offer. Explore courses that enhance or grow your knowledge. Or, flip it and offer specialty courses yourself using Canva or Teachable.
Finally, it’s important to reflect on what’s working for you as a creative freelancer and to learn and adapt to the ever-changing marketplace. I set aside an hour or two to review my goals each month. What strategies or goals have brought the best results? What didn’t work? Track income, client response/feedback, and project completion rates. Be inspired by your successes and open to pivoting when something isn’t effective. Is your time management working? If not, revisit project management and habit tools. Are your prices competitive? If not, consider different pricing packages. Is your marketing productive? Try networking more, or outreach/email campaigns. Is your site optimised for SEO (Google Analytics)? If something isn’t working, don’t be afraid to test a new approach. Most importantly, keep learning and growing; watch industry trends and take action to ensure you will be successful in achieving your goals - after all, February’s nearly over.
Photo: Johannes Plenio