There’s one big mistake that almost every freelancer makes:
They don’t say “No” to new projects 🫣
And I know, when you start freelancing, having too many clients one day sounds unrealistic. But trust me, the day where you’ll get too many requests will come sooner than you think.
It’s going to happen
Most of the people who approach me about freelancing ask me the same first question: Where do I find clients?
But once you let people know about your new career path, requests will come in. And then another. And another.
Most freelancers will say “Yes” to all the projects. Because they think it’s just luck that they got that previous client. Who knows how long it’ll last? and then they find themselves working on tons of projects with deadlines approaching soon and overwhelmed with what to do next.
It’s a mistake even I made not too long ago. I thought I learned from the past, but I still took on another project because I thought I’ll just push through and I almost burnt out. Yes, it was when I made my first £20k month 🤯 but at what cost!
I started to question my whole freelance life because of that one month where I was triple booked. So I’ll repeat: Don’t take on too many gigs! But I know you won’t listen, it’s a mistake every freelancer makes. Even I didn’t listen to my own advice 🫠
So what can I do?
It’s going to happen to you too. So today, we’ll look into creating habits that when you get to that phase, you’ll have techniques to ground yourself.
Wherever you are in your freelance career, don’t forget: the whole point is to create a work life that you actually enjoy.
Find a way to ground yourself
This is very personal and will look differently for everyone. So let’s figure out how “grounding” looks like for you.
Grab some pen and paper ✍️
This little 5 minute task will help you find places, activities and people to help you feel grounded. Set yourself a 5 minute timer and write down whatever comes to mind.
- Where do you feel the most grounded?
Sometimes it’s not about what you do but where. Is there a place you feel comfortable? Is there a park near yours that you like to visit to clear your head? Maybe it’s a specific corner in your home that you can always go to for relaxation. Figure out where this place is for you and write it down.
- Who are your biggest supporters?
When you’re having a rough day, who are the people you can call at any time to just have a chat? Around whom can you be fully yourself? Who’s presence do you enjoy the most when you’ve had a bad day?
For some people, it’s themselves. For others, it’s their siblings, friends, family. Or even a pet. Whoever this is for you, there’s likely more than just one person who comes to mind. Write down all the people you feel comfortable around.
- When do you feel the most relaxed?
Is that a specific time of day? Maybe you relax in the mornings and can focus better at nights (this is me 🙋🏻♀️ ) or maybe it’s during specific tasks, eg. reading or when having a massage.
🏄🏻♀️ For me, it’s surfing. It’s not really something where I feel “relaxed”, it’s often times that I feel frustrated, but it’s the time where I feel the most present and in the moment.
Whatever it is for you, write down the activities you feel the most relaxed, grounded or present.
Here’s your list 🙌
Now you have a list of places to go, people to call and things to do the next time you feel overwhelmed. It’s ok to just pause everything for a bit, recharge and then get back to it later.
Why does it matter?
The whole point of freelancing is so you’re in control of your time and freedom. You don’t want to be the reason you’re burning out. You set your own boundaries. But there’ll be phases – especially when you’re new to freelancing – when you’ll feel overwhelmed.
This exercise will help you find areas to help you reset and recharge.
Disclaimer: Sorry to tell you this, but unless you’re an emergency doctor, nothing you do as a freelancer has much weight. Which – in a way – is also a comforting thought. But make sure you have indemnity insurance – but more on that another time 🤫
👩🏻💻 Free Guide
The exercise described in this blog article is one of the steps of my free guide for people who want to create a work life that works for them.
If you found this useful, follow for more content on instagram @elisabethmayr or buy me a coffee.
