10 things I wish my younger self knew

 Well hello to you my reader chums! I'm turning 26 this year and in my twenties, there are many lessons I've learnt, good and bad, and some things I wish I could tell my younger self so she could walk into the world with more confidence and assurance in herself and who she is. 

If you're looking for some advice or on a journey of growth like me, here are 10 things I wish my younger self knew.

10 things I wish my younger self knew

Being yourself is the most important thing

This cliche is something we're all told growing up by our parents and those older than us but I think most of us do dismiss it and don't believe in the phrase purely because we're brought up in a society that admires certain people and shuns the rest, so often we try to live up to these expectations and don't live authentically. What I've learnt in my twenties is the power of being yourself and how it can help you attract the right people, the right opportunities and feel a strong level of content inside. 

Once we sway away from what we innately know about ourselves, it causes problems because we're all meant to be us for a reason. We all bring something to this earth and we all are unique to make the world a more diverse and better place. It'll be boring if everyone is the same as you won't be able to learn from other people and develop as humans. Being yourself helps you align with who you are and the life you're meant to lead and in the long run brings the most happiness.

Your body is the least interesting thing about you

I wish I could scream this at my teenage self. Growing up in an era of the thigh gap and skinny models everywhere, it was a very toxic world and still is thanks to diet culture. But I wish I knew then what I do now and that your body is the least interesting thing about you. What you look like doesn't matter, it's what's inside that counts. Your personality and who you are makes you beautiful in every way. And, societal norms are something most of us will never live up to but that doesn't mean you're any less of a human. We all deserve to love every inch of us, I just wish we lived in a society that didn't fixate so much on body image and what people look like because it really doesn't matter.

Eat what you want, wear what you want and be you.

The good friends will stick with you

I am very lucky to have a small circle of friends who I absolutely adore and know are there for me when I need them. I think when I was younger, I thought I'd have millions of friends going into adulthood but that's far from the truth and really it's not needed. Having friends who I know will speak well of me when I'm not there and having my back at all costs are the most important things. They won't walk away when times get hard, they'll stick through it with you. If they do walk away, then your friendship isn't as strong as you thought.

If they wanted to they would

This goes for relationships and friendships. If people wanted to make the effort with you, whether that's meeting up, talking to you or whatever, they would. We're all busy, and we all have things to do but it's what people prioritise is the most important thing. If their priorities aren't the same as yours, it may be the time to step back. This is something I've definitely learnt, especially in friendships. Once I give the same level of energy as people, then I feel more content in that bond, rather than trying to give all the effort.

People's opinions of you don't matter

I want to scream this one from the rooftops as it's still something I'm learning now. I think growing up, I spend way too long seeking validation and caring about what other people thought whereas, I should have spent it focusing on the one person's opinion that mattered: my own. It's important how you view yourself and your life, not everybody else.

You don't need to be friends with everyone

We all meet plenty of people in our lifetime and it doesn't mean they need to stick with you throughout your life. Friends come for a season, for a reason and sometimes for life and it's good to cement that mantra in your head so you're not upset when friendships fade.

Everyone else has no idea what they're doing

I think this is a point that many of us in our adult life need to hear as well as our younger selves. Most of the time, we're so fixated on everyone else's achievements we forget to look at our own and in turn feel like we're left behind or not doing as well. When really, nobody knows what they're doing, we're all bumbling through life together.

Failure is all part of life

Failure helps you learn and develop and is one of the most essential parts of life. When I was younger and failed, I always turned inwards and self hated, but those failures are what shaped me into the person I am today and have helped me grow in many ways.

You will get through this and come out the other side

We all have hard times and when you're experiencing those lows, it can almost feel like there's no escaping them. But, there is a light at the end of the tunnel and you can get through it and will come out the other side. This too shall pass and things do get better. There's always rain before a rainbow as they say.

Things do get better with time

This leads me to this point and how time is the greatest healer. A pain I'd experienced a year ago feels so much less than it did at the moment and I wish my younger self knew that as she was strong enough to have more hope better things were coming.

Always trust your gut 

Your gut is the one thing that knows what's right for you and I think when I was younger, I would sway away from it and listen to other people's opinions and views rather than my own. Your own opinion is the most important about your life.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Do you have anything to add?

Thank you for reading <3

Everything to know before visiting Stockholm

 Well hello to you my reader chums! Stockholm is a beautiful city with its renowned blue skies, colourful buildings, natural appeal and endless things to see and do. I fell in love with roaming about the place and could happily spend hours sitting on one of the many canals with a bun and book in my hand.

Everything to know before visiting Stockholm

Whether you're new to Stockholm or thinking about planning a trip, here is everything to know before visiting Stockholm.

It's pretty much a cashless city

When heading to Stockholm, there's no point in bringing cash with you as a lot of places will only accept cards. To save yourself the transaction fee, order a Travel Money Card from the Post Office as it allows you to upload a range of different currencies without paying a fee every time you use it.

They used Swedish Krona

In terms of currency, their main one is Swedish Krona. This means I would advise getting to grips with the exchange rate so you know how much you're actually paying for things.

Stockholm is very expensive

This leads me to this point, Stockholm is on the expensive side and prices are very similar to London. I was quite taken aback by how much things cost, and even though, you can budget travel around, be prepared to spend a lot more than in other European cities. 

Coffee shops for the win

This has to be the city renowned for its cute and quirky coffee shops and you'll never be short of one to have your morning coffee in. If you think about Instagram worthy places for a coffee, the city is filled with them across the many different islands.

English is widely spoken

Although you can learn a few phrases in Swedish, English, in general, is spoken widely among the inhabitants of Stockholm which can make it a lot easier when asking questions to get around the city.

It's a vegetarian and vegan-friendly city

Despite being renowned for its meatballs and pickled herring, Stockholm is actually also famous for its vegetarian and vegan influence. You can order milk alternatives everywhere, there are plenty of vegetarian restaurants and you'll always be able to find something to suit the dietary needs of either vegetarian or vegan.

Fika is a must 

Fika is a way of life in the Swedish culture and means having time in your day with friends or family to share a coffee and pastry. The country as a whole is known for its epic buns, especially cinnamon buns and this is the main time of the day to enjoy them. Of course, you can eat them at whatever time you wish.

Walking is your best bet to save money

As I mentioned, it's a pretty expensive city to explore and with that in mind, if you're able to, I would suggest walking as much as possible. It is a large place, but in the main parts, you can easily walk around.

Or opt for a bike

You're bound to see bicycles everywhere in Stockholm, it's one of the things they're known for. If you'd like to embrace that, hire your own bike and see the city that way. You can also hire electric scooters as they're a pretty common mode of transport.

Choose the bus from the airport

Transportation from the Arlanda airport (there are four different airports) can be pretty pricey if you choose a taxi or the Arlanda Express. However, to save pennies, choose the bus Flygbussarna which is around £15 for a round trip. It takes about 45 minutes and stops in the centre of the city.

Prepare for the weather

Sweden as a whole is known for its beautiful summers and super cold winters so be prepared for the weather depending on the time of year you're travelling. I went end of April, which meant the city was kind of like warm winter/spring weather and in the day it was warm enough for a light jumper and jeans but in the evening, the temperatures would dramatically drop.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Do you have any other tips?

Thank you for reading <3

6 things to help make the airport less stressful

 Well hello to you my reader chums! As many of you know, I am obsessed with travel. I love nothing more than booking my next trip and exploring somewhere new. It sets my soul on fire and is something, I'm glad to have back in my life after the hard two years many of us went through.

As I'm always travelling, going to the airport is second nature to me and genuinely still excites me every time I enter its doors. Saying this, I know for many the airport can be stressful and it's not always a rainbow experience. However, over the years, I've learnt some tips to make it a little bit less stressful.

Whether you're a newbie traveller or aren't a fan of the airport, here are 6 things to make the airport less stressful.

6 things to help make the airport less stressful

Organise your documents before you go

Documents can be a bit of a pain when travelling and that's why it's always important to be organised with them. I always like to have mine in one place, whether that's in a plastic sleeve or an easy accessible mini bag I can pull out from. Luckily, today you can get your boarding passes online which makes it pretty easy to have at hand. But for an extra precaution, it's always best to print off a copy of your boarding pass and store it in the same place as your passport.

Have all your liquids in one place

The whole liquid process is probably my least favourite thing about the airport, especially as I mostly travel with a small suitcase rather than checking in a big bag, as I find it's cheaper, quicker and I'm used to packing light. A tip I picked up and have been using over the years is to buy a see-through style makeup bag (size of 20cmx 20cm) and put all my liquids in there. I do this before I head to the airport as that way, there is no faffing when I get there and my liquids are ready to go through security. It has been a time saver and a half. Also, always remember to take any liquids out of your normal handbag and put them in there too as that's something which always catches me out.

Bring a tote bag for security

I don't go anywhere without a tote bag, I find it the most useful thing to carry around as you never know when you may need it and they're very compact. To make the security process quicker, I store all the things I need to take out of my luggage in a tote bag so I can easily pull them out and put them in the trays. This includes liquids, electricals and appliances. Airports can vary on what you need to take out and put in the trays to be looked at - so I'd recommend checking before heading to the airport.

Get there with extra time in advance

They always recommend giving at least 2 hours before your flight leaves to arrive at the airport, but if I were you, I'd recommend more like 2.5/3, especially if you've got luggage to check-in. It may sound excessive, but you never know how busy it will be, whether there will be long queues or any other delayed scenario that can put you behind schedule. The extra time also gives you the opportunity to relax at the airport, rather than rushing from one thing to the next.

Map out your airport experience

This may seem a bit like over-planning but it can really help with your peace of mind and travel anxiety when going to the airport. I always like to map out the airport experience. For example, arrive, head to departures, go through security, grab some food, find somewhere to sit and wait for the gate then go to the toilet before heading to the gate. If you have a mini route in your head of what you're doing, you can gradually tick it off and it'll help you feel less overwhelmed.

Download a podcast/your favourite music

Airports can be rammed at any time in the day and that means lots of noise and people rushing about, which isn't exactly the most settling environment before you head to your flight. I would always recommend downloading a podcast or putting a playlist on which can help your experience some sort of zen and zone out all of that bustle.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What other tips do you have?

Thank you for reading <3

Top 10 budget tips for visiting Stockholm

 Well hello to you my reader chums! Stockholm is one of the prettiest cities I've ever visited. With the gorgeous canals, pastel buildings, endless green areas and quirky old town, there is always something to see and do within its many islands. 

The city is notoriously known for its hefty price tag whilst you're there and I wanted to walk away and be like 'that wasn't true' but unfortunately it is. Stockholm had to be one of the most expensive cities I've visited, boasting prices similar to London - and that's why I would recommend being prepared to spend a little more than expected.

10 budget tips for visiting Stockholm

If you're heading to Stockholm or planning a trip, here are my 10 budget tips on how to keep your city break cheap.

Learn the exchange rate

I always find change rates deceiving when it's in large numbers and the Swedish Krona was no different. It's good to remember that £1 is around 12 SEK and so I would apply that knowledge to everything you're purchasing, which means you may need to do a little maths on your holiday (sorry about that).

Walk as much as you can (if possible)

Stockholm is a very walkable city and if you have the means to, I would recommend walking as much as you can. I probably walked most of the city on my trip and occasionally took public transport because the weather was gorgeous and even though it can get tiring, the sights are beautiful. Also, the main part of the old town and the nearby islands are close enough for walkable distance.

Utlitse the bus service from the airport

There are many different options to travel to and from the airports. I landed in Arlanda and instead of getting a taxi or the Arlanda Express, I took the Flygbussarna bus which worked out around £15 for a return. It was a little longer to get to the city than the express but was worth it for the price tag. The bus takes around 45 mins and you can catch it from the Arlanda bus station to the main city terminal which is in a central location of the city.

Take the metro when possible

If you're not one to walk lots or you don't have the means to, the metro can be a cheaper way to get around than taxis. A single ticket is 38 SEK which is around £3 and can be valid for up to 75 minutes. The metro station itself is very easy to navigate around and like London but with fewer tube lines.

Stay somewhere that offers free breakfast

This isn't something I'd usually recommend as I'm not someone who stays in hotels which offer breakfast as I like to try the cuisine on offer in the new city/country. However, as Stockholm proved to be very expensive overall, it was a blessing that the hotel offered free breakfast and I certainly made the most of it in the morning. I also didn't miss out on the Swedish buns as I ate them during Fika or for lunch instead.

Dine in cheaper restaurants (check prices before you go)

I found dining cheap in the evenings quite impossible as every restaurant had a hefty price tag, especially those of traditional Swedish or Nordic cuisine. I would therefore recommend Google search the area you're in for the cheapest restaurants and see what's on offer. As I mentioned previously, there are many islands so lots of different restaurants to choose from.

Go to food markets

I'm a big sucker for food markets, I love nothing more than trying out street food as there is always so much variety on offer. I also find them to be cheaper than dining in restaurants and in a pricey city like Stockholm, utilise the markets as much as possible such as Hornstulls marknad ( a weekend flea market with food trucks. Open April - September).

Avoid drinking any alcohol

Alcohol in Stockholm is incredibly pricey and if I was you, I'd avoid it altogether unless you want to be paying a silly amount for a beer or glass of wine. Stick to soft drink options and coffee on your trip to save ££.

Make use of the free attractions

Despite the high price tag, Stockholm is actually home to many free attractions such as the stunning architecture, free walking tours, an endless amount of parks, a cathedral, a gorgeous old town and a metro art exhibit. There are plenty of different things you can see and do for free or at a cheap price tag. Plus, the city is gorgeous, even walking around is like an attraction.

Pick which museums you'd prefer

There are quite a few museums, especially on Djurgården Island and I would recommend choosing the ones you'd like to go to as the prices really can pile up. I visited the Vasa Museum and Skansen open-air museum and both were worth the price I paid. 

I hope you enjoyed this post! Do you have any other tips?

Thank you for reading <3

Book review: The Accident by C.L Taylor

 Well hello to you my reader chums! As many of you may know, I adore a good thriller, especially one where you don't see the ending coming and I can get fully engrossed in the plot. I love the addictive element of them and how I'm always surprised one way or another. My latest read was The Accident, a book I didn't expect to get as hooked in as I expected.

If you're looking for a new thriller recommendation, here is my full review of The Accident by C.L Taylor.

This post contains affiliate links but all thoughts are my own.

Book review: The Accident by C.L Taylor

Plotline

The book follows Sue Jackson who appears to have the perfect family until her daughter Charlotte deliberately steps in front of a bus and lands in a coma - and Sue is forced to face a dark reality. Sue is desperate to figure out why Charlotte would do this and retraces her steps, realising she may not know her daughter as much as she thought. And, the answer to what happened to her daughter could lie in her own secrets. 

Characters and relationships

This book was very much focused on the protagonist Sue who told the story from the past and the present. The book flipped from chapter to chapter with the past being entries of Sue's diary and what happened to her twenty years ago and to the present day. Sue was a character to who my heart went out to. Reading her past experience and relating to a lot of what she went through, made me admire her even more, especially in the present day as she got through some terrible times. Her strength and perseverance are apparent in the search to find her daughter, despite it bringing up lots of dark secrets.

Sue's relationship with her husband Brian is realistic and wholesome. It shows what a long marriage should be like and how much two people can care for each other when they've been through a lot together. Her daughter Charlotte is spoken more about than actually to and you learn who Charlotte is as Sue uncovers parts of her life throughout the plot. To me, Charlotte is a typical teenager, testing things out for the first time, pushing boundaries, and ultimately wanting to have fun, but ends up getting twisted up in a bad situation. Charlotte's friends were typical teenagers. Ella, her ex-best friend took a while to warm up to Sue but I could just tell it was because she had been hurt from the friendship and eventually opened up. 

One of the most notable characters is Sue's ex James, which is what the majority of the past chapters are about - their relationship and what happened between them. I hated him as a character and as the plot went on, my stomach turned with what he was like. I didn't understand why their relationship was relevant at first but as the plot pans out, it becomes apparent.

Overall thoughts

Overall, I loved this book a lot! It's a book that gripped me with every page and for a while had that intrigue about it, to what the actual mystery was. Because this element was held back for so long, it made me more excited to find out what actually happened as I had no idea. I loved the pace of this book, I loved how the past and present tense were separated and the detail of each of the characters. It's a tense read, with twists and turns I wouldn't have expected. I would 100% recommend it to anyone.

One thing I would however note is that this book can be triggering and you should be mindful of that before purchasing. It contains themes of emotional abuse, domestic abuse, and sexual assault.

Ending

The ending really hooked me in and was incredible. The author of this book really did build the intensity up so much throughout the novel that the last few chapters were just genius. I love how the ending unfolded with so much drama and scary moments. But, it was a brilliant and right ending for an epic novel.

You can pick up your copy of The Accident here.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Is this book on your to-be-read list?

Thank you for reading <3

3 days in Stockholm: top things to see and do

 Well hello to you my reader chums! Stockholm is one of those beautiful European cities which has been on my list for the longest time. After visiting Copenhagen, I knew I wanted to experience more of Scandinavia and its lifestyle.

3 days in Stockholm: top things to see and do

When I landed in Stockholm, I knew I was going to love this city because wherever I looked it was incredibly stunning, the canals were a great spot to ponder, its nature scene was everything and I loved how spacious and sparse it felt.

If you're planning a trip to Stockholm or unsure what there is to see and do, here is my 3-day guide to the city.

Day 1: Getting to grips with the city and old town mooching

Get your bearings on the city

I always say the best thing to do in a new city is get your bearings, figure out where the central points are and how close it is to your accommodation. This is exactly what I did first after I checked in. I had a mooch about and headed towards the main hub of the city to see what it was all about.

Visit Gamla Stan

The old town is the most renowned part of Stockholm and is the central point of everything. It's probably the most touristy area of the city, but it's exceptionally attractive with its colourful buildings, cobbled walkways and tiny alleys. Gamla Stan is a hub for a variety of eateries, cool shops and quirky coffee shops, so there is always something to look at. Plus, it's right next to many of the top attractions of the city and is easy to get around.

Gamla Stan

Head to The Royal Palace

I'm obsessed with all types of palaces or castles that I didn't want to give the Royal Palace a miss in Stockholm. It's located right in the centre of Gamla Stan and costs around £13. I would say, I expected it to be larger for the price tag, however, it was gorgeous to walk around and I loved learning about the history of the palace and seeing all the important possessions.

Royal Palace Sweden

Visit the Storkyrkan Cathedtral  

If you've read any of my travel guides, you'd know how much I adore visiting cathedrals in new countries and cities. The Storkyrkan Cathedral cost about £3 and was super charming to roam around. I loved taking it all in and the interior has this old school look that many cathedrals hold. There's always something really peaceful about a cathedral.

Riddarholmen

This had to be one of my favourite parts of Stockholm overall. It's a tiny inlet attached to Gamla Stan and a gorgeous place for a little mooch. My favourite part was Evert Taubes Terrass, a public plaza which overlooked the Baltic Sea. On the day I was there, the sun was shining so my boyfriend and I sat, watching the calm sea and soaking up the sunshine.

3 days in Stockholm: top things to see and do

Day 2: Museums and parks galore

Visit Djurgården Island

Known as the green island, it's also one of the biggest islands in Stockholm. There is so much to see on this island and I would recommend having a mooch around and taking your pick of which museums you'd like to visit as many are housed here. The island also has many parks and green areas if you fancy a nature walk.

3 days in Stockholm: top things to see and do

Vasa Museum 

The Vasa Museum was the history lesson I didn't even know I needed and was super interesting. It's all about the Vasa, a Swedish warship which sunk in 1628 and how they managed to find it and restore it. The tickets are around £12 and worth every penny because you get to see the Vasa in person, there's a cinema there and a huge exhibit about its history.

Vasa museum

Skansen Museum

For a different take on a museum, this is the one to pick. As it's an open-air museum, there is so much to see, showcasing the whole of Sweden with its houses and farmsteads, a zoo and a petting zoo for children. You can easily spend quite a few hours here exploring it all and eating at the food market in the middle. Tickets are around £13.

Skansen

Kungsträdgården

I am obsessed with blossom trees and this park, located in the Norrmalm district features the iconic blossom trees of Stockholm. It's a huge park with many spots to sit and relax, there are cafes, a fountain area and much more. You could easily spend a few hours here relaxing with a picnic.

3 days in Stockholm: top things to see and do

Day 3: Metro art, boat tour and exploring smaller islands

Metro station art exhibits

One thing I definitely wanted to do in Stockholm was the famous art exhibits on the metro line and I can safely say, they were incredible. Not every station has them but there are a few to note such as Stadion, T-Centralen, Solna Centrum, Tekniska Högskolan, Kungsträdgården, Akalla and Rådhuset. Stadion had to be my favourite with the colourful rainbow art across the walls.

3 days in Stockholm: top things to see and do

Mooch around Soldermalm

Soldermalm is quite a large island in the southern part of Stockholm and is known to be an artsy area. I didn't explore much of it, but it was definitely the place to go for shopping as I saw many quirky shops and all the typical high street names. It had a slightly busier and business vibe to Gamla Stan.

Hornstull Marknad

I'm a big fan of a food market and flea market so the Hornstull Marknad was a great combination. It's located in Hornstull, which had a very residential and hipster vibe about the whole place, located to the left of Soldermalm. The flea market is open from April-September from 11am-5pm and features an array of food trucks and many flea market stalls.

3 days in Stockholm: top things to see and do

Boat tour (under the bridges)

Stockholm is renowned for its many islands and that means a boat tour really is an essential thing to do whilst in the city. We chose the 'Under the Bridges' tour as it took us around all the bridges of Stockholm and was audio-guided, explaining all the history of the city. I adored the tour because it was a lovely experience seeing Stockholm from a boat's perspective and learning more about the city itself, plus we were blessed with good weather too.

3 days in Stockholm: top things to see and do

Explore Skeppsholmen and Kastellholmen

I cannot stress to you how much I adored these two little islands. They are located to the right of Gamla Stan and honestly don't have much on them but that was the beauty of the islands. They were incredibly peaceful and quiet with the Baltic Sea all around. It was the perfect place for a sunset walk, seeing the light reflect on the waters - and a great way to end my time in Stockholm.

3 days in Stockholm: top things to see and do

Where to stay

Stockholm is a hub for hotels, apartments and hostels and there are so many places to choose to stay. I would advise staying as central as you can to the old town, or at least within walking distance. I stayed in Hotel Birger Jarl which was located in the Ostermalm area, about a 20-minute walk from the old town. For me, it was the perfect location as I could reach all of the sights I wanted from there and if not, get the metro as well.

How to get around the city

Stockholm is a city which can easily be reached on foot. You can pretty much walk to all the main sights and mooch as much as you wish, depending on how you feel. As transport is so expensive, I would say it's better to walk, however, the metro is very useful for getting around and easy to navigate yourself. You can also hire bikes or electric scooters as that's how many of the locals get around.

3 days in Stockholm: top things to see and do

I hope you enjoyed this post. Have you visited Stockholm?

Thank you for reading <3

6 things I've learnt on my freelancing journey so far

 Well hello to you my reader chums! Ever since I was little, I always wanted to be a writer. I wanted to write all day every day for myself in a suave little office in my house. That was the ultimate dream and to be honest, it still is. It's a dream I'm kind of living and working my way towards.

6 things I've learnt on my freelancing journey so far

Freelancing is something I've been trying to dabble in for years but it's only in the past year that I took it seriously, and embarked on my freelancing journey. I'm still only freelancing part-time and working my way up, building connections and clients, and I'm excited about what's to come, to make a full-time gig out of this.

If you're considering freelancing or don't know where to begin, here are 6 things I've learnt from freelancing so far.

Social media is a great help

Social media is one of the most powerful tools these days for many things including finding opportunities and jobs. Two of my most regular clients I found on Twitter and LinkedIn and honestly, that still baffles me. The more I spend on platforms such as LinkedIn and Twitter, the more opportunities I'm able to find and see what's out there. I've learnt how important having a personal brand is on these sites for example because it shows potential clients what you're all about. This is why I've tried to utilise my Linkedin in following the right people and asking clients to leave feedback on my profile.

Social media is also a brilliant hub for freelancers. There are plenty of people sharing their journeys, what they've learnt, and any opportunities they have. It's these people I can learn more from, develop my craft and improve my knowledge as a freelancer.

Freelancing websites are a brilliant start

I found freelance websites a great way to launch myself into the freelancing world, especially Upwork. It was easy enough setting up my profile, adding my rates and sharing the expertise I'd like to focus on. Plus, I loved the pitching process on Upwork. It's easy to filter the jobs I wanted to find and send proposals to potential clients. I've also been a huge fan of The Writer's Job Newsletter for a variety of opportunities in my inbox each week.

The opportunities online for freelancers are endless, it's about knowing where and how to search for the right thing for you.

Believe in yourself enough to pitch

The biggest part of becoming a freelancer is having the confidence to do it. There are so many people out there trying to do the same thing and I've learnt, if I want it, I have to go for it. I have to believe in my skillset that I have enough expertise and knowledge to be a full-fledged freelancer. If you don't send the pitch, you don't know - and that's why it's so important to go for it. 

Rejection or not hearing back is normal

As I said, many people are trying to make it in the freelance world so what I learnt is to not take it personally if one, I'm rejected and two, if I don't hear back. Some clients don't have the time to respond to all of the pitches that come their way and it's okay. Don't put yourself down if you don't receive a response or are rejected.

Feedback is gold dust and can help you more than you think

Following on from this, feedback is something I've learnt to love, whether it's good or bad. Good feedback is great for pride and knowing you did a good job, however, I've found more critical feedback to be useful because I can use it to improve my craft in every way. Also, I've learnt to note down all the good feedback to help give me a boost when I need it and ask clients to share it publically for my full benefit.

To ensure contracts are written up beforehand

This is something luckily I haven't learnt the hard way. But chasing payments is probably the hardest thing as a freelancer and is why it's important to have contracts written up before hand. This helps give you evidence if payments aren't paid on time - and also one of the reasons I like going through Upwork as contracts are in place.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What other things have you learnt if you're a freelancer?

Thank you for reading <3