Well hello to you my reader chums! I officially went freelance this year and I'm loving every minute of it. I've been dreaming of freelance life and being my own boss since I was younger and I'm proud, I've finally taken the step and living the dream.

Freelancing life, although exciting and fun, also comes with both ups and downs. If you're new to freelancing, here are my tips on how to deal with the ups and downs of freelancing. 

Embrace the high and low periods

One thing I'm learning about freelancing is it comes with high and low periods. The highs are busy, a full schedule and exciting, and the lows, are quiet and self-doubt is inevitably a constant presence. But, that's what freelancing is about and learning to embrace that does wonders in helping cope with the highs and lows of freelancing. I've learnt to use the quiet times to focus on building my business, creating my own personal brands's social media and working on passion projects. Whilst, in the highs, I embrace the excitement of the new projects and busy schedule.

Write a positivity log

Running your own business is hard and as much as I love it, it can be filled with self-doubt, financial struggles and uncertainty. However, a positivity log is a wonderful thing to have in the low moments. This log should include all of the positive reviews and feedback you've had of your work which you can read when you're feeling doubtful or down about your business. 

Create a weekly schedule

I love to be organised and one of the reasons I love working for myself as I can create my own schedule. Managing lots of clients and projects means an organised schedule is key. Every Monday morning or the Friday before, I plan my workload so I know what to expect each day and what I'll be working on. If I have a bigger project that lasts for several months, I'll add it to the calendar over those months and how much time it'll take.

Make a priority list

Deadlines are key to staying organised when the workload is high. The best thing to do is to have your priorities in check and prioritise the jobs with the fast-approaching deadlines or those that have the most importance.

Schedule in breaks

You can't be your best self if you're working on empty. This is why breaks are crucial for your mental health and more effective results. I find taking breaks harder when my workload is hectic and easier when work is quiet. By scheduling breaks in advance, you'll know when you're going to take some time away from the screen and it'll motivate you to be more productive.

Check-in with your mental health every morning

Looking after your mental health is key to feeling the best in yourself and doing your best work-wise. Checking in every morning to see how you feel can help you work your schedule around you. If I wake up feeling energetic, I'll create a more productive schedule, whilst if I wake up anxious or not feeling myself, I'll put more low-key tasks into my schedule - and more breaks.

Reflect on your progress regularly

Working as a freelancer, it usually is all systems go and often, I forget to sit back and reflect where I'm at. This is why it's important to book regular reflections, such as every month or every few months to see if you're working towards your goals.

Enjoy the process

To put it simply, freelancing is a wild journey and it's crucial to have fun and enjoy the process. 

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

Thank you for reading <3