3 Principles To Know As A Freelancer

It can be hard to pin a freelancer down, and that’s just the way they like it. Think of how street artists might find themselves booking clients that want them to create murals in their offices. Think of how an actor, technically a freelancer, will try to book clients through auditions and work from gig to gig until the point where projects approach them. Even this isn’t promised.

As such, advice that dictates what you should or shouldn’t do in this role can be limiting, perhaps preventing you from actually spreading your wings and offering the value your potential audience sees in you.

But what about the principles that are true no matter what? Perhaps there’s some leeway for good guidance and autonomy there. In this post, we’ll help you find that:

Always Track Your Finances

If there’s one thing that’s just essential in freelancing no matter how you work or what your role is, it’s keeping track of your finances. You might be bouncing from project to project, working with different clients, and having payments come in at odd times, so knowing exactly where you stand money-wise is going to help you spread out your living even when clients are few. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the creative side of things or to focus solely on the work, but at the end of the day, if your finances aren’t in order, it’ll put you into difficulty at some point, especially because you’ll need tax planning and support sooner or later.

Learn Your Working Hours

One of the perks of freelancing is that you can (mostly) set your own hours. But that doesn’t mean you should be working all day, every day, or, worse, whenever you feel like it without a plan. Freelancing feels like a super comforting and boundary-free option at first, until you realize that those boundaries are there for a reason, like a child growing into an adult and learning that bedtimes are actually something to cherish. Of course, some freelancers thrive in the chaos of sporadic work bursts, but most will find they’re more productive and happier when they integrate a routine that works for them. Experimenting with yours is a good idea.

Retain Your Privacy

It’s true that freelancing often requires putting yourself out there, as you need to network, market your services, and build relationships with clients and even collaborators. However, it’s important to remember that you don’t need to sacrifice your privacy to do this. Setting boundaries and keeping personal and professional lives separate is key to avoiding burnout, even if it’s just having two phones for personal and professional use, having a virtual address or PO box for correspondence, and making sure your personal information doesn’t show up as registered with a business except for on official listings like Company House.

With this advice, you’ll be certain to work well as a freelancer as time goes on, and avoid some of the pitfalls of those starting out.