Freelance Wins & Lessons: stress

Showing posts with label stress. Show all posts

What to Do When Freelance Work Slows Down: 6 Productive Habits

Every freelancer has quiet weeks. No emails, no updates, no projects. It’s normal, but it doesn’t feel good.

You start to worry:

Did I do something wrong?
Is this the end of my pipeline?
Should I lower my rates just to get work?

The short answer: No. Don’t panic. Here’s how to use slow weeks productively and stay ready for what comes next.

1. Accept that downtime is part of the cycle

Freelancing has seasons. Some months are packed. Others feel silent.

Clients go on vacation. Budgets pause. Internal projects take priority.

Instead of blaming yourself, take the pressure off. Use this time to recover.

Quick win: Sleep in. Walk without checking your phone. Do something offline.

Quiet lakeside scene symbolizing rest during freelance downtime

Reflects rest and calm—perfect for your intro on accepting quiet weeks.
Credit to Adobe Community

2. Check in with past clients

Don’t sit in silence — reach out.

You’re not begging for work. You’re reminding people you exist.

Example message:

"Hi [Name], just checking in — hope you’re doing well! I’ve got some availability coming up and would love to support any new projects you have."

Keep it casual. Keep it short.

3. Improve one small thing

Your site, your profile, your onboarding message. Don’t wait until you're busy again.

Start small:

Update your pricing guide
Rewrite your intro paragraph
Add one new work sample

Free tool: Use Canva to clean up your portfolio or make visuals for LinkedIn.

4. Share what you know

You’ve learned things your future clients (and peers) need to hear.

Write a blog. Share a tip. Post on LinkedIn or X.

Real examples:

"3 things I do before every client call"
"How I price fixed-scope work (without hourly stress)"

This builds visibility, trust, and confidence.

Shows a freelancer stepping away from work, reinforcing quick win #1 (rest).

Credit to the Owner

5. Try a small experiment

Create a mini-product, service package, or even a Notion template.

You can offer it for free or paid — either way, it shows initiative.

It could be:

A checklist PDF
A 1-hour audit session
A "starter" package for new clients

Tool to try: Gumroad — easy way to launch small offers.

6. Organize your pipeline

Use this time to:

Build a list of dream clients
Create a custom pitch template
Save good job posts for later

Use Notion or Trello to track things.

You don’t need 100 leads. Just 5 solid ones you can follow up with next week.

Final Thought

Slow weeks can mess with your head, but they’re part of the job.

Don’t let them knock your confidence.
Instead of chasing work in panic mode, work calmly on your system.

When the next project comes, you’ll be sharper and more prepared.

💬 Let’s Keep This Conversation Going

I write to help freelancers stay grounded and focused through honest advice and shared wins.

If you’d like to support this work, you can do so here:
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Your support means more posts like this, more free resources, and more time to build tools for freelancers like you. Thank you for being part of this journey.

No One’s Hiring Me. Is It Me or Just a Slow Season?

You’ve sent pitches. You’ve posted. You’ve refreshed your inbox more than once.
And still—silence.

At some point, you start to ask:

Is the market just slow… or am I doing something wrong?

The answer might be both.

Let’s break down what’s outside your control—and what you can adjust right now to improve your chances.

🔹 What You Can’t Control

Even the best freelancers hit dry spells. Sometimes, it's not you.

Here’s what you can’t influence directly:

Seasonal demand drops
Some months just have fewer active projects.
Global events or economic shifts
Budgets get frozen. Priorities shift.
Platform algorithm changes
You might be doing everything right, but still not showing up.

Real story:
In my first year freelancing, I had a 3-week drought. No replies. No offers.
Then one day, three responses came in.
I didn’t change anything. The timing just shifted.

✅ What You Can Control

Now for the good news—most of your freelance growth depends on what you do consistently.

1. Improve Your Visibility

Are you showing up regularly?

Post helpful content once a week
Comment meaningfully on other freelancers’ posts
Share results, tips, or useful resources

Why it matters:
Clients tend to hire those they recognize. Even silent lurkers take notes.

2. Clarify Your Offer

Can someone understand what you do in 10 seconds or less?

Say it aloud or write it down in one sentence
Test it on a friend unfamiliar with your work
Use plain words—ditch buzzwords and long intros

Example:
Instead of:
“I help businesses grow with optimized visual storytelling through strategic branding...”
Try:
“I design graphics that help small businesses look professional and get noticed.”

3. Tighten Your Outreach

Stop sending long messages. They’re rarely read.

Instead:

Start with the client’s problem
Suggest one way you can help
End with a short question

Better pitch example:
“Hi [Client], I saw you're looking for help cleaning up your online store. I specialize in product page redesigns that boost conversion. Could I show you 2 samples?”

Tip: Don’t beg. Guide.

Freelancer indoors reviewing a project document with an open laptop and warm lighting.

Freelancer focused on their routine and outreach (Photo by Tran Mau Tri Tam on Unsplash)

4. Stay Consistent

This one’s simple—but hard.

Most freelancers give up after sending 5 to 7 proposals.
But many get hired after 10–15.

Set a goal:

Send 3 proposals daily
Track your messages
Review and improve every 5 days

Consistency increases your odds—and helps you spot what’s working.

5. Check Your Energy

Burnout isn’t obvious. But it shows up in your tone, effort, and replies.

Take a one-day reset
Go outside
Journal or do a short course
Return with a better mindset

Clients can feel when you’re forcing it.

🛠 Free Tools to Help You Improve

Use these to upgrade your freelance outreach and visibility:

Hunter.io – ethically find email addresses for client outreach
Copy.ai – write better proposals or social posts faster
AnswerThePublic – research what your target clients are searching for

Bonus Tip:
Pair Copy.ai with AnswerThePublic to create a week’s worth of client-focused content in an hour.

🧠 Final Thoughts

Freelance slowdowns aren’t a failure. They’re part of the rhythm.

What matters is what you do next.

Ask yourself:

What can I adjust this week that I didn’t do last week?
Who can I follow up with today?
Which pitch could be simplified and sent again?

Don’t wait for motivation. Just move forward.

☕ Help Me Build More for Freelancers

If this post helped you feel less stuck, more confident, or more focused, you can support my work here:
👉 Buy Me a Coffee

Your support helps me write real stories, offer free resources, and keep showing up for freelancers like you.
Thank you for reading and for being part of this journey.

5 Things Clients Won’t Say But Every Freelancer Should Know

There are things clients will never say directly — not because they’re hiding anything, but because they assume you already know. If you're new to freelancing or still figuring out how to manage clients better, this post is for you.

Here are the things clients won’t say out loud, but every freelancer should understand:

1. "We expect fast replies — even if we reply slowly."

Clients appreciate quick answers. They don’t always show it, and they won’t always reply fast themselves. Most assume you’re always online, or close to it.

What you should do: Set clear expectations.

Example: “I usually reply within 24 hours on weekdays.”

That line sets boundaries and keeps things professional.

Frustrated freelancer with hands on head, sitting at a cluttered desk.

Stressed freelancer at a desk (Credit to thevirtualclick.com)

2. "We want you to just get it."

Many clients give brief or vague instructions and expect you to fill in the gaps. They prefer freelancers who don’t need a lot of handholding, even if they didn’t explain things clearly.

What to do:

Repeat back what they said in your own words
Suggest an approach before you begin
Show a quick sample or outline

Real Scenario: A client once sent me a one-line request: "Make the homepage pop." That’s it. I replied with two mockup options — one minimal, one colorful — and explained each one. The client picked the bold one, said, "You read my mind," and we were off to a great start.

3. "We might ghost you — and not always on purpose."

Sometimes clients disappear: their budget is paused, plans change, or they simply forget.

Follow up twice, then move on.

Example follow-up: “Just checking in to see if there’s any update. Happy to jump back in if you’re ready.”

Real Scenario: A client went silent after we finished phase one of a project. Two polite follow-ups later, I heard back: "Sorry! Got pulled into another launch. Let’s continue next week." Ghosting isn’t always rejection — sometimes, it’s chaos on their end.

Screenshot of a detailed Google Calendar showing a full day of scheduled freelance tasks.

Useful read: How to Handle Client Ghosting – HubSpot

4. "We’re watching how you behave — from the first message."

Before the project starts, clients evaluate:

How fast do you respond
How clearly you write
Whether you notice details

Pro tip: Be calm, clear, and respectful.

Real Scenario: I once got a message saying, “I chose you because your first message was professional and easy to read.” That stuck with me. First impressions matter — even in chat.

5. "We expect you to handle basic tech or admin — even if we didn’t mention it."

Clients often assume you can:

Share files the way they want
Use tools like Google Docs, Slack, or Trello
Handle revisions without a long explanation

They won't always list this in the job post, but they'll expect it.

What to do: Stay flexible. Ask early: “Are there any tools or formats you prefer?”

Real Scenario: One client was shocked (in a good way) that I sent files in both PDF and editable formats without being asked. That one detail led to repeated work.

Insert image: File sharing or task board screenshot (Unsplash keyword: "remote team communication")

Tools That Can Help You Succeed

Fiverr: Explore client briefs or promote your services
Upwork: Find real clients and build your freelance profile
Skillshare: Improve your client communication and freelance skills

Insert image: Fiverr, Upwork, or Skillshare logos in thumbnail size

Final Thought

Most client issues can be solved or prevented with simple communication.

Pay attention to what’s not being said — expectations, habits, assumptions. The better you understand them, the more likely you’ll build long-term working relationships.

Freelancer working late in the evening, focused on a task under warm desk lighting.

Stefan Wermuth/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Watch for what’s not being said—expectations, habits, unspoken rules.
The better you understand these things, the easier it is to build long-term relationships.

Keep learning. Stay observant. And remember: good freelance work isn’t just talent—it’s trust built over time.

☕ Let’s Grow Together

Writing these posts helps me reflect and improve — and I hope they help you do the same. If you’d like to support more content like this, you can do that here:
👉 Buy Me a Coffee

Your support means a lot. It allows me to stay independent, keep writing, and create tools to help freelancers move forward with less stress.

Freelance Wins & Lessons