BTS of a freelancer: what happens when work is quiet? 😳

How to navigate *not* being busy as a freelancer

Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

One of the most difficult parts of working for yourself is navigating the times when your diary isn’t chock-full of exciting new projects.

“Embrace it!” says your sensible inner voice. “Soon you’ll be really busy again, enjoy the quieter periods.” “Easier said than done,” I retort back, as I attempt to ride the waves of anxiety and intrusive thoughts that it’s all downhill from here and I’m probably never going to work again.

I am in the middle of a quieter work period right now, a very purposeful choice in some ways, but one that is not totally under my control either. That’s the nature of working for yourself - it’s a back and forth, a constant juggle of diaries and budgets, a delicate balance between embracing the chaos and daring to dream, and protecting yourself from potential hazards.

How do I embrace non-busyness?

I find it really helpful to remind myself that the beauty of freelancing is in the peaks and troughs, the ebb and flow of projects coming in and then washing out to sea like the tide. Yes, it can be stressful and anxiety-inducing, but it can also be fluid and intuitive in ways that a traditional 9-5 just can’t. Being self-employed gives me the flexibility to change up my work-life balance, put my energy into my own projects or focus on self-development without having to sacrifice my rest time, and that alone is invaluable to a highly sensitive introvert like me.

When things are busy, I thrive on the last-minute dash to get things done, and I often feel really accomplished at the end of the day just by looking at the amount of tasks I’ve completed - but the quiet periods remind me that success, whatever that looks like, isn’t predicated on how many things I can tick off a list. Rest is productive too, and like the flowers in my garden, I simply can’t flourish all year round. I must rest my weary head when I have the chance, nourish my soul with creative writing, and attempt to find solace or comfort or knowledge in books and Substack newsletters that I won’t always have time to read.

Should I be using this time ‘productively?’

Yes and no. I suppose it depends on your definition of ‘productivity’ - to me, rest and recalibration is just as productive as networking, or reaching out to potential new clients, or finally updating my website after months of procrastination.

In the quiet periods, I try to check in with myself and reflect on how the year is going so far. What are my priorities? Is it time to take a rain check and focus on recharging the batteries, or do I need to hustle and find new work so I can future proof for the next three months or six months or one year? Should I be tapping into some personal development, so that I can market myself as an even better proposition for potential new clients?

It’s all about creating space for what I need as a freelancer in that specific moment. Leave your preconceptions of what you should be doing behind, because the freelance life isn’t one of steady, linear progress…it’s more of a one step forward, three steps back kind of vibe, with a loop-de-loop in the middle for good measure.

What happens if the quiet period just keeps getting…quieter?

Oof, this is a tough one. It’s one of the things I was most nervous about when I first registered as self-employed - the idea of not always knowing how much money would be coming in or not having enough work for weeks or months on end was deeply terrifying to me, as someone who had always had steady 9-5 jobs. I am pretty risk-averse in almost all aspects of my life except, it seems, professionally 😅.

Here’s the thing: life happens, priorities and budgets change, and we can’t always financially plan for the ups and downs of freelance life. Yes, it’s a good idea to have 3-6 months of living expenses saved in case things go tits up so to speak, and yes, ideally we should be future-proofing for the quiet periods by networking and not just relying on recommendations, but listen, it doesn’t always work out that way, and that’s OK.

Mental resilience is key here. I could tell you all the ways in which I have gone about finding new work over the years when things are slow, but the real test is how you handle it mentally. Unless you are impossibly lucky, dry periods will happen, so it’s always a good idea to equip yourself with a toolbox of techniques to support you through the drought.

Here’s what I do when things are slow and I’m starting to feel panicky:

• As Sarah-Jessica Parker once said, “the best we can do is breathe and reboot.” I am a big believer in switching things up when it all feels impossible: get out of the house for a walk, work from the sofa or a different room, go analogue with some paper and pens. You never know what bright idea or new approach might pop up when you’re in a new environment and headspace.

• Remind myself that this too shall pass. Cliche, but oh so true. We can only make decisions with the information we have at the time, so trust in the process and know that whatever comes next, you can make it work.

• Make a list of how I want the rest of the year to look and feel like. I find that this exercise really helps to clear space in my anxious brain when all I can focus on are bills and rent and life stuff - I grab a notebook or a big piece of paper and let myself dream a little. I might make a list of potential leads and remind myself of stuff in the pipeline, people I need to get in touch with, and most importantly, the type of work that makes my heart sing. Sometimes, we just need to remind ourselves of exactly why we do this, in order to find our way back to an even keel.

• Talk to a fellow freelancer or my partner about how I’m feeling. The total joy and relief of talking to someone who isn’t intimately involved in my life, but who completely gets it and has probably been through the exact same stresses and worries, is palpable. The freelance community is as supportive as they come, and luckily, I happen to have some of the most brilliant and talented women around me to lean on when things get tough.

If the quiet period goes on longer than is financially and mentally sustainable, it’s time to start having some difficult conversations. We all have a financial bottom line, a point at which we simply can’t afford to live, but life goals and lifestyle choices are also really important things to consider. Be honest with yourself, look at all your options, and be realistic. Even if going back into full-time employment is the most feasible option right now, that doesn’t mean you can’t indicate back into the freelance lane later down the line.

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That’s it for today! I hope this was helpful for all of my fellow freelancers here on Substack, those of you who are thinking of going freelance, and those who are just here for the vibes 😘

Lauren x