How freelancing change your life?

When I first found surge digital company, I was ecstatic. Not only could I write and publish posts, but I could read and enjoy articles from people all around the world. As an avid reader, the high-quality content on here continues to blow my mind. There is never a dull moment on surge, and there is never a moment when I am not inspired.

When I came across an article mentioning Upwork, the thought crossed my mind that maybe this was a platform I should explore. There was that bit of anxiety pulling at me that thought maybe I wasn’t good enough, but how would I ever know if I didn’t try?

I created a profile and started to submit bids on gigs I thought I could do. Now, a month later, I have completed multiple jobs and had great experiences. I have also continued to grow my writing skills.

I am so happy that on that fateful day I came across an article on Upwork. It has changed my life, and I am just darn excited to see where it takes me.

But what about freelancing has gotten me so giddy and hopeful about the future? If you are someone who has been thinking of starting a career as a freelance writer, you may want to read on.

content writing

Directed writing helps to calm the mind

As someone who can quickly work themselves into an anxiety-ridden state, I have found writing helps to calm me down and keep me focused. It can be challenging to make it through a day when your life feels up in the air, and you can’t figure out what to do with yourself. But, by having something like writing to turn to, you have something you can put your energy into that is productive and can mean something. Whether you are writing for yourself or a client, you are writing for a purpose. And. That. Just. Feels. Good. It is one thing to journal (which is excellent, and I highly recommend it!), and it is another to be using your writing to work towards a paycheck. When you know there is a concrete outcome ready and waiting for you, it will drive you to keep pushing yourself to meet the deadline

Having deadlines keeps you on track:

Speaking of deadlines. Deadlines can either be your best friend or worst enemy. If you are someone like me, you thrive on deadlines. You need them to keep you in check so you don’t wander off to look at something shiny. One thing to keep in mind is, deadlines can sneak up on you, so planning is essential. I always keep my planner handy and have found I work best when I break big tasks into smaller pieces. Doing a bit every day instead of trying to push out the entire thing the night before, or the day it is due, just doesn’t work well, especially for larger projects. When you are first starting out as a freelancer, you may notice there is a bit of a learning curve for different styles of writing. Some clients may provide you with a sweet and easy to follow outline. Others may expect you already know how to write in a particular style and just give you the topic, sending you on your merry way. Meeting deadlines is essential in Freelancing. To keep you from becoming overwhelmed on projects you aren’t 100% familiar or comfortable with, do yourself a favor and break it into pieces. Honestly, it will save you a lot less stress in the long run, and you will end up writing something not only you can be proud of, but that your clients love. When clients love what you do, they will hire you back again.

Teach yourself new things

When I first began freelancing, all I knew was I loved to write. I didn’t really know what I loved to write on, or what style of writing interested me the most. But with time, I have learned response posts are one of my favorite things to write. They have a particular structure and purpose, and I love that. The more structured something is, the easier it is for me to do, and the more fun I have while doing it. There is always room to push yourself in the freelancing industry. If you see a job that interests you, but you aren’t 100% knowledgeable or confident that you can complete it, use it as a challenge. Teach yourself everything there is to know about it. Become an expert in whatever it is you are learning. Once you have a good grasp of it, you can start to apply for those jobs and build up your experience. When you take jobs that are challenging, and maybe even a little scary at first, you are allowing yourself to grow. You are also allowing yourself to see what you are capable of. It is frightening when you first jump into the world of freelance, but if you stick with it, you start to realize you are good at what you do, and you do have things to offer.

Benefits:

• Keeps your mind focused

• Deadlines are useful

• Total control

• Continuous learning

It is also never too late to start freelancing. Even if it begins as a side gig to your current 9–5, it has the potential to become a full-time career, if you want it to.

With the economy in flux and the future very much unknown, being able to find your own jobs will lessen your stress tremendously. When you know you can land a gig that will help pay your rent or some bills, a lot of your stress will end up melting away.

There isn’t really any waiting with freelancing. You just have to be open to new experiences and ready to jump in with both feet. It may seem like freelancing is a far off dream, but it really shouldn’t be.