14 Often Ignored Ways Freelance Writers can Overcome Low Self-Confidence and Win

Are you low on confidence? Think you cannot keep with the million things in blogging and your freelance writing business?

I often feel the same way, but I have found a way to be motivated enough.

Sometime back.

“I can do that,” I said to myself. After all, it’s not that difficult. With a background in working in a 9-5 job, how can something be more difficult than that? I only had to work on my freelance writing business from my laptop!

But I was so wrong!

I started pitching to get my name out.

Those were long hours, and nobody would get it!

After all, nobody sees you slogging on your PC. It is all play for people who know us.

But it isn’t! It often leads to low self-confidence.

As moms and stay at home freelancers, this can be demotivating. It can also impact our writing and the ideas that are so important.

How do you break away from negative thoughts and get your lost confidence back?

Through trial and error, I have learned some easy ways in which you can bring back the lost confidence. Sit back relax and try these 14 ways to get back your confidence.

1.Create a to-do-list

Yes, we have all heard about it. Did you know that it helps your brain to create a to-do-list whether you finish it or not!

As a newbie freelance writer, it can be difficult to know where to focus. There is so much to do! Create a portfolio, reach out to prospects, service existing clients and promote your work.

Creating a to-do-list narrows to what you need to focus on every day.

2. Have a plan for everything

It is easier said than done but trust me it can help control your time. Working from home is not as easy as it seems. Planning can reduce the time spent on thinking what can be done at that moment.

3. Don’t wait for perfection. Do what you have planned

Believe in yourself. You might want to focus on your blog, your writing, social media, clients or your tasks at home. There is so much to be done and not enough time. I know it may not always be perfect.

That’s ok.

Done is better than perfect.

4. Focus on one task at a time

As a freelance writer, you have many things to do! However, focusing on one task at a time has many benefits

• It makes you laser focused on the task
• Helps complete the task at hand
• You are not left wondering where the time went by without doing any meaningful work

5. Remember moments when you were at the peak of confidence

We all work for results, right?

But it’s not always possible to keep up with the same energy throughout the day.

You could be a morning, afternoon or evening person. Try what works for you. When you are feeling a bit low, do what works best for your rhythm. It works in your favor. It creates a flow of ideas you never knew you had!

6. It’s ok to fail at times

When you join most blogging groups, there are success stories that give you the confidence. But, how do you reach that same success? Their stories make you wish you were in their place. But how is it even possible.

Is there any shortcut to success?

Not really!

You have to keep going at what you feel will take your online business forward. There could be some failures. That’s ok. Some successes have come from repeated failures.

7. Network to build your confidence

While working in a company, it is important to make your presence felt. Blogging is no different. If you blog as a hobby or blog to get more freelancing clients, making your presence felt is so important.

It’s great to network with other bloggers and freelancers since it

• It helps you to reach out to others
• Create long-term connections
• Opens up ways to interact with others
• Prepares you for long-term partnerships

Some ways to network are:

a. As a newbie freelance writer, you must have subscribed to many newsletters. The first step is to make it a two-way interaction and reach out to bloggers you follow or relate. Most are very helpful, and they DO reply to emails. Go ahead. Try it out!

b. Even if you are new to the freelance writing business, you will have some skills that you are very good at.

Use them to express your opinions on a topic that interests you.

Say for example you are excellent at planning, then search for blog posts in your niche and comment on the blog posts.

Social media can be a game changer. It can help connect with many prospective clients and also create connections. Start small. Instead of asking for a freelancing work suggests ways in which you can add value to their existing work.

8. Ignite your interests/passion or even your hobby

Over the years, working at home has made me realize that you need to have some interests that can get your creative juices flowing.

For me it’s reading a book, cleaning or simply taking a short break from work. It sparks my creativity and helps me think clearly and come up with new ideas!

What makes your creative juices flowing?

9. Take few moments for yourself at the start of the day

Lately, I’ve stopped rushing around to complete each task at hand. It has allowed me the luxury of a few minutes at the start of the day to think what I can achieve out of it. It is the completion of some work or pitching to X prospects.

Giving yourself few moments takes the guesswork out of knowing what you want to achieve out of the day.

10. Set goals for your freelance business

Confidence does not build up suddenly out of the blue.

Taking small steps gives you the confidence to take the next positive action for yourself. Let’s make goal setting a bit easier.

1. Think what you would like to achieve in the next 6 months.
2. Make a plan or create a strategy how you will achieve it.
3. Have clear tasks and allocate it to each month, week and day.

Tasks might change depending on what you achieve at the end of the week.

11. It’s ok if goals change direction

Having a plan does not mean it will happen for sure. There could be times when something comes up; someone’s sick at home or time flies.

Don’t panic and let your confidence go down. Take it in your stride and see what you can do to make it happen. It might not happen on the exact date, but if you are focused on getting it done, it will happen soon!

At times, what you are working on might not shape up the way you wanted. Looking into the reason for the delay helps understand your mistakes and avoid it in the future.

12. Avoid procrastination

You sit on your laptop to begin writing and all the hours fly by without doing anything. Does it happen to you? It happens to me all the time. At the end of the day, I am not sure what I did!

To avoid getting into the trap of procrastination try these:

• Always keep your goal in front of you. Print it, keep it on a whiteboard or write it where you will see it every day.
• Avoid distractions
• Know why completing the task is so important. Link it to your goals
• Follow Pomodoro technique

13. Indulge in self-talk

As freelancers or stay at home moms it is assumed you have the luxury of being at home all the time. But I know it’s not all that fancy as it seems!

As women, we are bound by emotions of being perfect and weighed by the opinions of family and friends. It might not always be rosy and might have its challenges.

If you have even one person that supports your cause, stick with them more often. Ask their opinion. Share your failures. Their insights will help you refocus.

If not, take some time and indulge in self-talk.

Okay, I know you must be thinking – is she crazy! But hold onto it for a second. Self-talk here isn’t about just talking to your self. It’s about feeding your mind with positive affirmations about yourself. It goes a long way in feeling good about yourself.

14. Take care of yourself

Do you often ignore yourself at the cost of work? Yes, I know we work on projects with multiple deadlines!. There are pitches, client work, social media and so many other things to do but don’t neglect your health.

Taking care of yourself should feature as the top-most thing you do.

If you are not well, will you be able to perform to your best?

Not really!

Whether it is midnight snacking, less sleep or even high anxiety levels, take time to relax and

• Have a fixed schedule
• Use automation tools
• Outsource
• Avoid last minute work

These are some ways in which you can get your back your self-confidence.

I have tried each of these, and they have helped me go from someone who knew nothing to set up my blog and business.

Are there any ways in which you increased your self-confidence after a low? Share it with me in the comments.

I’m Patricia Vaz, freelance writer making a living working from home. I have been able to convert my love for writing into a business.

Follow me on Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest to say hi or reach out to work together!