Freelancers are usually creative types who either consider themselves unemployable or would rather find ways to get paid for their art. There’s only one problem: creative freelancers are known for being notoriously flaky and disorganized. In fact, I’m pretty sure that one of the reasons I’ve had so much success as a freelancer is precisely because I’m not flaky at all.
I’m going to let you in on a little secret – I’m not naturally grounded. Yes, I teach people about money. Yes, I run a business. Yes, I’m very strategic and level headed. However, these are all things I’ve had to learn. Like most creative freelancers, my mind moves way too fast from one idea to the next. I also used to be slightly disorganized. Combine that with the crazy fast-paced world of hyper-connectivity and it can be a recipe for disaster.
Here are some of the ways I’ve learned to stay grounded as I build my freelance business. It’s taken me years of practice, but it’s been well worth it.
Meditation
Meditation is one of my tools to help me with just about everything, but most of all it helps me stay grounded as a creative freelancer. Like most creatives, I have a wild imagination and my mind is usually racing in the morning. Taking a few minutes to breathe and get into my body each day helps me calm down, get focused and get to work.
Additionally, a regular meditation practice has helped me deal with stress. Not everything is flowers and rainbows in business, and I know that meditating helps me to come up with rational solutions rather than fly off the handle when a problem arises.
Here are a few of my favorite meditation teachers who’ve made it easy for me to start and maintain a practice: Gabby Bernstein, Deepak Chopra, Terri Cole, Marianne Williamson and several yoga teachers.
Exercise
Another tool that helps me stay grounded as a creative freelancer is to exercise. I specifically tend to like yoga because it literally forces you to get grounded. In fact, some practices are meant to specifically ground you back into reality by means of your breath and your body.
My exercise of choice is yoga, but yours can be something entirely different. The point is that getting into our bodies and out of our heads can be a great way to stay grounded as a creative freelancer.
Having a Routine
While I don’t have a strict routine for my work, I do have guidelines. I know which days are for meetings, I know which days are for writing and I know which days I’ve dedicated to some time off. This not only gives some order to my life and business, it also gives my mind and body cues as to what needs to happen depending on the routine.
My morning and nighttime routines, in particular, help me stay grounded. In the morning, I make sure to meditate and eat breakfast even before even looking at my phone. I also meditate at night and focus on reading – not watching T.V. – before bed.
As you can see, neither routine is complicated. That’s done on purpose. The entire point is to use these routines as anchors to help me stay grounded, not add more stress to my life.
Final Thoughts
We’re living in a world that’s constantly moving, and for some of us creative freelancers, it can be very difficult to stay grounded as we navigate it. Fortunately, if you learn to stay grounded, you’ll not only produce better work, you’ll also be less stressed.
