Finding inspiration for freelance work is easy, if you just know where to look.
No two freelancers are the same.
We each have our own stories to tell. We have our own tales of when we first dabbled in freelancing – those embarrassing booboos, the small victories, strokes of luck and even “the one that got away”. And once we’ve transitioned from greenhorn to self-made expert, it feels good to reminisce and share different styles of winning a client over and working on a contract.
That is, if freelancing as it is today hasn’t yet left you jaded.
Nevertheless, many of us find joy in expressing both our pleasure and distaste over freelancing in general. And it is for this reason that forums and blogs abound, where freelancers share trade secrets or just hang out and have fun. (And they say freelancers are anti-social.)
The truth is, not everyone comes here to vent, but also to find inspiration. Of course, we’re here for ideas, information, and secrets, too, but most especially inspiration.
Just the thought of trying to keep up with the times and make some money is enough to bring anyone down. And once a freelancer gets down, that’s bad news. A freelancer’s creativity is vital to his work, and without that, he won’t last very long.
To become creative, one has to be inspired. Below are some suggestions that could serve as a great pick-me-up when the blah sets in.
Talk
Visit a friend or call him on the phone and try to engage in conversation. Talk doesn’t have to be about work (in fact, it would be ideal if it wasn’t about work at all) and make it as pleasant as possible. If for some reason this can’t be done, get a tape recorder and record your musings, thoughts, and feelings into it. Pathetic as that may sound, you’d be surprised at how relieved you’d feel afterwards, when you’ve gotten some things off your chest.
Write
Writing is also a good outlet. You don’t have to be a freelance writer to do this – you’ll be your own audience, anyway! – so just pour your heart out on paper or computer as much as you can. If you don’t already have one, start keeping a journal or diary. There’s no need to keep a regular schedule for writing, although that helps, too.
Listen
A lot of people consider music as therapy, a balm for the soul, and many freelancers swear they’re most creative when listening to some great tunes. Pick out an artist or song or track that you think will help replace the stress with inspiration, and let your mind wander. Or, if that doesn’t work for you, go outside and take a walk – and try to listen to the sounds of nature, people, and everything that you haven’t heard in a long time from being cooped up indoors.
Look at something different
A magazine, street signs, coffee table books… Ready for some serious light reading? Casual peeks into everyday literature can help to take your mind off stressful subjects, and allow you to think pleasant thoughts. If you’re not much into reading, watch a movie or ball game. As long as your eyes see something different, your brain processes a new environment, and this allow the creative juices to flow.
Have a good meal
Get something else besides coffee into your system. Try a different flavor or different food, and make sure it’s something you won’t forget easily, but which can sustain you till the next time you feel burned out.
Exercise
Very few people know this, but exercise releases happy hormones into the body. An endorphin rush is what you get from exerting effort and sweating. A simple jog, a few laps in the pool or even shadow boxing will reward you with enough of those happy hormones to provide you with the inspiration you need.
Meditate
When you feel the need for a little inspiration, try putting your thoughts in order. Plan and think ahead. Relax and meditate on the future and the rewards it can bring. Placing things in perspective can help to inspire.
No two freelancers are the same, but we all need inspiration to fuel our creativity.
POSTSCRIPT:
Following our interview with Doreen Martel, for every Monday of the week, we get inspiration from a featured contractor. Our guest gets to enlighten us about himself/herself in a way that we can all appreciate as freelancers, (and if we’re lucky, divulge a secret or two behind his or her success).
