Are you one of those people who always get the Monday Blues?

Do you have to drag yourself out of bed? Do you feel sluggish and unmotivated all day Monday? And does every thing seem to go wrong on this day?

The Monday blues are common. In fact, a study by the firm Mercer found that 35% of all sick leave is taken on a Monday. In another study, more than 25% of people surveyed said the thought of going back to work on Monday morning was enough to ruin their weekend.

These studies were done among employees, and you’re a freelancer. But I’ll bet if you could take Mondays off, you would.

What’s Wrong with Mondays Anyway?

It’s natural to be in a bad mood on Mondays. Most likely, you spent the weekend having fun, going to bed late and then sleeping in. You’re sleep deprived, and your body clock has been reset to “weekend mode.”

Of course you’re going to be particularly exhausted on Monday morning. You won’t be ready to take on a new work day, because your physically fatigued.

You’re also longing to extend the leisurely pace of the weekend, the absence of obligations, and the time spent with family and friends. Weekends mean fun and relaxation. Mondays mean work and responsibilities. The choice is obvious, isn’t it?

And if you hateyour work, then Mondays become even more torturous.

Make Mondays Marvelous

You don’t have to give in to the melancholy of Mondays. Below are six tips for making Mondays marvelous.

1. Wake up early — or not

The jury’s still out on this one. Some people advise getting up early on Monday mornings, so we can get an early start and avoid the stress and problems that come with being late.

Others suggest sleeping in for at least an hour, and then gradually easing into the rest of the day.

I say you experiment and do what works best for you. In my case, when children have school, I have no choice but to get up early, pack lunches, and get the munchkins ready for school. On vacations, I find that waking up late tends to make me more depressed. The morning seems to fly by and I find myself having very little time left to tackle my to-do list.

2. Cheer yourself up

You know yourself best, so you know how to get yourself out of a Monday morning funk. This could mean wearing your favorite clothes (fortunately for us freelancers, we can work in our jammies, if that’s what cheers you up). Ladies, put on some makeup. You’ll look and feel better. Put on your fave music. Talk to friends who always manage to make you laugh.

3. Schedule a fun activity

Nothing will get you jumping out of bed faster than knowing you’re going to do something you enjoy. Schedule a favorite activity on Mondays. Plan to work in a coffee shop, if that floats your boat. Make a lunch date with a friend. Or reward yourself with a cupcake at the end of the day. Promise yourself a long, hot bath before bed.

It doesn’t have to be extravagant. It does have to be something you’ll look forward to.

4. Take it easy

Don’t schedule difficult, complicated, or important activities on Monday. Instead, use that time for menial tasks, jobs you enjoy (to the point you’d do them even if you weren’t paid). For example, if you hate updating your books, don’t do that on Mondays. Fridays might be a better day.

If you can help it, don’t arrange interviews or client meetings on Mondays. Your client or prospect is probably having the Monday blues too.

5. Get a head-start

Sometimes, we dread Mondays, because we left loose ends the week before. Make Mondays easier for you by preparing for it the week or the day before.

On Fridays, make sure to tie up loose ends involving work (that is, unless you work on Saturdays). Write Monday’s to-do list on Friday, too, or on Sunday at the latest.

On Sunday evening, review your task list for Monday. Imagine yourself tackling each activity with energy and clarity, completing each one on time. Make plans: schedule when you will do each task and rest easy in the knowledge that you’re prepared for Monday.

6. Look on the bright side

Finally, a simple change in attitude and perspective will make Mondays, not just tolerable, but something you look forward to. Remind yourself how many people are struggling because they don’t have work. Imagine the unemployed who does not have a reason to get out of bed — except to hit the pavement again, looking for a job. Look at all the blessings you have: your clients, your projects, your family and friends, your health.

Soon you’ll realize each Monday is a sign that you’re still alive. You have a fresh week to achieve your goals and accomplish what you’ve set out to do.

If you think about Mondays this way, then you just might be grateful for each Monday, instead of dreading it.

How Do You Deal with Mondays?

I know someone who actually gets a high every time Monday rolls in. While I’m not that enthusiastic about Mondays, I don’t dread them all that much, either. I use some of the techniques I described above to recognize the gift and all the possibilities that each Monday offers.

How about you? How do you deal with Mondays? Is it a tough day for you to get over? Or is it just like any other week day?

I’d love to hear about your experience. Tell us about it in the comments below.

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Most freelancers do, but the challenges of working from home can sometimes make life/work balance seem unattainable. You may feel like you are constantly being pulled towards both family and work commitments–a bit like being in the middle of a tug-of-war.

One answer that can help you achieve better balance between your work and personal life is boundaries. In this post, I’ll explain how boundaries help freelancers. I’ll also list some of the areas where you should consider establishing boundaries in your own freelancing business.

Why Boundaries Help

All of us have many personal and professional responsibilities. While sometimes the two can be handled simultaneously, often they cannot.

For most freelancers, boundaries can help maintain a semblance of order in their lives. When you set up a boundary, you are creating a separation between your work and personal life. Or, you are limiting the scope of your professional life so that it doesn’t affect your personal life. While some freelancers may not wish for such a division, most find it helpful.

Setting boundaries also helps protect freelancers from burnout. Without boundaries and with an office in your home, it can be just too tempting to work all of the time. But, overwork is a sure path to stress and ultimate burnout.

7 Areas Where Boundaries Can Help

Where should you set your boundaries? Every freelancer will have a different answer. Some may wish for a quiet environment, while others can happily work in the midst of a commotion. You will have to decide which boundaries will help you the most.

Here are some common boundaries that many freelancers set. You may find that one or more of these also works for you:

1. Space boundaries. Many freelancers benefit from having a specific space dedicated to work in their home. This can be an actual home office with a door (think: spare bedroom) or an unused corner of a much larger room. Designating a particular space for work tells others in your home that the space is off-limits for other uses. Be sure to enforce your boundaries. If another family member wants to use your space, tell them that it is not available.
2. Privacy boundaries. Often freelancers seek to keep personal information (such as their home phone number or the names of family members) separate from professional information. This can be accomplished with a dedicated business line. This keeps clients (and others) from calling you on your home phone at all hours of the night and day. Many freelancers also dedicate one social media platform (often Facebook) to sharing with friends and family only.
3. Limiting interruptions. Interruptions can really throw a freelancer off. That’s why many freelancers develop a boundary that helps limit those interruptions. For physical interruptions, an office with a door helps. For telephone interruptions, requiring an appointment for calls (and otherwise using voice mail) can keep interruptions to a minimum. Some freelancers designate certain hours during the day as the “office hours” and only answer calls during those times.
4. Managing expectations. It’s important to have happy clients. Surprisingly, one of the best ways get happy clients is by not promising too much initially and then exceeding expectations. If you fail to set a boundary of reasonable expectations with your client and promise too much, your clients will expect you to live up to your promises. Worse yet, they will have unreasonable expectations in future dealings with you as well.
5. Limiting distractions. Distractions are everywhere. If they’re not managed carefully, distractions can really cut into a freelancer’s time. Who hasn’t lost track of time while surfing the Web? Fortunately, there are now many online tools to help you eliminate distractions. A good schedule can also help. If you plan how you are going to spend your day, you are less likely to fritter time away.
6. Protecting your daily schedule. Limiting distractions and interruptions is just one way of protecting your time, but it is important to have boundaries in place to make sure that you get the most out of your day. Unfortunately, freelancers who work from home are often perceived as being “available.” Friends and family members come out of the woodwork to ask for favors. Make it clear that you work too. Refuse time-consuming tasks by stating unapologetically, “I’m sorry, I have to work.”
7. Protecting personal time. As a freelancer, I’ve been tempted to work right through weekends and holidays, haven’t you? However, it’s important to take time off if you’re in freelancing for the long haul. That means you have to set aside personal time. When a client asks you to work on a day that you already have scheduled as a day off, try negotiating with that client. Usually they will understand.

Your Turn

How do you set boundaries in your freelancing business? Share some of the specific boundaries you’ve set and explain why you set them in the comments.

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This is true whether you’re a freelancer, or not. But, because of the nature of freelancing, we freelancers tend to face change and its consequences a bit more frequently than other folks do. That’s why it’s really important to have a Plan B and to keep that plan up to date. Having an emergency fund does not hurt either.

There’s much more to dealing with freelancing change that just having a Plan B, though. You also need to deal with the emotional toll that freelancing change can take on you. Handling the emotional toll of freelancing change is what this post is all about. In it, I’ll share some practical tips to help you keep the inevitable freelancing changes in perspective so you can stay at your best as a freelancer.

Dealing with Inevitable Freelancing Change

If you’re not careful (and if you’re not ready), freelancing change can really throw you for a loop. After a change, you may find yourself dealing with stress, disappointment, anger, or even a combination of the three. You don’t have to let change negatively affect your freelancing business or your outlook, though.

Here are some precautions to take that will help you to steel yourself against the inevitable changes of freelancing:

1. Get enough rest. I know it seems like every list of how to take care of yourself as a freelancer is topped with the advice to get enough rest. There’s a very good reason for that. Studies have shown that many adults (not just freelancers) do not get enough sleep. Yet, proper sleep is vital to good health and good health is vital to…you guessed it…performing your best as a freelancer.
2. Eat right. Like getting enough sleep, eating right is vital to your good health and to your performance as a freelancer. Freelancers are especially vulnerable to the temptation to eat whatever is convenient and available rather than eating what’s best for them. What freelancer hasn’t been grinding away towards a big deadline and grabbed a quick bite of whatever was on hand and could be easily microwaved? Yet, a bad diet eventually take its toll on your health.
3. Take a deep breath. I could also call this point “calm down.” Even if you seem to be in a bad spot at the moment, there’s a good chance that things will be better soon. There have been many times in my freelancing career when a contract ended and I was wondering what to do next–only to be contacted by a new client within a very short time. Keep on with your marketing efforts and keep up with your skills.
4. Keep a positive outlook. This can be really hard to do when things are changing all around you–it’s especially difficult if you happen to find yourself without clients for an extended period of time. However, clients and prospective clients can sense when you have a negative outlook. If you talk on the phone, it will come through in your tone of voice. So, to keep your opportunities coming try to hold on to your positive attitude.
5. Find a sympathetic ear. Having someone to talk to who understands what you’re going through can be a huge comfort. However, I do have to say that social media is not the best place to vent your frustrations. It’s just too easy for social media rants to reach the wrong people. It’s much better to meet a local friend for lunch (and that will get you out of your office too) and talk about your situation face-to-face. Be sure to pick someone who will keep a confidence.
6. Consider your options. You may think you have no options, but there are always options. Be creative. Perhaps you are overlooking a lead for a new freelancing gig even though that lead is right in front of you. Don’t be afraid to try something totally different from what you usually do to improve your situation. You never know how something new will work out for you unless you try it. :)
7. Not all change is bad. This post has been about dealing with the emotional toll of freelancing change, but it’s important to remember that not all change is bad. A change of clients, being asked to do something new, or even finding yourself with unexpected time off–these situations could very well all end up having a silver lining. So, when freelancing change happens to you, don’t automatically assume the worst.

By taking the precautions I listed above at least you’ll be at your best to handle whatever freelancing (and life) may throw at you when change strikes.

Your Turn

Have you already been through freelancing change? What strategies do you use or have you used to deal with freelancing change? Share your tips in the comments.

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I have a small confession to make. I’m not new to freelancing, but I’m a repeat victim of the Shiny New Object Syndrome. Simply put, I love to try new things–whether they be ecourses, new social media tools, books, and so on.

You’ve probably guessed this about me already by reading some of my posts (especially those posts about trends).

The trouble with trying new things is that, if they aren’t managed properly, they can take clutter up your workspace and take all your available time.

In this post, I’ll discuss this problem and share a few simple tips that help me manage all that stuff.

You’re Not Alone

First of all, know that you’re not alone.

Collecting, purchasing, or otherwise obtaining too many resources is quite common among freelancers. I mentioned this problem to another freelancer recently and she replied that the topic came up recently when she was meeting with a group of freelancers. Apparently, nearly everyone in the group had purchased ebooks, training materials, or other resources that they were planning to use “some day.”

Of course, just because the problem is common, that doesn’t mean it’s any less overwhelming.

Control the Clutter Up Front

This is probably the most important tip for managing your stuff. You don’t get it in the first place, you can’t accumulate too much of it.

The simplest way to control the stuff that we freelancers tend to accumulate is to reduce what you get or try. If you have less stuff to worry about, the less cluttered your schedule (and workspace) will be.

One way to stop from accumulating too much stuff is to ask yourself a few simple questions before you try something new. Here are some questions that I use:

• How important is this likely to be? Is it just something that I’m mildly interested in, or is it likely to have a positive impact on my work? For me, an example of this was my decision the Google+ social media platform. I felt it was important to get involved since it will likely be a major player on the social media scene.
• How will learning this new material/platform impact my time? If you don’t have time to use the new information or if learning about it will eat into your project time, it may not be worth getting.
• What do reviewers say? If you’re going to buy some training materials or a book, it’s especially important to learn what others think. You don’t want to waste your hard-earned money.
• If there’s a cost, can I afford it? Some great resources are just priced too high to be practical for the average freelancer.

Of course, even if you limit the new stuff you acquire you still have to deal with the stuff you already have. That’s why it’s important to manage the clutter you already have.

Manage the Clutter You Already Have

Is your office like mine? Do you have piles of books, waiting to be read, everywhere?

Are you constantly bookmarking online materials so that you can get to them later?

Here are some tips:

• Create a place for everything. Books should be put on the shelf, not lying about your office. Create files on your computer for ebooks and videos that you download. Bookmark blog posts.
• Decide what’s most valuable. Of all of that stuff you haven’t gotten to you, what is most likely to impact you the most (in a positive way)? Make note of that and plan to use that material first.
• Reward yourself with learning. If you’ve let resources pile up and if you love learning as much as I do, why not use those resources as rewards? Did you finish the big project? Good, now let yourself kick back with an ebook or video for a while.

Don’t Stop Exploring

Just because Shiny New Objects can clog up your schedule, there’s no reason to totally stop exploring and learning new things. In fact, I’ve committed to being a life-long learner and I hope that you have too.

Properly managed, trying and learning new things can enhance your business and enrich your life.

What Do You Do With All Your Stuff?

This advice in this post may sound easy, but it can be quite challenging to implement. If you’ve developed the habit of accumulating more material than you can use, it can be tough to break that habit. Hang in there, though. You can do it.

Do you tend to gather more resources than you can practically use? What do you do with your collection?

Image by Lara604

Have you ever heard another freelancer say those words? Have you said them yourself?

Over the years, I’ve heard other freelancers use those words to describe situations ranging from family emergencies, to getting too busy, to getting sick, to missing a deadline. Regrettably, I’ve also heard some of those same freelancers take back words when the very thing that they never planned for happens.

It’s no secret that I’m a big advocate of having a Plan B (and maybe even a Plan C) for dealing with common setbacks.

The odds of lightening striking you are pretty slim. From what I’ve read, fewer than 500 people are injured by lightening each year in the U.S. It does happen, though. I once hired an attorney who actually had been struck by lightening.

Other setbacks are much more likely to happen. The truth is that no one is immune from life’s troubles. The very thing that you think will never happen to you may also be the thing that puts you out of business if you’re not ready for it.

In this post, I’ll share ten common problems that most freelancers eventually face and talk about how to deal with each of them.

10 Problems Freelancers Face

Here are ten problems that many freelancers face, although few like to think about them.

1. Family emergency. Nobody wants to think about this, but family emergencies can happen to freelancers just like they happen to everyone else. However, unlike many other jobs, freelancing does not provide you with paid personal time to handle family emergencies. Make sure that you know at least one top-notch freelancer who could pinch hit for you if you needed them to. Also, make a draft of a note you would send to a client if you had to.
2. Illness. Getting sick is no fun. Not only do you feel bad physically, but as freelancer illness can mean loss of income and added expense of medical bills. Don’t ever take your health for granted. Make sure that you have an insurance policy. Believe me, the expense of health insurance is well worth it when you need to use it. There are also some other practical steps that you can take when you are sick.
3. Work slowdown. No matter how busy you are, a work slowdown is always a possibility. Everyone knows that freelancing work has its peaks and valleys. There some real truth behind the famous freelancing Feast or Famine cycle. Make things easier by saving for the slow periods and keeping up with your marketing when you are busy.
4. Unhappy client. No matter how great a freelancer you are or how much you like your clients, sooner or later you may find yourself facing an unhappy client. Fortunately, an unhappy client doesn’t always mean that it’s time to cut ties with them. Many client/freelancer disagreements can be worked out. If you find yourself dealing with an unhappy client, try these seven steps.
5. Payment issues. One of the biggest frustrations freelancers face is getting paid in a timely fashion. Sadly, payment issues are fairly common for freelancer. One of the first steps you can take to prevent payment problems is preventative. Make sure that you have a contract in place that clearly outlines your terms. Here’s a complete list of steps you can take to encourage prompt payment. If worst comes to worst, you may have to turn to a collections agency.
6. You’re bored with your work or become burnt out. Let’s face it, over the years you change. Something that you once loved you no longer find to be so enjoyable. It’s unfortunate, but it’s often a fact of life. If this happens to you, there’s some good news–you’re a freelancer. You’re not stuck in a dead end job. You can change your niche and rebrand yourself.
7. You make a mistake or miss a deadline. No matter how careful you are, you may one day find that you’ve made a mistake and it’s your fault. What’s a freelancer to do in such a situation? I think the best thing to do in such a situation is to ‘fess up and try to make things right for your client. As a freelancer you’ve got to protect your reputation.
8. You can’t get along with a client or colleague. Let’s face it, your clients may pay you, but that doesn’t mean that they’re all easy to get along with. In fact, the truth is that your clients may be quite difficult to get along with, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to fire them. Do everything you can to make them happy customers. Firing a client can be a last resort after you’ve exhausted all other options.
9. Your equipment breaks or becomes outdated. The tools you use to work with are very important. Outdated tools can cause you to spend additional time on a project and ultimately cost you money. Set aside a small amount of money each month to upgrade your equipment. (Note: this should NOT be the same money as your emergency fund.)
10. A client disappears. Sadly, some clients don’t refuse to pay–they just go away. The best way to deal with this problem is to take preventative measures. Your clients are careful to pick a freelancer that they can trust. You need to be careful to pick a client that you can trust.

Your Turn

Have I missed any unforeseen circumstances that are likely to happen to a freelancer? How do you handle problems like these?

Share your answers in the comments.

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Needless to say, internet marketing experts and other professionals associated with this industry used to frown upon the idea of doing freelance work for others. IMO, times have changed, and starting an online business is not as good an idea as it was a few years ago.

These days, I meet a lot of professionals (for example: SEO, writers, developers, designers, etc) who are fretting over the fact that they are doing all the work while the “company” gets all the riches and growth without doing anything. That viewpoint is not entirely wrong, but things are not easy on the client side of table either. Of course, experiences will turn out differently for different people.

However, I believe that starting an online venture is not the ultimate answer to success any more. In this post, I’ve listed some reasons why I think working as a freelancer for others can sometimes be a better choice than starting your own venture.

Reason #1: Start Earning Money Right Away

No matter how good your business plan is or how competent you are, it will always take some time for your business/website to get going. In the beginning, you will have to invest a lot of time and resources, so you need to have the financial means and patience to go through the initial period when you will see little or no results. For someone looking to start a career, it’s hard to have that kind of financial support and patience.

On the other hand, when you work as a freelancer for others, you can start to earn straight away. Having the rewards in your hand at the end of each month (or at the conclusion of each project) is important, especially in this day and age when the economy and businesses are not doing well.

Reason #2: Stability Factor

Having your own business might appear to be a more stable option than freelancing for others, where you can lose the job or project at any time. But, to be honest, business owners don’t really enjoy that much stability and peace of mind. This is especially true of the online businesses.

As we’ve seen in the case of Google Panda update, businesses that were going great came to a sudden halt with their websites disappearing from the first pages of Google. That might sound like a minor setback for those who are not aware of the power of Google, but the truth is that it’s big enough change to totally eradicate a small business that doesn’t have the budget to sustain and invest in a recovery process.

What’s good about freelance jobs is that if you’re skilled and good at what you do, you will get another job (project or client) even if you’ve lost your current one. For a business owner, it isn’t as easy to simply dump one business and go for another one.

Reason #3: Fewer Administrative Chores

You still have to organize your work when working for others as a freelancer, but it’s far less time-consuming and stressful than managing day-to-day business activities that range from marketing to finance and from human resource management to bookkeeping.

While you can often get away with a simple explanation when you can’t do freelance work for a client on a particular day, in business, you will get no real days off. This is true even if you’ve got people working for you. You will still have to oversee many things.

Reason #4: Income Factor

Contrary to the popular belief, working for others doesn’t necessarily mean having less income than running your own enterprise. You can earn quite a good income while doing freelance work for others.

For me, having a handful of good clients assures me a better income than some of my friends who have recently started their own ventures. Of course, not all freelancers earn that much, but not all businesses are producing bags full of cash either.

Reason #5: Stress Factor

Hardly any job is stress-free. However, people working for others often tend to consider their boss or managers’ job to be hassle-free, mainly because they don’t have to report to anybody. The truth is that the pressure that comes from management is less than the pressure of being in charge when almost everything depends on your performance and decisions.

A company will manage if some freelancers don’t deliver. However, a business might be seriously affected if the owner was incompetent, and that pressure takes the stress to a whole new level.

Your Turn

Which do you prefer–doing freelance work for a client or starting your own venture? Share your answers in the comments.

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If you have freelance writers on your gift list, then read on. I asked my freelance writer friends and readers what they wanted that would help them succeed as freelancers and came up with this blog post. (But while this list is specifically for writers, other freelancers would love to receive some of the items here as well.)

Here are the top 10 things freelance writers want to see underneath their Christmas trees:

Computers

Here is the top computer choice for freelance writers:

1. A laptop–The ubiquitous tool of freelancers, a laptop helps us get our work done no matter where we are. Some freelancers prefer Macs, other PCs. Either way, a laptop is an indispensable piece of freelancing equipment.
2. A desktop–While we love our laptops, our desktop is every freelancer’s main machine. If the freelance writer on your list has a Jurassic computer, they’ll love you for getting them a brand new desktop.

Mobile Gadgets

The freelancing world is going mobile. Here are some mobile devices freelancers want:

3. iPad 2–The iPad is fast replacing the laptop for mobile computing. Since owning an iPad, I’ve stopped bringing my laptop on out-of-town trips. An iPad is an excellent productivity tool that helps us have lots of fun besides.
4. iPhone or other smart phone–I have to admit, this is on my Christmas wish list! Earlier this year, I bought a smart phone but not an iPhone, thinking I didn’t need one because I already have an iPod Touch and iPad. Well, I was wrong and now I admit it. An iPhone or similar smart phone helps freelancers stay in touch with prospects and clients. For me, it’s also useful for creating content on the go. Bloggers need to be able to take pictures and videos on the fly. With a smart phone, we can do so without stuffing our purses (or pockets) with various gadgets.
5. Kindle Fire–Some consider this latest mobile device from Amazon to be the first competitor of the iPad. Writers have a lot of reading to do, and this e-reader makes reading so easy and pleasurable, no matter where we happen to be. But the Kindle Fire is much more than an e-reader. It’s WiFi enabled, plays music and videos, and has apps as well.

Computer Peripherals

Computer add-ons make great gifts for freelancers:

6. Bluetooth Keyboard–The only way to get any serious writing done with an iPad is with a bluetooth keyboard. If the freelance writer on your list already has an iPad, help them take it to the next level with a bluetooth keyboard for the iPad. Some are built into a protective iPad case, making it even more convenient.
7. USB Microphone–Why do writers need a good microphone? The better to Skype clients with, my dear. Not to mention have webinars, record video and audio, and create all sorts of other content. My choice of USB microphones is the Yeti by Blue Microphones.

Software

No freelancing wish list would be complete without software…

9. Dragon Naturally Speaking–This speech recognition software turns audio into text. It’s a nifty tool for writers who are tired of typing in front of a computer, coming up with great snippets of writing at odd hours of the day, or simply having a better “voice” speaking than typing. When I injured my hand last year, I didn’t panic, because I knew I’d be able to keep writing using this software (but fortunately the injury turned out to be not that serious at all).
10. Cloud Storage–Freelancers need to store a lot of data and keep it safe for months, even years. I don’t know about you, but I spend a fortune every month to keep my data backed up, safe, and synchronized. Any freelancer, not just writers, would appreciate getting the cost of cloud storage taken care of, if only for a few months.

Office Furniture

The holidays can be a great time for a freelancer to redecorate the home office. Here is a furniture gift idea:

10. Stand-Up Desk–Did you know, writing can be hazardous to your health? It’s true. According to a study published in the Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise journal, people who sat most of the day had a 54% increased risk to have a heart attack. Therefore, a stand-up desk can literally save a freelance writer’s life. I use and love my GeekDesk, but there are many other stand-up desks available. If you’re handy, you can even make one yourself. Add an ergonomic chair while you’re at it.

Bonus Gift

Every freelance writer would love to receive one of these…

11. Amazon Gift Card–A gift card is usually considered to be a thoughtless gift, an easy way out for the last-minute shopper who has run out of time and ideas. But the truth is, freelance writers actually WANT an Amazon gift card. We have plenty of books to read, not just for our own pleasure, but to help us be better writers and freelancers. For this reason, I wanted to make sure to mention a bookstore gift card in this list.

What’s On Your Wish List?

If you’re a freelance writer, does this list reflect your own wish list for the holidays? If not, what would you like to add?

If you’re not a writer but do other types of freelancing, let us know what you want for Christmas, too. You never know who might be reading!

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If you’ve freelanced through a holiday season before, you may already be asking yourself, “what am I going to do about the holidays this year?” That’s right. It’s that time of the year! We’ve reached another year-end. (I hope your freelancing business did well this year.)

I’ve written about this topic before, but these problems are real, so the topic is worth revisiting.

Even freelancers who don’t normally celebrate at this time of the year are affected by the year-end activities. In this post, I’ll discuss seven dilemmas that freelancers face during the holiday season.

Dilemma #1. Should I Send a Gift to My Clients?

Many business gurus will advise freelancers to send out holiday gifts or cards to their strongest clients as a way of saying “thank-you” for their business during the year. In fact, gifts can be a good strategy and may serve to keep your name in front of a client.

What’s the problem, you might ask? Well, there are two main problems that freelancers face with sending out gifts.

• The first problem is that not everyone celebrates holidays during this time and some may even be offended by said holidays. Many freelancers may not even be aware of their client’s feelings about the holidays. In most cases, however, a gift tied to the end of the year and not to a specific celebration won’t be offensive to anyone.
• The second problem is finding the right item to send to a client. It’s important to send something that fits within your budget. A client gift should be something the client can really use as opposed to something cheap that happens to have your business name printed on it. Choosing the right client gift can be particularly challenging because most freelancers have at least one client that they have never met face to face.

Dilemma #2. Should I Work on the Holiday?

Another freelancing holiday dilemma concerns taking time off.

Many freelancers desire to take off time during the holidays to be with friends and family, but for some the holidays can be a busy time of work. Some companies will assign projects to freelancers during this time so that their regular staff can take a break.

If you’ve decided to take some time off during the holidays, how do you break it to your clients? If you’ve decided to work through the holidays, how do you break it to your friends and family?

Plus, if you do take time off at the end of the year your income will likely be affected, which brings me to the next freelancing holiday dilemma…

Dilemma #3. What About Lack of Income?

Freelancers are paid when they work. When a freelancer doesn’t work, they don’t get paid. It’s just that simple.

If you haven’t been saving all year for a year-end vacation, a holiday break may seem out of reach. However, you still may be able to take on extra projects so that you can take off later. Also, remember that many retail stores hire extra part-time staff during the holiday season–you could moonlight on your freelancing with a part-time job.

Also, remember that even if you have decided to work through the holiday, your client may have decided to take it off. Unless you know otherwise, plan for them to be unavailable during this time period.

Dilemma #4. Should I Publish a Post on the Holiday?

Most freelancers have blogs to help promote their services and to establish themselves as experts in their field. (If you don’t have a blog, why not?)

If you’ve been publishing regular posts on your blog all year long, you may wonder whether you should publish a post on the holidays. If you do, will anybody read it?

I can’t tell you whether you should publish on the holidays, but I do think that most of your readers will understand if you don’t. I’ve noticed that many large blogs just put up a greeting at certain times of the year.

Dilemma #5. How Can Avoid Holiday Stress?

Volumes have been written about holiday stress, so I’m not going to go into detail about that here. Social workers and mental health specialists have documented that the holiday season (and the period immediately after the holidays) is one of their busiest times.

If you suspect that your holidays are going to be stressful, you can take some steps to make sure that your business isn’t affected. First of all, be realistic about how much work you can handle. This isn’t the time to overload yourself. Even if you are busy, be sure to take adequate breaks. Finally, don’t hesitate to get professional help to deal with your stress if you feel that you can’t handle it yourself.

Dilemma #6. Am I Really Ready for the Year-End?

The end of the year is an important time for any business. Freelancers should make sure that their record keeping is up to date and that they have supporting documentation for major transactions such as major purchases, and so on.

By this time, you probably have some idea of how much income your freelancing business took in. If you had a particularly good year, did you know that there are some year-end steps you can take right now to reduce your tax liability?

Investing in a retirement account, donating to charity, or accelerating the purchase of a capital asset are all actions that may affect your 2011 tax liability. Check with your accounting professional to determine the best steps for your business to take.

Dilemma #7. Slow-down and Extra Time

Some businesses slow down at the end of the year. Your clients’ businesses may be among them.

If you find yourself with unexpected down time during the holidays, you may be wondering what to do. Of course, you can always spend time with family and friends–but there are also some steps you can take to improve your business.

Use any extra time you have to organize your office and your files. Won’t it be great to start 2012 with everything in order?

Another year-end task you can tackle is to revisit your 2011 goals. How many did you achieve? By evaluating last year’s business goals now you can get a head start on next year’s goals.

Your Turn

Did I miss any freelancing holiday or year-end dilemmas? How do you handle the holidays?

Share your answers in the comments.

Image by judsond

Cabin fever isn’t a disease. It is more a malady of the spirit characterized by sadness, lack of energy, malaise, and irritability.

Many people are prone to cabin fever around the winter months, because we spend less time outdoors and get less sunlight.

However, freelancers may be even more susceptible to cabin fever than the average person. Unless you have three kids to send off to school like I do, you probably won’t have any reason to drag yourself out of bed while it’s still dark out.

We don’t get out as often as our employed friends, and when it’s freezing outside, we have even less reason to leave home.

Cabin fever is no fun for anybody. It zaps our lives of joy and happiness. It even affects our ability to produce quality work–something which is crucial to freelancers.

In this post, I’ve come up with 10 suggestions for how freelancers can avoid or overcome cabin fever.

1. Get Outdoors

I’ve recently taken up running and experienced exercising outside at near-freezing temperatures. With my nose running and eyes tearing up, I totally get why nobody else is running with me. But it’s still much better than staying indoors and working out to my DVDs.

Granted, I probably wouldn’t run when there’s snow. Some people do, but not me. Fortunately, there are other things you can do outdoors in the snow. Take up a winter sport, build snowmen with your kids, and make snow angels.

2. Get Plenty of Sunshine

The lack of exposure to sunlight causes a chemical imbalance in our brains. This is what leads to cabin fever and, when severe, clinical depression.

The easiest way to make sure you still get plenty of sunshine is to open blinds and curtains. Work beside a window.

However, if you live in a place where the sun hardly shines in winter, you’ll have to invest in a lamp that mimics sunlight. This light therapy has proven to be effective for treating Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

3. Stay Active

We already talked above about engaging in activities outdoors. However, even when you’re snowed in, it’s still a good idea to keep active.

Remove the clothes that are hanging on your treadmill and use the machine the way it was intended to be used. If you have them, now’s the time to use those exercise DVDs. Or set up a small home gym with weights, exercise bands, and a stability ball.

Avoid passive activities, such as watching TV or surfing the ‘net all day. In fact, I would recommend you spend no more time in front of your computer than what’s necessary for you to complete your freelancing work.

4. Make Your Environment More Cheery

Just because it’s cold and dreary outside doesn’t mean it needs to be the same inside your house. Put out your Christmas decorations and lights. Use bright colors on curtains, pillows and other soft furnishings. Take out the most luxurious beddings you have.

While you’re at it, why not buy a diffuser to make your house smell of lavender, peppermint and jasmine? These are just some of the essential oils that are considered uplifting and help address depression.

5. Entertain

Isolation is considered one of the contributing factors to cabin fever. If you’d rather not drive in the snow to have lunch with your friends, then invite them over for some tea and cookies. It doesn’t have to be an elaborate dinner party. Having even one person over to talk to face-to-face can help keep you from feeling lonely.

6. Grow Indoor Plants

Aside from helping to rid your home of stale air and making your space prettier, did you know plants can also lift your mood?

An Australian study found that when plants were added in people’s offices, they experienced, on average, 37% reduction in tension/anxiety, 58% reduction in depression, and 38% reduction in fatigue, among others.

If you’re not much of a green thumb, pick up a couple of indoor plants that are sturdy and don’t require a lot of care. Caring for your plants will also give you a purposeful activity while indoors.

7. Eat Good Mood Food

In a previous article, we’ve talked about foods that give you energy. Well, certain foods also help uplift your spirits. These foods contain high levels of an amino acid, tryptophan, which our bodies convert to serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that contributes to feelings of well-being and happiness.

According to the book, The Serotonin Secret, the best sources of tryptophan are:

• turkey
• sunflower seeds
• mung beans
• lobster
• asparagus
• cottage cheese
• pineapple
• tofu
• spinach
• bananas

Eat at least one of these foods every day. Rotate them throughout the week for variety.

8. Engage in Goal-Oriented Activity

Boredom is one of of the other factors contributing to cabin fever. By having goal-oriented activities throughout the winter months, you can help stave it off. Of course, as freelancers, you’ll always have client deadlines to keep you occupied.

If you do decide to take a break from work, remember you still need to continue marketing your freelance business.

Also set goals for other areas of your life, such as relationships, housekeeping or home management, hobbies, etc. If you’re busy organizing your basement, for example, you won’t have the opportunity to get cabin fever (you’ll also have a reason to go outside and buy supplies).

9. Head South

Migratory birds and senior citizens who own condos in Florida are wise. They know to head where it’s warm during the winter! If the sub-freezing temperatures really get you down, see if you can temporarily move to a warmer location.

To cut down on costs, look at home swapping arrangements. Or hook up with a friend or relative for a few months.

10. Seek Medical Attention

If you’re experiencing symptoms that seem more severe than plain ol’ cabin fever, you may be clinically depressed. Consult your health care provider to get a proper diagnosis and discuss the appropriate treatment.

Cabin fever can be a big problem to freelancers. If you’re like me and live where winter takes up five months of every year, you’d want to avoid cabin fever as much as you can! Aside from affecting your productivity, it can strain relationships and rob your life of happiness.

By anticipating it and taking some simple steps to avoid it, cabin fever doesn’t have to be a problem. You can enjoy life and be a successful freelancer all year long.

Your Thoughts?

Have you ever experienced cabin fever? If so, what helped you get over it? Share your tips in the comments below.

Image by lisahumes

My answer is a resounding “Yes!”

Nobody can possibly do everything well. No matter how talented or hard-working you are, some skills are simply out of your reach. A person who knows what they’re doing would do a  much better job and in a shorter time. You already outsource plenty of things–hair cuts, dental care, car maintenance… Why not the  tasks necessary to manage your freelance business?

Self-employed individuals who try to cut down costs by doing everything themselves may actually be spending more. You have to spend time learning to do something well.

And then it takes you longer to get it done than if you hired someone else. Plus, you may make mistakes that could cost you big dollars.

That’s precious time and effort you’re better off spending by marketing your services and making the clients you have happy.

In this post, I’m going to talk about the top three excuses freelancers have for not outsourcing–and explain how to overcome them.

Excuse #1. “I Can’t Afford It”

This is the number one excuse freelancers make when we try to go it on our own. Especially when you’re just starting out, you may wonder why you would hire a bookkeeper, for example, or a web developer to create your website.

Keep in mind, there are many ways to get services other than paying for them, if you’re really cash strapped. Some ideas:

• Barter your services–Find someone who needs a service you provide and offer to exchange services with them. It’s a win-win! Online forums are a great way to find people to barter with.
• Allocate specific income–When you are making some money, it’s easier to outsource when you allocate a certain percentage or amount of that income to hiring others. For example, I set aside some of my regular writing income to pay for my bookkeeper and virtual assistants.
• Get an intern–For simple, low-risk tasks, look for an intern who wants to provide services in exchange for gaining experience.

Excuse #2. “It’s Hard to Find Someone Reliable”

This is another good excuse, especially because it is true. When you outsource you want someone who’s highly skilled and reliable at the same time–all for a reasonable price. This may be difficult, but it’s not impossible. These tips may help:

• Ask for referrals –Begin your hunt by asking trusted family, friends, and colleagues for their recommendations. Be clear about the skill set you’re looking for, and make sure the referrer has actually worked with the person they’re recommending.
• Interview candidates–Don’t hire someone unless you’ve spoken to them. Get them on Skype, if you can’t speak to them in person, and get a feel for how the person conducts himself and if there’s chemistry between you. I know, it’s not a romantic relationship, but you should still get along well. While you’re at it, ask for references… and call them!
• Begin with a trial period–There’s less pressure when you have some sort of a probationary period. Use the time to gauge how well you communicate with each other, how committed the person is, and if they have what it takes to do the job well.

Excuse #3. “I Don’t Have Time to Train Someone”

Here’s another good excuse, and I’m guilty of thinking it myself. Again, there are ways to get around this obstacle. Of course, the most obvious one is to hire someone who doesn’t need a lot of training. Other than that, here are some ideas:

• Use video to record training–Make a screen capture video to show how you want things done. By recording it, your new support staff can watch and go over the training as often as they need to. You’ll also be able to use the same training videos with other people.
• Use existing training–Search YouTube and other websites for existing training videos. You’ll be surprised at the amount of resources already out there.

Still Hesitant About Outsourcing?

I hope this post has shown you that it is possible for you to outsource–no matter how short on time, energy or cash you are.

Outsourcing pays off in greater productivity, peace of mind, and ultimately, increased profits. There may be an initial investment in the beginning, but the benefits are worth it.

Finally, think about it: If nobody outsourced, we’d all be out of business.

Do you have other concerns or fears about outsourcing that weren’t covered in this post? What are they?

Image by RagingTornado