16 Habits to Help You Succeed as a Freelancer

Freelancing can be a great way to make money and work on your own schedule, but it can also be challenging. The freelancing lifestyle isn’t for everyone. It takes discipline and commitment to succeed as a freelancer.

You don’t have the same support structure as an employee, so you need to develop good habits that help you succeed. We all know that developing good habits is hard, but not having them can cause us to fail at our goals and dreams.

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The 10 Habits of Highly Successful Freelancers

Here are 10 habits of successful freelancers that will help you build a profitable business while working from home.

1. Wake up early and spend the first hour producing.

Successful freelancers know that the early hours are the most productive. They wake up early and use that time to get things done. This might mean writing, working on their business plan, or doing research for new projects.

If you want to be successful as a freelancer, you need to start your day with some productivity. Dedicate the first hour of your day to your work, and you’ll be more productive for the rest of the day.

Productivity tips:

Wake up early
Get dressed for work
Drink coffee or tea while working
Take breaks every hour
Set goals for the day

Disclaimer: Not everyone is an early bird, some freelancers work best at night. That doesn’t mean you can’t apply this to your schedule.

Related: How to Be Productive in the Morning (Even If You’re Not a Morning Person)

2. Eliminate distractions and focus on your work.

Distractions can kill productivity. When you’re working from home, it’s easy to get sidetracked by the TV, the dog, or social media. Unfortunately, these distractions can keep us from getting our work done.

Successful freelancers know how to eliminate distractions and focus on their work. They might put on headphones to block out background noise, or work in a quiet space where they can concentrate.

If you want to be successful as a freelancer, you need to learn how to focus on your work. Eliminate distractions and stay focused on the task at hand. This will help you get more done in less time.

3. Take breaks throughout the day to stay fresh and focused.

Working all day can be tiring, and it’s easy to lose focus if you don’t take breaks. Successful freelancers know that it’s important to take breaks throughout the day to stay fresh and focused. They might go for a walk, eat lunch, or just relax for a few minutes.

If you want to be successful as a freelancer, you need to take breaks. This will help you stay focused and productive during the day.

Related: The Science of Taking Breaks: How to Take a Break Without Losing Productivity

4. Set goals for each day and week, and track your progress closely.

Another habit of successful freelancers is being goal-oriented. They set goals for each day and week. This helps them stay on track and achieve their goals.

Having set goals and being able to track your daily, weekly, or monthly progress is a habit of successful freelancers. I use my Goals Journal to do this, you can also use a planner or app on your phone.

If you want to be successful as a freelancer, you need to set goals and track your progress. This will help you stay on track and achieve your goals.

Related: The Habits of Successful Freelancers

5. Stay organized by creating a system for tracking your work projects and deadlines.

Staying organized is one habit that can help you succeed as a freelancer. This means creating a system for tracking your work projects and deadlines. This can help you avoid missed deadlines and stressful situations.

Successful freelancers know how to stay organized. They use tools like Asana, Trello, or Google Sheets to track their work projects.

If you want to be successful as a freelancer, you need to stay organized. This means creating a system for tracking your work projects and deadlines.

Related: The Freelancer’s Guide to Organizing Your Work Projects

6. Establish a routine and stick to it as closely as possible.

Another habit of successful freelancers is having a routine. This can help them stay organized and focused on their work. A routine might include specific times for working, taking breaks, and eating lunch.

Sticking to a routine is not as simple as it sounds. However, this is one habit that can help freelancers succeed. Consistency in effort always prevails. You’ll miss deadlines and chances to make more money if you only work when you feel like it.

While you can be inconsistent at your regular 9 to 5 job, freelancers don’t enjoy this luxury. As a freelancer, your consistency can mean a higher paycheck and your lack of it may mean not being able to meet your financial obligations.

7. Stay positive and motivated, even when things get tough.

Freelancers often experience highs and lows. They may feel excited when they get a new project, but then feel overwhelmed when they have to start working on it.

Successful freelancers know how to stay positive and motivated during the good and bad times. They keep their eye on the goal and push through even when things get tough.

“Whenever you find yourself doubting how far you can go, just remember how far you have come. Remember everything you have faced, all the battles you have won, and all the fears you have overcome” – Unknown

8. They work on growing their skills and knowledge.

Successful freelancers know that in order to stay competitive, they need to constantly be learning and growing their skills. They read books, take online courses, and attend workshops and conferences.

The best way to learn is by doing. So if you’re looking for ways to improve your skills as a freelancer, start working on projects. This will give you the opportunity to learn from your mistakes.

What skills can I learn?

Virtual assistant; learn project management, simple designs using canva.

Freelance copywriters; learn keyword research, SEO, and SMM.

Freelance web developers; learn how to use frameworks, API’s, and advanced coding techniques.

The more skills you have as a freelancer, the more marketable you become. So make it a habit to learn new things and grow your skills.

9. Nurture their relationships with clients.

Building relationships with clients is one of the most important habits of successful freelancers.

Freelancers often have to work hard to get their first few clients. But once they have a few clients, they need to work even harder to keep them. This is because it’s easier for clients to switch freelancers than it is for freelancers to switch clients.

Successful freelancers know how to nurture their relationships with clients. They stay in touch with them, keep them updated on their progress, and provide great customer service.

10. Successful freelancers have good communication skills.

Good communication skills are essential for freelancers. They need to be able to communicate with clients, coworkers, and other professionals.

Successful freelancers know how to communicate effectively. They are clear and concise in their writing, and they know how to ask questions and give feedback.

They also know when it’s best to keep quiet and when it’s best to speak up. Good communication skills help freelancers build successful relationships with clients and coworkers.

11. They are familiar with technology.

Technology is an important part of freelancing life. Successful freelancers are familiar with the different types of technology that are used in their field. They know how to use social media, word processing software, and design software.

They also know how to protect themselves from online threats. Familiarity with technology helps freelancers stay productive and efficient.

12. They look for gaps in the market

Successful freelancers are always on the lookout for new opportunities. They know that it’s important to be ahead of the curve and to find gaps in the market.

They do this by keeping up with industry trends, reading blogs and newsletters, and attending workshops and conferences.

When they find a gap in the market, they start brainstorming ideas for new products or services that they can offer. As a freelancer, don’t just focus on niching down in your industry, try and look for something out of the ordinary that other freelancers haven’t focused on.

13. They are good at time management

Another great habit of successful freelancers is knowing how to manage their time effectively. They set deadlines and priorities, and they use tools like calendars and to-do lists to stay organized.

They also know how to work efficiently so that they can get the most done in the shortest amount of time. Time management skills help freelancers stay productive and on schedule.

14. They are business-minded

Successful freelancers know that they need to be business-minded if they want to succeed. This means thinking like an entrepreneur and being creative when it comes to marketing their services and generating new leads.

They also know how to keep track of their finances and manage their money wisely. Being business-minded helps freelancers stay in control of their own freelance business.

15. They are persistent

While staying consistent is great, successful freelancers know that they also need to be persistent if they want to achieve their goals. This means not giving up when things get tough and continuing to work hard even when the going gets tough.

Persistence is key when it comes to freelancing. It’s important to remember that success doesn’t happen overnight, it takes a lot of hard work and dedication.

16. They are confident

To stay ahead of the pack, you need to have confidence in your abilities. This means knowing your strengths and weaknesses and being able to talk about them confidently.

They also know how to sell themselves and their services, which helps them attract new clients. Confidence is essential for freelancers, it helps them feel comfortable when networking and pitching their services.

Your Habits Influence Your Success as a Freelancer

While some of these habits are essential, others are optional. However, the most important thing to remember is that your Habits Influence Your Success as a Freelancer. The habits listed above are just a few of the many that can help you succeed as a freelancer.

If you want to be a successful freelancer, you need to develop good habits. So make sure you develop good habits and stick to them!

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