I’m still working on revamping my book about succeeding as a freelancer on Upwork. One part of what I’ll include is my answers to 64 high-level, “big obstacle” questions that freelancers, including those on Upwork, tend to run into regularly.
Such as the following question from Reddit:
“Back then when I started out to work online (Internet Marketing & SEO) I kinda enjoyed it a bit but nowadays after 3 years part-time and now 1 year full time I kinda hate it at all..
“What might be the reason for it? Just bcz I got some money on my bank account? I think that gives me some trust that I can just chill out.”
I’ve personally never hated freelancing. But I have hated myself as well as my life while freelancing.
I put this down to my bad tendency to blame myself rather than external factors. And if you think I’m humblebragging, I’m not. I genuinely think it’s good for your mental health in the long run if you can honestly say, “I would have been successful — if not for the damned rain.” If instead you say (like I do), “It’s my fault because I didn’t bring an umbrella, stupid stupid!” you will eat away at yourself too much, too soon.
Anyways, on to the question.
I don’t know what causes hate, whether of freelancing or of the freelancer and his life. But I do know what can work as a fix.
In my experience, it’s to keep experimenting with different techniques. Some ideas:
Work in tight routines.
Stop working in tight routines and allow yourself to work however much and whenever you want.
Take a change of scenery.
Take a break during the day and do something new to appreciate the fact that you have flexibility.
Keep looking to improve your skills and get more specialized and valuable.
Keep increasing your rates to make your life better and to challenge yourself.
Keep working on your own side projects that will both help you with freelancing and might have some value on their own.
None of these things is going to be THE ONE TRUE answer. But if you keep trying them all, and switching them up, you might just make your whole life better, in small but significant ways, in many different dimensions. And in time that will help you cope with tough times, because those will always come. But they don’t have to cause you to descend into spittle-ejecting hate.
So that’s my bit of pulpit beating for today.
If you have questions about freelancing or copywriting obstacles, you might like that book about Upwork I’m preparing. To get notified when I finish it up, you can sign up here: