Freelance life can be hella lonely. 

😳  You’re not the only one feeling isolated. 

😳  Missing the buzz and banter of working in an office. 

😳  Wishing you someone understood the pressure you’re under (no, the dog doesn’t count). 

😳  Wondering what the heck you should charge for that new project that’s outside your comfort zone.  

As I say in Survival Skills for Freelancers, going solo doesn’t mean going it alone – and finding a community of like-minded individuals to work, collaborate and share with is a real gamechanger.  

When I started my freelance journey back in 1999, there was no freelance community because there was no social media. And there was no social media because there was barely any internet!

Today, you’re spoilt for choice. So where do you start?

Here are my top tips to help you find your freelance community and create a happier, more fulfilled working life.

1. Consider coworking

If staring at the same four walls each day gives you Groundhog Day vibes, consider renting a coworking space two or three times a week.

While you don’t need to be a freelancer to use a coworking space – shared work zones attract flexible workers of all kinds – many freelancers find shared working gives them the lifeline they need to overcome the isolation that can come with the job title.

Some coworking spaces operate on a pay-as-you-go basis where you can drop in and use the facilities when you need to. Others charge a fixed weekly or monthly fee. Shop around to see what’s best for you.

2. Get social online

Social media offers countless networks of enthusiastic, inspiring creatives just like you – and you don’t even need to move from your desk to join them!

Freelance communities on platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Slack and Discord are packed with information, advice, support, opportunities for collaboration… and likeminded people.

Start with thriving Facebook groups such as Freelance Heroes or Being Freelance, or look out for industry-specific communities such as Logo Geek (for graphic designers) or Freelance PRs.

3. Give more than you take

As with most things in life, you get out of online freelance communities what you put in – so dig in, introduce yourself, browse members’ posts and engage with discussions.

Resist the temptation to self-promote. Instead, engage with others, be encouraging, helpful and informed, and give more than you take.

Once you’ve established yourself as an active member and become known as friendly, reliable and someone who knows their stuff, you’re more likely to attract likeminded people, which may even pay off in referrals and business.

4. Do your research

Want to expand your network or social circle but don’t know where to start?

Following hashtags on Twitter and Instagram can help you spot people with similar interests and goals. Give them a follow and reach out with a comment or DM.

Many real-life friendships develop from online connections. (This happens over time, not overnight, so be prepared to invest time and effort.)

5. Go local

Joining a local business network is a great way to meet likeminded individuals and has the added benefit of encouraging you to leave your desk occasionally!

In person networking doesn’t need to be intimidating – remember, everyone was new once. Be yourself, show a genuine interest in others, and focus on making new connections rather than sales.

It might take a while to find a group that feels like home, so be prepared to try a range of networking groups – from formal breakfast gatherings to casual chats over coffee – until you find the right freelance community.

6. Build your support network

Making money isn’t everything. Sure, we all need to pay the bills, but you deserve some me-time, too!

Keeping work and home life separate is super important when you’re freelance. Set firm boundaries – especially around your working hours – and refuse to let your home life come second.

A good support network of non-business friends is essential to your mental wellbeing, so never feel guilty about switching off the laptop, joining a yoga class, or meeting a friend for coffee. Switching off doesn’t just help you to recharge – it boosts focus, creativity and productivity.

Your brain will thank you for it, and so will your bank balance.

“I never put off till tomorrow what I can possibly do the day after” – Oscar Wilde

Working from home sounds great, doesn’t it? No office politics to worry about or difficult boss to please. Instead, you get to do things your way – working when you want, where you want and how you want, and saving on commuting and travel into the bargain.

What’s not to love?!

But while there are definite advantages of remote working, there are distinct downsides, too.

Working from home comes with a lot of distractions – Netflix, housework, emails, endless notifications and the temptations of social media… not to mention your family or flatmate!

It’s easy to get to 5pm without having achieved a thing and be left wondering where the day went!

Whether you’re an experienced freelancer or new to working from home, here are 7 top tips to stop procrastination sapping your time and to give productivity the upper hand.

1. Introduce routine

It might be tempting to roll out of bed whenever you feel like it, but if you want to make home working work for you, setting a regular routine is key to staying focused – as well as a great way to set a boundary between work and home life. What’s more, setting your own schedule makes it much easier to focus on the task in hand.

The hours you choose matter less than the regularity – ultimately, your clients don’t care what hours you work, as long as you get the job done on time. Design your routine around your most productive times, whether that means starting and finishing late, or getting up at silly o’clock and being done by lunchtime. Schedule breaks and time for exercise and end your day at a set time.

2. Prioritise tasks

If you’re struggling to complete anything, you might be suffering from overwhelm. Start the day with a list of everything you need to get done in order of priority, and tick tasks off as you go. If it helps, break each task down into small, manageable chunks. Taking simple steps that are easy to do tricks your brain into focusing on what you can do, rather than what you can’t. As the saying goes, the only way to eat an elephant is in small chunks.

At the end of the day, take a moment to reflect on what you’ve achieved.

3. Avoid distractions

We’re all different. I know some freelancers who can’t work without the buzz of daytime television and others who need absolute silence to focus. Whichever camp you fall into, schedule time where distractions and interruptions are minimised, and you can focus on the task at hand.

Step away from the TV remote, stay off social media, disable pop-up notifications and resist the temptation to check your email every five minutes. Consider setting an auto responder that lets your clients know you only check your emails a couple of times a day – then stick to it!

4. Stay focused

Today’s achievement culture implies that we should all be experts at juggling – and I’m not talking about circus skills! Yet far from being a sign of efficiency, too much multitasking actually lowers your productivity and can lead to overwhelm.

Limit your use of social media, avoid multi-screening, and focus on one task until it’s complete, rather than keeping a dozen projects on the go at once. And remember, it’s okay to say ‘no’ to work if you really don’t have the time. Clients will respect you more if you do a consistently good job than if you try to take on too many things and end up lowering your standards.

5. Manage your time

It’s a lot easier to focus when you feel in control of your time. One tried and tested productivity hack that works for me is the Pomodoro Technique. Start by setting a timer for 25 minutes and focus completely and utterly on the task at hand. When the time is up, take a five-minute break. Step away from your desk, make yourself a drink or do a few simple stretches – whatever helps you relax. You’ll come back to the next part of the task refreshed and ready to refocus.

6. Minimise cabin fever

Most of us spend way too much time being inactive. It’s easy to spend your day hunched over your laptop when you’re working from home but taking regular breaks can help you stay focused and productive.

Use your lunchbreak to get out on your bike or to go for a walk around the block. Take your laptop to a coffee shop for a change of scene (and a decent flat white). And swap some of those endless Zoom calls for walk and talks. Chances are your client will be equally delighted to leave their desk for a bit, and the fresh air and exercise will give you a mental health boost.

7. Curb your perfectionism

We all experience imposter syndrome from time to time. Even Tom Hanks, Serena Williams and Maya Angelou have admitted to it! It’s that nagging inner voice that tells us we’ll never be good enough. Don’t listen to it!

Instead of striving for perfection, remember what Sheryl Sandberg said: “Done is better than perfect”. Remember – we fail, we learn, we grow – and the only real failure is failing to try. So, give yourself permission to make mistakes and go for it! You’ve got this!