Struggling with confidence while embarking on your new freelance journey?

You are definitely not alone!

Nearly every freelancer struggles with confidence and sadly, it’s one of the top things that gets in the way of success. To do great work and keep your clients happy, you’ve got to be confident in your abilities and skills.

If you don’t believe in yourself, how can you expect anyone else to? 

So today, we’re excited to share ten tips to help you become a more confident freelancer…

1. Create Your Ideal Work Schedule 

Freelancing offers a lot of freedom and flexibility, but having a schedule is an easy solution to manage your confidence levels. 

By sticking to a schedule, you’ll complete tasks on time and decrease the stress and pressure that procrastination often brings. Also, you’ll feel more confident in your workload management and way less overwhelmed. 

Additionally, by creating a list of your to-dos, batching tasks, and knowing what to prioritize, you’ll be able to accomplish way more things… and they’ll be the right things. When you’re more productive and efficient, your confidence will be boosted.

And since freelancing offers so much flexibility, take advantage of it! If you work best at night, do most of your work then when you’re likely to be more productive. Need a long break in the middle of your day for an afternoon run, long lunch, or a nap? Start work earlier or work later. Make a schedule that will work best for you and helps you feel confident and accomplished!

2. Take a Break 

While creating your ideal work schedule, don’t forget to schedule breaks as well. When you start to feel overwhelmed, your confidence decreases. So, if you find that you’ve been looking at the same project for far too long and begin to doubt yourself, take a break. 

I know firsthand how frustrating it can be to not get something “right” the first time when you’re starting something new. However, by taking frequent breaks and walking away for a few minutes, you’ll come back feeling refreshed and ready to focus! 

Want to learn more productivity tricks to boost your confidence? Check out these great resources on the BB Blog:

• Our 4 Best Tricks for Being More Productive
• 5 Podcast Episodes That Will Make You More Productive
• 6 Simple Tips for Creating a Productive Work From Home Routine

3. Find Your Community

Freelancing can be quite lonely. So, surround yourself (in-person or virtually) with a community of like-minded women who “get” what you’re doing and the goals that you’re pursuing. 

When you have people to talk to who understand the online business world, your journey will feel way less foreign. When you feel like you’re not alone, you’ll be way more confident! 

Find a business bestie who will pick you up when you’re feeling down, keep you inspired, and help you celebrate every single win, big or small!
Ready to find your business bestie? Check out our six tips for finding her today!

4. Stop Playing the Comparison Game

Often compare your abilities to those around you? Have a hard time accepting compliments about your work? Doubt your rates and worth? Afraid of being exposed as a fraud?

It’s okay, love. I’ve been there too.

Once you join a girl boss community or find your business bestie, it can be incredibly easy to fall into a comparison trap. 

But comparing yourself to others in the freelance world is a losing game. There will always be someone who is coming up with ideas you wish you had thought of, making more money, landing more clients, or just doing better work. There will always be someone out there who makes you feel less than. 

But they’ve likely been doing it longer, are in a different niche, have different skills, and have different priorities. So, love, just be your own person. Learn from other people, but don’t get dragged into the comparison game. Trust me, it’s not fun to play!

5. Focus on Your Strengths

Let’s be honest, love. You can’t be good at everything. So, don’t focus excessively on the skills you lack, but rather on the things you’re great at. 

Your strengths are where you can have the greatest advantage as a freelancer. It’s where you can excel, stand apart from the crowd, and be known for something. 

Create your business around the things that you’re passionate about, love doing, and know you’re good at! When your work is based on that, confidence will follow!

6. Never Stop Learning

Ever feel like you just don’t know enough? I’m right there with you!

Even after almost seven years in the freelance world, I still prioritize learning new skills by investing in online courses and mentors. No matter how “experienced” you are in your industry or niche, never stop striving to learn and improve your skills. 

So rather than being overwhelmed and intimidated by all of the new things that are out there, embrace them, learn them, and apply them. Growing, learning, and stretching your skills are great ways to build confidence.

When you take control of your life and take proactive steps to better yourself and your online business, without a doubt, you’ll feel more empowered and confident. 

Ready to invest in yourself and learn new skills? Check out these eight amazing business courses that will help you scale your online business!

7. Celebrate Your Wins!

Too often we see so many of our fellow freelancers and students accomplish huge or even small milestones…and then just move right on to their next task or goal. 

So listen up, love! It’s SO important that you take the time to stop, practice gratitude, and celebrate.

Whether you just launched your freelancing website, completed a course, figured out a pain-in-the-butt issue, or landed your first client, no success is too small to celebrate. 

Treat yourself to a yummy lunch. Reward yourself with a walk in the park. Pop open that wine and enjoy a night off.

Just remember that every day you’re taking steps closer to reach your goals and dreams. The work you’re doing matters. You matter. And you deserve to celebrate and to be celebrated. Plus, there’s no better confidence booster than self-love!

8. Don’t Take It Personally

I’m going to be straight up honest, love. Throughout your freelance journey, you will be rejected and you will fail.

It’s pretty much guaranteed that you will be rejected in your freelancing career. So, rather than fearing it, accept it, embrace it, and realize that every other freelancer is dealing with the same thing. You are not alone in this and it’s just an ordinary part of the freelance life.

In terms of facing your fear of failure, it’s important you know that EVERYONE makes mistakes. It’s 100% normal to mess up sometimes, but you’ve just got to learn and grow from them. Don’t allow yourself to obsess over the mistakes and let them shrivel your confidence.

9. Be Kind to Yourself

No matter what happens during your freelancing journey, always remember to give yourself grace. Forgive yourself for the silly mistakes you made. Allow yourself to take a day off. Speak positivity over your life and your business. 

If you struggle with being kind to yourself, try writing out affirmations every morning. It’s a great way to start your day and get your confidence boosted from the very get-go!

Most importantly, know that there will be days where you lack confidence…even if you do all of our eight tips, but just keep moving forward. Becoming a confident freelancer takes time and experience.

10. Surround Yourself with Positivity

It’s so important to surround yourself with positivity, especially when you’re feeling down and discouraged. By listening to encouraging podcasts, reading motivational books, and watching inspiring Netflix shows, you’ll remember that you’re not alone in feeling afraid and facing setbacks. 

When you surround yourself with people who are breaking the mold, courageously pushing past their fears, and finding the confidence to chase their dreams, you’ll be inspired to do the exact same!

Now, get out there and show ‘em what you’ve got! You’ve got this, love!