Even as a freelancer, it’s essential to create a structured work schedule to keep up. Following a schedule helps you maintain a healthy work-life balance and prevents burnout when writing. Here’s why a structured schedule is important for freelance writers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

What Are the Benefits of a Structured Schedule?

A structured schedule can help you improve your workflow, productivity and organization. Here’s how it can help freelance writers:                

• Keeps you on track with priorities and deadlines: A schedule will help you complete tasks on time and see when to work on specific assignments.

• Reduces stress and decision fatigue: Research shows that the average American adult makes 35,000 decisions daily, which can take up a lot of mental space and energy. Make it easier for yourself by streamlining your routines and workflow. Planning your day saves the time and energy you would use to make decisions so you can get work done instead.

• Helps you set accurate benchmarks: Over time, you will see how long it takes to complete a task, which will help you create more effective schedules.

• Maintains your reputation: You want to be known as reliable. Schedules help you allocate time correctly and communicate your availability and capacity. Without a plan, you might spread yourself thin by overestimating how long tasks take to complete.

• Minimizes mistakes and revisions: Preparation will help you feel calm and collected. As a result, you’re more likely to remember additional information or instructions for projects. You’ll also make fewer mistakes when you’re focused. 

• Provides better work-life balance: Many freelancers find themselves working at all times of the day. While you do have the flexibility to work when you want to, having set hours will ensure that you don’t overwork yourself. If you have kids or a spouse, try to get your work done while they are at school or work. That way, you can spend time with them when they get home.

How Do You Create a Suitable Schedule?

Creating a schedule that suits your needs will make your workdays more productive. Here’s how to establish one that will improve your life as a freelance writer.

1.   Have a Set Start and Finish Time

A designated start time adds structure to your day and ensures you don’t spend too much time working. You will be able to make the most of your time and finish tasks before your workday ends.

2.   Establish Morning and Evening Routines

Your workday starts long before you sit at a desk and start typing. Everything you do before you start working can impact your productivity for the rest of the day.

Many remote workers fall into the habit of waking up minutes before they need to start working. If you set your start time to be 9:00 a.m., you don’t want to wake up at 8:50. Instead, give yourself time to eat breakfast, exercise, journal, get dressed and do anything else to energize you. Act like you’re getting ready to go into the office, even if you work from home.

In the evening, close your computer and put work issues aside until the following day.

A shutdown routine can look like making a list of incomplete tasks or projects, planning when to finish them, taking your dog for a walk or going to the gym. These habits will relax your brain after work and allow you to enjoy your evening.

3.   Write Down All Goals

Make a list of goals you want to work on for the week or month. Write down five small steps that you can take to reach that objective.

For example, write out all of the current projects you have to work on and give them each a deadline. For each project, write out all of the actions you need to complete, such as creating an outline, conducting research, scheduling interviews, writing the first draft and submitting it. Then, give each task a time block on your weekly calendar.

Breaking goals into smaller tasks will make projects feel less daunting and help you finish them on time.

4.   Create Time Blocks for Every Type of Task

Set aside time blocks for a specific task or a group of them. For example, you could block out 10 a.m. to noon for project outlines and research, noon to 1 p.m. for lunch, and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. for writing.

If you repeat these actions at the same time every day, you’ll turn them into habits. After lunch, your brain will know it’s time to write, so you’ll already be mentally prepared to dive in. 

More to Consider

There are a few more things you should consider when creating an effective schedule:

• Incorporate processing and cleanup time: A clear desk is a clear mind. Clutter and dust in your workspace can cause mental health issues and allergies and disrupt sleep patterns. No wonder work stressors amount to $190 billion in yearly health care costs for American businesses. Wipe down your desk regularly, sort papers and toss unnecessary items. A clean workspace will boost your productivity by reducing stress, maintaining health, increasing focus and saving time.

• Be flexible: Plan for the unexpected. You may need to change your schedule slightly if disruptions or tasks take longer than expected. Incorporate breathing room and extra time to deal with issues without disrupting your scheduled plans.

• Use apps and time-tracking tools: You can use Google Calendar or Todoist for time blocking and Zenwriter or Pomodoro timers to help you focus when writing. Find apps to suit your workflow and use them to make things easier.

• Keep it simple: Whatever time-tracking method you choose, keep your schedule easy to follow and focused.

• Learn your energy flow: Keep a log of how long it takes to do things at certain times of the day. Plan to tackle bigger projects when you have the most energy to prevent burnout. You may prefer to write in the afternoon and have meetings in the morning. Perhaps you feel more awake after lunchtime and can better focus on creating blog content. Optimize your schedule to work with your energy levels.

Manage Your Time Well for Success

It’s up to you to make your schedule. While this means you can work when and where you want, it can be challenging if you don’t have an effective system. A structured daily routine adds a sense of preparedness to your day and ensures you get everything done.

Author bio: Cora Gold is a freelance writer and editor of women’s lifestyle magazine, Revivalist. As a freelancer, Cora writes about wellness and balancing work with family. Connect with Cora on LinkedIn and Twitter.

As someone in the creative industry, you know the importance of self-discipline and mental well-being. That’s especially true if you work independently. There are so many benefits to being an independent contractor, especially when you get to let your creativity shine. However, there are plenty of things that can put a damper on your mental state. Not only do those things impact the quality of your work, but they can have a negative effect on your personal life, too. With the holidays just around the corner, the struggles of seasonal depression and changing routines can take a toll on your mental health. Now is the time to focus on what you can do to mitigate and manage those holiday challenges. 

With that in mind, let’s cover a few tips you can use to maintain your mental health this winter, so you can manage a heavier workload, avoid burnout, and reduce the negative impact of issues like seasonal depression. 

1. Refresh Your Best Practices

If you’ve been working in the creative space for a while, either as a contractor or for a company, you already know the importance of keeping things in place that allow you to stay productive while maintaining your mental health. 

During the holidays, it’s easy to forgo some of those practices. Routines get disrupted and the days can often feel shorter as it gets darker earlier. If you start to notice that your habits are slipping and it’s causing you to feel unmotivated, stressed, or even depressed, take the time to refresh your best practices and determine the things that help you feel your best. That could include things like: 

• Maintaining a daily routine;
• Staying physically active;
• Keeping up your social life;
• Focusing on one project at a time;
• Taking frequent breaks.

Some of the simplest self-care habits can make a big difference in how you feel. Things like exercising, eating a healthy diet, and spending time outside can improve your mood, boost your energy levels, and make it easier to enjoy the season rather than drudging through it. If you struggle with seasonal depression or you just tend to feel “down” this time of year, keeping a solid routine and practicing self-care won’t just help you with your work life but will also make you stronger and healthier, overall. 

2. Declutter Your Space

Many people wait until the new year to give themselves a “fresh start.” However, you can get a head start on that now and alleviate some stress from your holiday season by cleaning and organizing your work area. 

It’s essential to stay mentally healthy and have a sense of clarity as you work throughout the holiday season. Having a decluttered office space can make a big difference. Not only will it lead to fewer distractions, but it will also reduce the risk of human error as you get your work done. 

You’re less likely to feel overwhelmed and bogged down, and you can feel good about entering the new year knowing you already have a decluttered workspace that allows you to be safe and productive. Organizing your space the way you want can also help to boost creativity and inspire you to come up with new ideas. 

3. Set Boundaries

The holidays are arguably the busiest time of year for many people. Your clients might be asking more of you as they’re rolling out holiday specials or “end of the year” promotions. You might feel pressured to create more content so you can get a head start on the new year. On top of that, you have to deal with the stress from your personal life, whether it’s buying presents, attending parties and events, or preparing your home for the season. 

Pause and take a deep breath. 

Keep in mind that even remote workers have to set boundaries when it comes to how much they take on. When it comes to your work schedule, you can implement those boundaries by: 

• Switching “off” at the end of the day and not doing work outside of your normal hours;
• Having a dedicated workspace at home;
• Maintaining consistent work hours;
• Turning off notifications when you’re done for the day.

It’s just as important to set boundaries in your personal life, especially during this season. Working from home doesn’t mean you should allow others unrestricted access to your time. You don’t have to accept every party invitation or offer to make your famous casserole for the next family get-together. Learning how to say “no” can be a huge asset to your mental health. Focus on a few things you want to do over the season, and let yourself decline the things that will wear down your energy and leave you feeling overwhelmed. 

The holiday season should be a time of enjoyment and relaxation. While it can often feel extremely busy, stressful, and even gloomy, taking care of yourself, setting boundaries, and finding ways to experience comfort and peace during the season can combat those issues and make it easier to maintain your mental health.

In the world of content creation, one is constantly taking in content of all kinds—and then create new content themselves. While content creators are typically innovative and highly creative, even they can get into a creative rut.

Depending on the type of content one creates and how often, it may be necessary to get out of their typical rhythm and find new inspiration.

According to Forbes, more than 50 million independent content creators, curators, and community builders are fueling the creator economy, which is valued at 20 billion—predicted to grow to 104.2 billion in 2022.

There’s no denying that the world of content is rapidly growing. And while content creation is on the rise, one’s usual cycle of creating has a chance of getting old.  

Here are five different ways you can get inspired to create new content. 

1. Take notes from the content you love

A newsletter. A picture. A blog. A TikTok video.

These are all forms of content that you can take inspiration from. Even if it’s outside of your typical industry (or comfort zone), there are countless sources to observe. Look at the content you are engaged with daily. What makes you enjoy it? What stands out about it in the sea of content out there? Answering these types of questions will help you find new ways of inspiration.

2. Utilize new content tools

Because the world of content is constantly evolving, so are the tools used to enhance it. New tools such as Answer the Public and Buzzsomo are just for that. Answer the Public helps you understand what questions your audience are asking so you can build content from that. Buzzsomo helps with keyword research and social listening.

3. Become a member of social media groups

Social media groups on platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn are a great place to find others like you, chat with them about their strategies, and gain exposure to new developments in your field.

4. Ask your consumers what content they’d like to see

It never hurts to simply ask! Creating a space for your audience to tell you what they’d like to see on your platform can be tremendously helpful. And in the meantime, you’ll help them feel heard and appreciated—and you may even learn something from them.

5. Expand old content

Is there specific content that has performed well in the past? Consider re-purposing or expanding it into a larger concept. If it resonates with your audience, you can use that to your advantage.

Remote work is the new normal. Not only that, but it will continue to be a popular option for companies that are adopting work-from-home policies. There’s overwhelming evidence that remote work increases productivity while simultaneously increasing employee happiness by as much as 20%. Working remotely clearly has positive benefits. However, with limitless distractions around, you still must practice keeping up a productive and steady workweek while also avoiding burnout. Whether you’re just starting a remote job or have been working one for years, odds are you’ve encountered some obstacles when trying to stay focused. Here are some remote work productivity tips to keep in mind.

1. Create a routine for yourself

Depending on your day-to-day work schedule, you’ll want to create a routine—and try to stick to it. Studies show that keeping a routine is important when trying to maintain healthy habits. It will help provide more stability and rhythm in your work life.  

2. Schedule breaks in your calendar

Remote work offers flexibility and eliminates extra time spent commuting or chatting with fellow employees in the office, but that doesn’t mean you should spend all day at your desk and on your computer.

It’s easy to fall prey to the idea that you don’t have enough time for a break, but that’s simply not true. Scheduling breaks are important for your mental health and will boost productivity in return. Take a walk outside. Call a friend. Read a book for 30 minutes. Try meditation. Reward your hard work with a break.

3. Have a designated workspace

Maybe this is your first remote job, and you don’t quite have a home office yet. If you have space for it, create a spot solely for work.

If there’s not enough room in your apartment or home, look into memberships at coworking spaces. Studies show that these spaces increase productivity and an employee’s ability to thrive.

4. Limit digital distractions

We live in a world with countless distractions. Consider putting your phone on do not disturb during the hours you work and limit your screen time outside of work. Although you most likely have many distractions readily available at the touch of your fingertips, you can control when you’re using your time and attention elsewhere.

5. Try task batching

Have you ever heard of task batching? Task batching is when you group similar tasks together and complete them one at a time instead of sporadically. It’s proven to increase productivity because it lets our brains focus on one thing at a time, getting things done more efficiently.

6. Set weekly goals

Setting weekly goals for yourself—and then evaluating whether you completed these goals—will help you stay on track at your job, especially when working remotely. These goals can be smaller or larger. They could even be daily or monthly goals. Regardless, setting goals will help keep you on track.

7. Make lists

If you don’t create lists during your workweek, now could be the time to start. You could use the traditional pen and paper method or use a digital notebook such as OneNote, Evernote, or Notion.

8. Meal prep

Not having to go into an office means not having to worry about bringing or ordering lunch. Your kitchen may be just a few steps away, but meal prepping and planning out your meals will help your productivity by creating a routine in your day. It can help you gain a sense of how much time will be dedicated to your meals.  

9. Set boundaries

Boundaries are crucial for remote work. Although you may be technically available during a certain time period each day, you don’t have to be readily available to your work friends or coworkers. Consider blocking off time in your calendar for your breaks so your coworkers know when you are available—and when you aren’t.

10. Use paid time off

Remote work has proven to increase happiness and flexibility. However, you should still use your given paid time off and completely unplug. It is proven to help you out in the long run—increasing productivity in return. Researcher Mark Rosekind of Alertness Solutions found that the respite effect of a vacation can increase performance by up to 80%.

1. Starving Artist

Starving Artist is the perfect mix of practical and inspirational—offering advice and information about handling the financial aspects of creative professions to help you find success.

2. Switch, Pivot or Quit

Looking for a career change? Ahyiana Angel successfully switched her career from a sports entertainment publicist to a published author. In this podcast, she provides advice, inspiration, and motivation specifically for those who want to transition into a new career field now or in the future.

3. Find Your Dream Job

This one’s title gives it away. Every week, these podcasters share insider secrets and job search tips on how to get a great job and develop a purposeful career.

4. Side Hustle School

We’re no strangers to writing about side hustles here at Mediabistro. This is a daily podcast for everyone who works a regular job and wants to start an income-earning project on the side. In each episode, listeners will hear a different story from someone who has started a side hustle. The show is written and hosted by Chris Guillebeau, the New York Times bestselling author of The $100 Startup and The Happiness of Pursuit.

5. Creative Pep Talk

Through pep & strategy soaked monologues and interviews with creative powerhouses like Joseph Gordon Levitt, Abbi Jacobson and Morgan Harper Nichols, CPT is designed to help you reach your creative potential.

6. Artrepreneur Creative Careers Podcast

Every artist, designer, and creative entrepreneur has a unique story about their journey to find professional success that can help inspire and guide yours through this podcast. From happy accidents to dealing with adversity, industry innovators share their experiences, insights, and advice to help you navigate your career and find your own path. What do they all have in common? They never stop learning.

7. Creative Lives

Creative Lives is an educational resource to inspire and inform the next generation of creatives and help them make better career decisions. Each podcast episode profiles interesting creative careers – from how they identified an interest in the industry, to landing their first job.

8. Design Matters

Debbie Millman’s Design Matters is the world’s first podcast about design and an inquiry into the broader world of creative culture through wide-ranging conversations with designers, writers, artists, curators, musicians, and other luminaries of contemporary thought, sure to inspire any creative.

Have you felt stuck in a rut lately and like you’ve needed to boost your creativity? This is common, especially with writers who want to practice their craft but struggle to find something to write about.

Writing prompts are a great way to get out of such ruts, forcing one to write about things out of their comfort zone or about things that typically wouldn’t cross their brain. Every writer needs to broaden their horizon with writing prompts occasionally. These are perfect for finding inspiration to write a novel, short story, essay, or simply journal. However you decide to use them, these writing prompts are an excellent motivator to become a better writer:

• What is your favorite color and what feeling does it evoke?
• What do you think the world will look like in 20 years?
• Imagine a state you’ve never been to and write about what you think it’s like.
• Write about a time you’ve moved (jobs, houses, cities).
• Recall one of your most vivid dreams and add elements that weren’t in it.
• Recall one of your teachers in your middle or high school years. What do you think their life was like?
• Write about something kind that a stranger has done for you.
• What is a hobby you’ve been wanting to try and why?
• Come up with an imaginary place. What is it like and what are the rules there?
• If you could time travel, which period of time would you go to?
• What was the weirdest thing you’ve ever seen happen in public?
• Write about what you would do if you won the lottery.
• Only using dialogue, write a story about the reunion of two friends.
• Find a sentence in a letter or book and start your story with it.
• Choose an ancestor or a person from the past to write about or to.

Feeling inspired to write more? Here are some of our other writing tips.

Take a second and think about the role creativity plays in your life. Do you consider yourself a creative person? Do you utilize your creative potential and carve out time for it? Do you wish you had more time to explore it within you?

While it may seem hard to describe, the dictionary defines creativity as “the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.”

We’ve outlined the importance of routines and how sticking to them will help you maintain your creative energy. Now here are some daily habits that you can put in place to help your creativity blossom—and thrive.

Journaling

As Joan Didion said, “I write entirely to find out what I’m thinking, what I’m looking at, what I see and what it means. What I want and what I fear.” Taking time to write down your thoughts not only helps your creative energy flow and gets your thoughts down on paper, but also is a therapeutic daily habit. When you dedicate time to focus solely on your thoughts, without putting too much pressure on the output element, you may come up with a brilliant new idea—or simply set time aside for yourself. In fact, there are many studies on the art of journaling and how it increases one’s daily functioning, improves communication skills, and improves one’s physical and psychological health.

Meditation

Like journaling, mediation is a time dedicated to sitting with your thoughts. This can have many benefits on your creativity, especially in a world that is keen on multitasking and constantly being plugged in. Meditation can quiet your racing mind and help you get to an imaginative and creative space. In fact, neuroscience findings show that it correlates with brain wave activity—which is increased in areas associated with the creative and mystical during mediation.

Walking

There has been a long history of researchers linking creativity with many kinds of movement. And this doesn’t have to be an extreme, strenuous workout. A recent Standford study proved that walking boosts creative inspiration, especially when compared to sitting down.

“A person walking indoors – on a treadmill in a room facing a blank wall – or walking outdoors in the fresh air produced twice as many creative responses compared to a person sitting down, one of the experiments found.”

Reading

Those who are avid readers may already be very familiar with the many benefits of reading: not only does it exercise your brain and improves your vocabulary, but it also boosts your empathy and imagination. People who read literary fiction specifically are more likely to understand the feelings and beliefs of others.

How does this relate to your own creativity? Well, the more imaginative you become through other people’s work, the better you’ll be able to carry out empathy—and creativity—in your own.

Unplugging from electronics

This one may seem like it goes hand-in-hand with every tip on this list—and it does, but its importance should only be reiterated. Unplugging from electronics—even if it’s just for thirty minutes to an hour a day—can radically improve your brain’s ability to generate original thought and find inspiration from within. While the internet can be a great place to find ideas from others, it’s important to carve out some time away from it too.

Resting

Last but certainly not least, and one you may not typically think of, resting is crucial to fueling creativity. The benefits of sleep have recently been examined more, as more than a third of Americans are not getting enough sleep on a regular basis according to the CDC. Neuroscientist Matthew Walker shares in his book Why We Sleep, “Sleep is the single most effective thing we can do to reset our brain and body health each day—Mother Nature’s best effort yet at contra-death.”

If you make time for a full night’s rest or carve out thirty minutes for a nap, you are doing yourself—and your creativity—a favor. This will allow you to clear your mind, focus, and eventually become more creative in your day-to-day life.

The first quarter of 2020 included many things for the world to adjust to—specifically one shift: work from home. And just when people thought it could be a temporary practice, it became more and more permanent throughout companies across the United States. With those transitions, remote work became the new normal. Leaders of companies were left with one question when pandemic restrictions loosened up: where are their employees more productive—in the office or at home?

There is plenty of data to back the fact that employees who can work from home are just as—or more—productive. The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics at the University of Chicago surveyed 10,000 employees, with results pointing to one key finding: people said they thought they were just as productive working from home compared to working in the office.

Remote work is not going away anytime soon. And while you may be getting more done at home, be sure you have a healthy relationship with work. Randy Simon, an expert on work-life balance told TODAY  that a lot of setting yourself up for work-from-home success comes down to boundaries.

Here are some ways to avoid burnout in a remote world.

Create a designated workspace

If you have just started working remotely in the recent past, you may have noticed how convenient it is not having to leave your home but feel like you can never truly leave work because it is now within your home. If that’s the case, think about creating a designated space that’s solely for work. Once you set boundaries for your own space, you should feel like you can separate work and your personal life—physically and then eventually mentally.

Virtually connect with your coworkers

Just because you’re working remotely doesn’t mean you can’t connect on a virtual level with your coworkers. If you just talk with them during weekly meetings, consider reaching out to them to plan a happy hour or a designated time to talk about non-related work topics. While you can’t simply wander over to their desk, small talk and getting to know each other can still exist within your work life.

Allow short breaks for yourself

Have you ever worked remotely and found yourself staring at your screen too long—losing track of time? If you’d been used to taking breaks within the office at one point—or simply getting up to get water or go to get lunch, don’t let work from home deter you from still taking time for yourself. Plan breaks, even if they’re just 10 minutes long. A few breaks a day will help give your mind a rest so you can fully focus once you’re back at your desk.

“Breaks are crucial,” says Cal Newport, author of Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World. “If you’re working day after day and not letting up, you will burn out.”

Put time on your calendar for these breaks if you need to, especially so your coworkers are aware of this special time carved out just for you.  

Schedule time for your hobbies

You shouldn’t just schedule time for breaks—but also make sure you’re not overworking yourself, allowing room in your days or nights to practice a hobby. You are a human being after all, not a robot, and it’s normal to have interests outside of work.

“Without a daily commute, it’s easy to think that we will have so much added free time, but it’s easy to just add that time on to our workday,” shares writer and hobby advocate Betsy Ramser Jaime.

Turn on ambience videos

Working remotely means you’re not in an office and can control your own background noise. If you need extra help focusing and creating a calm work environment, check out YouTube’s different ambience videos—from a cozy cabin to a fall coffee shop to an enchanted forest. Ironically, creating a mood that makes you feel like you’re somewhere else can help you stay more present.

Take vacation (and sick) days seriously

Lastly, don’t forget to use your vacation and sick days when you need to. Just because you’re not traveling to and from an office doesn’t mean you don’t get to take time away from your job. In fact, it’s been scientifically proven that taking vacation days increases overall productivity and well-being. And if you don’t feel well but think you should keep working because you’re home, think again. Your sick days are provided to you for a reason. So use them and be kind to yourself about using them. It will help you maintain better boundaries with work, overall improving your work-life balance.

Have you recently felt uninspired or less creative than usual? This can happen to everyone—even the people you’d consider the most creative or imaginative. A simple fact is that we’re all creatives, whether we want to embrace it and practice it or not. As Maya Angelou said, “You can’t use up creative energy. The more you have, the more you have.” Creativity is a bottomless well of wonder. If you’re stuck in a rut, here are some ways you can get out of that rut and keep your creative energy flowing.

Start a morning routine

Starting a morning routine that involves time for yourself to reflect can radically improve your day-to-day creativity. Set aside 30 minutes or more and practice something that forces you to sit still and relax. This could be a time to read a book, meditate, journal, write a to-do list—the possibilities are endless. If your practice is consistent, it’ll help you get into the creative zone.

Unplug & move around

As great as technology can be, it’s also a double-edged sword as one of our biggest distractions. Instead of mindlessly scrolling on social media when you have a break, try turning your phone off and going for a walk instead. As cliché as it may sound, it does clear your head. Feeling fresh air on your skin and putting your body in motion does wonders for your mind—positively affecting your creativity as well.

Go to a museum

If you live near a museum and can go to one (or more), don’t miss out on the opportunity. Museums of all kinds are full of different art and artifacts that you can pull inspiration from in numerous ways. Walking around and being in the presence of art has the ability to get your creative gears turning. There’s a high possibility you’ll walk out of it with a plethora of ideas.

Free write

Have you ever grabbed a sheet of paper and written whatever comes to mind for fifteen minutes? If you’re a writer or previous English major, then probably. If you’re unfamiliar with this method, it’s straightforward. Just write and don’t fret about what you’re writing and how you’re writing it. This practice is one of the most underrated ways to not only clear your brain but also boost self-awareness and mental health. And you never know—you may get a brilliant idea from it.

Need a writing prompt to get started?

Take a class for something you know you’re not good at

One of the most common reasons people don’t try new things is because they think they must be experts at it; they don’t want to fail or be embarrassed. This attitude towards trying new things, especially when it pertains to creative outlets, can limit your creativity as a whole. Have you ever been scared to take a painting class because you know you’re not a good painter? Have you wanted to try dancing but don’t want to embarrass yourself? We get it. It feels daunting at the time, but stepping out of your comfort zone to try new things will help unleash your creativity.

Be open to collaboration

Lastly, be open to bouncing ideas off other people who may want to give you creative advice or work with you on a project. This method can help you realize new things you may not have thought of before and will allow you to see other people’s creative methods and thinking, possibly inspiring you to think in a new light.

Andrew Ng, formerly of Google and now of Baidu, believes in this method.

“In my own life, I found that whenever I wasn’t sure what to do next, I would go and learn a lot, read a lot, talk to experts,” he said. “I don’t know how the human brain works but it’s almost magical: when you read enough or talk to enough experts, when you have enough inputs, new ideas start appearing.”

Yes, there is the elation of landing a story in a big publication like the New York Times or GQ. Then there might be weeks of rejected pitches or hours spent twiddling thumbs while waiting to hear back from an editor—if you hear back at all.

If you’re planning on making a lifelong career out of freelance writing, it’s necessary to level out those yo-yo-ing emotions and approach your work like an adult and a business owner. To help, Mediabistro spoke with a handful of writing and life coaches on how they help their clients get a grip on it.

Have Money in the Bank

For Caitlin Kelly, a freelance writer and writer’s coach, keeping a rainy day fund is crucial for an enjoyable freelance career. “You should have money in the bank, ideally two or three months of what you need to live,” she said. Kelly grew up with two parents who were freelancers. Her father, a documentary filmmaker, and her mother, a writer in film and television, never had vacation pay and had to deal with pitches flopping while supporting a family. “I think if you have money to pay your bills on time,” it makes freelance a lot easier, said Kelly.

Be Proactive

Feeling disappointed when a pitch is rejected is healthy, especially when you realize it is a numbers game, according to Marla Beck, a performance coach for writers who want to reach the next level in their career. “The more places you submit it, the more chance you have of seeing your work in the places you want it to be.” Before her clients pitch to Plan A, Beck encourages them to have a Plan B and Plan C already in mind. “It is taking a more proactive stance,” she said.

Have Multiple Streams of Income

Nick Usborne wears many hats and he suggests his coaching clients, the majority who are freelance writers, do the same. Usborne, who is three decades into a copywriting career, also teaches copywriting for the web, has his coaching business and generates advertising revenue through a coffee blog (side note: he started the blog after he wrote web copy for a coffee company and wanted to continue harnessing his newfound coffee knowledge). “This goes to the center of the new gig economy,” he said. “It’s not like the olden days of a single job.” With multiple income streams, if one disappears, you still have others to fall back on.

Don’t “Should” All Over Yourself

Often writers deal with a pitch rejection by dwelling on what they think other people should have been thinking about them, according to Polly Bennell, a former psychotherapist turned life coach for writers. It might take the form of “That editor should have accepted my pitch” or “If the editor was slightly interested in my book proposal, they should have asked me about it.” When this happens, you make up information that just isn’t true, Bennell said. “You can train yourself out of this [thought pattern] by recognizing it,” she said.

Is Your Inner Seven-Year-Old Having Fun

Many people go freelance in pursuit of a better lifestyle that isn’t all work. However, that can quickly turn into a workday that doesn’t end because there is always something left undone when you are a “solopreneur,” according to Peter Shallard, a former psychotherapist who is now a consultant to entrepreneurs. When clients are in that position, Shallard likes to ask this question: What happened in the last 14 days that your seven-year-old self would have loved? If the answer is nothing, then it is normally a wake-up moment for freelancers and entrepreneurs fighting too hard for success. “Genuine play takes you out of all that and puts you in the present,” Shallard said. “Your emotional state starts to be based on something else other than work.”