5 Ways to Put Mindfulness to Work in Your Life

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We hear the word mindfulness just about everywhere these days. But what does it really mean to be mindful, and how can you practice mindfulness to improve your personal and professional life?



Being more mindful has myriad perks. <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.724126/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Studies have shown</a> mindfulness practices and interventions to be useful in <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2769761" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reducing stress and anxiety symptoms</a>—an effect potentially comparable to <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/10/3/52/htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">that of established treatments</a> like cognitive behavioral therapy. Mindfulness can relieve our <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/07/220708162754.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">perception of aches and pains</a>, keep us more <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327043868_Mindfulness_Training_Improves_Employee_Well-Being_A_Randomized_Controlled_Trial" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">focused at work</a> and help us <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.700742/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">become more resilient</a>. It’s also an ideal way to <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2019.01074/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">get a grip on emotions</a>, which can affect our attention, memory and motivation.



“You almost need a black belt in emotion management in today’s volatile, uncertain and ever-changing organizational landscape,” says Kate Kerr, a mindfulness specialist from Canada. “Mindfulness gives us a space between our emotions and our fight-flight-freeze reactions, however brief, and increases our ability to respond more skillfully. This can lead to a reduction in conflicts and an ability to utilize empathy to drive stronger relationships.”



Being able to observe how your mind is spinning instead of being emotionally reactive can certainly help us evolve, adds Shoshana Bennett, Ph.D., a California-based psychologist.



Mindfulness works wonders, but how exactly does one achieve it? Here are a few tips to help you tune into your inner zen.



<h2 id="h-1-know-what-mindfulness-is-and-isn-t">1. Know what mindfulness is and isn’t.</h2>



Tiffany Cruikshank, the founder of Yoga Medicine and author of Meditate Your Weight, says there are many ways to approach being mindful, and the two core aspects are being an observer and being nonjudgmental about what you observe. Can you hear your breath or notice bodily sensations without trying to change them? This act of being an unbiased observer is what gives us the capacity to see things more clearly.



“Simply observing and acknowledging our feelings, thoughts or sensations without continuing to focus on them is important,” Bennett says. “Often, we convince ourselves that we need to do something about what we’re thinking or feeling, and we put our attention on them. This is where we get into trouble. We make up stories and ‘spin’ about them.”



One of the most beautiful (and frustrating) things about mindfulness are the many paradoxes, Kerr says.



For example, you might not feel like you have the time to meditate, yet meditation makes you more productive. “The more time we spend practicing mindfulness and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/all-you-have-is-this-moment-how-will-you-choose-to-spend-it/">being in the present moment</a>, the more space we might create in our day to get things done,” she says. Or what about the fact that mindfulness isn’t about a goal at all, but it still helps you achieve more of them? “It’s an invitation to let go of any goals and lean into our moment-to-moment experiences,” Kerr says. “Over time, our busy minds begin to settle, enabling us to be more present and see more clearly. So ultimately, we’re more likely to achieve more of our goals.”



<h2 id="h-2-begin-now">2. Begin now.</h2>



Kerr says it’s important to “just start” when you want to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/unlock-ingenuity-in-business-by-taking-time-to-practice-mindfulness/">begin practicing mindfulness</a>. “You could begin by working with a simple one- to two-minute breathing practice every day and go from there,” she says, adding that practicing mindfulness can be done anywhere, anytime. “The beauty of mindfulness is we can practice it in multiple ways such as sitting, standing, lying down, walking or eating, to name a few. It’s also highly adaptable to workplace environments and can be implemented in short bursts throughout your day.”



<h2 id="h-3-observe-the-everyday">3. Observe the everyday.</h2>



The easiest way to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/5-ways-you-can-use-mindfulness/">incorporate mindfulness into your life</a> is to find a way to connect to it on a daily basis, Cruikshank says. “Simple things like noticing the sensations in your body or your breath as you brush your teeth, drink water, wash dishes or drive home from work… anything you do every day on a regular basis will work,” she says. Pick just one or two and make it a routine.



<h2 id="h-4-release-expectations">4. Release expectations.</h2>



Many people try to get something from their practice immediately or expect to feel a certain way when practicing. That’s not how it works, Cruikshank says. “Mindfulness requires that you drop your agenda and really appreciate the moment as it is, regardless… without having to fix it or wait for it to be different.”



To see a difference in how being more mindful impacts you, practice regularly and give it time. “It doesn’t need to be long, it can be a few minutes a day, but the effects build over time and become more noticeable even after just a couple months,” she says.



<h2 id="h-5-keep-it-simple">5. Keep it simple.</h2>



Don’t try too hard when it comes to being more mindful, Bennett warns. “It’s called the ‘practice’ of mindfulness since it can take a while to retrain ourselves to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/mindfulness-are-you-paying-attention/">simply observe what’s happening</a> in inner space [thoughts, feelings and sensations] rather than concentrating on them and giving them attention they don’t deserve.”



Anxiety doesn’t typically disappear in an instant when one begins practicing mindfulness, Bennett says. “Undoing old habits can take a while, but this one is well worth the time. Practicing mindfulness should not be a struggle—it’s quite simple—but that doesn’t mean it’s easy, since we’re learning new ways.”



***



Mindfulness can be an ideal tool to improve your personal and professional life—something that can cause a “positive ripple effect across both areas,” Kerr says. “At its core, mindfulness is a skill that teaches us to retrain our attention and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-create-the-perfect-conditions-for-deep-focus/">boost concentration power</a>. The obvious benefit is increased productivity, but that’s only scratching the surface.”



This article was published in July 2017 and has been updated. Photo by Farknot Architect/Shutterstock

Mindfulness works wonders, but how exactly does one achieve it? Here are a few tips to help you tune into your inner zen.

Mindfulness works wonders, but how exactly does one achieve it? Here are a few tips to help you tune into your inner zen. | SUCCESS

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5 Ways to Put Mindfulness to Work in Your Life | SUCCESS

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Kristen Fischer is the author of When Talent Isn’t Enough: Business Basics for the Creatively Inclined.

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<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/how-to-start-a-freelance-writing-career">As a freelance journalist and copywriter</a>, I can set my own schedule and choose who I want to work with. Those are benefits most full-time employees think of when they hear about independent workers, but there are more they don’t consider, and it could be to their detriment.

Employees have some advantages over freelancers. For one, they don’t have to worry about a regular paycheck. But while they’re collecting checks, there’s a breed of <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/a-3-step-formula-for-landing-freelance-gigs">savvy freelancers</a> working and advancing their careers in the process.
Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/the-new-normal-why-well-all-be-freelancers-one-day">The New Normal: Why We’ll All Be Freelancers One Day</a>
For many of them, the career boost they’re getting from freelancing allows them to do things that traditional 9-to-5ers might never attempt. Here are a few of those perks:
<h2>1. They’re attending conferences.</h2>
<a href="https://www.debtfreeafterthree.com/about/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Zina Kumok</a>, a freelance writer, speaker and coach from Denver, invested in attending a few conferences prior to getting started as a full-time freelancer. She said the <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/content/ep-9-networking-101">face-to-face networking </a>allowed her to quickly build a roster of clients.

“I was able to make so many in-person connections that led to paid work,” Kumok says.

Companies don’t always invest in <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/what-to-do-before-during-and-after-attending-a-conference">sending employees to conferences</a>, which is where they can network to advance in their field. (Many that do go are busy representing their company at the event and less focused on making connections to propel their own careers.)
<h2>2. They’re getting published.</h2>
<a href="https://www.ilimaloomis.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ilima Loomis</a>, a writer from Hawaii, went beyond writing articles for a living and leveraged her writing clips to break into more prestigious publications in the science field—and even landed a book deal out of it.

“Once I got a couple of clips at one science publication, I could use that experience to pitch somewhere else. I can work up to bigger and bigger publications,” she says.

As a freelance business journalist from the San Francisco area, being on her own gave <a href="https://marinakrakovsky.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Marina Krakovsky</a> time to write a book.

“If I were holding down a full-time staff job, it would be nearly impossible,” she adds.
<h2>3. They’re diversifying their talents.</h2>
The best part of being a freelancer for Wes McDowell, a Los Angeles-based designer, was being able to take different roles. When he launched <a href="https://thedeependdesign.com/about-us/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Deep End</a>, it was as a general graphic and web design agency.

“<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/top-of-mind-6-undeniable-benefits-of-being-your-own-boss">Being the boss</a> allowed me to change the direction of the company into more of a web strategy consulting agency, and allowed me to adjust my title accordingly,” McDowell says.

Now his experience in web strategy and internet marketing allows him to specialize in those fields and offer more services. That wouldn’t have happened if he just worked a traditional job as a designer.

<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/what-successful-freelancers-know-about-earning-six-figures">Having multiple streams of income</a> under the umbrella of “communications” allows <a href="https://drlizalexander.com/timeline/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Liz Alexander</a>, a writer and speaker from Texas, to parlay that into other opportunities.

“With folks in traditional jobs, their mindset is bound by their title or their domain of expertise,” she says. “They either don’t see tangential opportunities—because they’re not looking for them—or turn them down because they don’t see themselves as qualified.”

When she was asked to develop the communications certificate program for the University of Texas at Austin, she dived in.

“Was I a course developer? No! Had I ever taught adults in this way before? No!” she says, adding that she was more apt to try because of her broad range of skills.
Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-freelancing-that-you-should">10 Things You Didn’t Know About Freelancing (That You Should)</a>

<h2>4. They have bragging rights.</h2>
When an employee takes on a new project, it’s only corporate news, if that. But new clients and projects give freelancers a reason to tweet or send out a newsletter, which can boost and build business.

Von Glitschka, an illustrative designer from Oregon, says <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/podcast/ep-14-market-yourself">almost everything he does is a way to promote his services</a> and, in turn, garner more business.

“I can pull off work projects and immediately respond to a marketing opportunity or share something on social media that will become free promotion or have a positive effect on my business image,” Glitschka says.

Glitschka uses communicating about projects and accomplishments to connect with—and help—others through what he calls “goodwill marketing.” When he encounters a fellow creative struggling or sees a nice comment on a post, he’ll send a copy of his book, stickers he designed or a link to some design resources.

“All of this… helps the bottom line in terms of building a business,” he says.

Attending local Rotary meetings is also something he has time to do <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/5-things-ive-learned-about-being-a-solopreneur">as a solopreneur</a>. “I’m meeting new potential clients and learning new things about other businesses in the process. I could never do any of this ‘working for the man,’” he adds.
<h2>5. They’re fast-tracking their careers.</h2>
“As a freelance writer and business owner, I’ve advanced my career much faster and much further than I ever could have done if I had stayed in corporate America—and I’ve made a lot more money,” says <a href="https://www.aubreandrus.com/about/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Aubre Andrus</a>, an author from Los Angeles.

She worked for a publishing house that used freelancers and senior-level employees to author books. Within a year of leaving her staff role, she had four book contracts from the publishing house. Being a freelancer allowed her to highlight her talent instead of capabilities within her lower-level role, so it paid off. That led to more book deals—she has written 13 books for three different publishers.

We’re not trying to diss the 9-to-5 life, but <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/top-of-mind-7-ways-to-boost-self-motivation">if you are self-motivated</a> and looking to build a career on your own terms instead of working a job, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/how-to-start-a-freelance-business">freelancing could be answer</a>.

After all, the freelance workforce grew from 53 million in 2014 to 55 million in 2016—and currently represents 35 percent of the U.S. workforce, according to a report from Freelancers Union and Upwork.

Not too shabby for pajama workers, eh?
Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/videos/youtube/sick-of-your-day-job-looking-for-freedom-the-answer-is-the-youeconomy">Sick of Your Day Job? Looking for Freedom? The Answer Is the YouEconomy</a>

No. 1: They’re networking at conferences instead of representing a company.

No. 1: They’re networking at conferences instead of representing a company. | SUCCESS

5 Things Freelancers Do (That You Don’t) to Supercharge Their Careers

Supercharge Your Freelance Career: 5 Key Strategies

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What’s in a number?

I’ve held three job roles—<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/how-to-start-a-freelance-writing-career">freelance copywriter</a>, journalist and author—for 12 years. Only in one of those years did I ever earn close to six figures. I’m OK with my numbers, and my earnings, because I did not choose <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-freelancing-that-you-should">self-employment</a> to slay it in the financial department; I simply wanted to make a stable living doing what I love.

Although I can’t discount that earning upward of $100,000 a year sounds wonderful, I often wonder why so many full-time freelancers are fixated on this number. There are countless courses and books about <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/the-10-principles-of-self-made-billionaires">how to be a big earner</a>—most packed with awesome information. Sometimes, though, I cannot help but think that many of these resources make self-employment seem like you’ll automatically earn big—or that if you do not, you are not “doing it right.”

Let’s get one thing out of the way: I am not knocking anyone who earns six figures. I admire someone who can do that! I just want to explore the notion that being self-employed is all about earning big bucks. There are so many other <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/why-time-is-more-important-than-money">reasons why people go solo</a>, and I fear many of them might be developing an inferiority complex of sorts when they see others who say “If I can do it, so can you!”

I don’t think that’s exactly true. Earning six figures is no easy feat; it requires the right blend of skills in your talent as well as the ability to develop business and sell yourself. Making bank as a freelancer also might be easier for people in profitable markets—in my case, say a medical writer compared to a blogger.

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/the-new-normal-why-well-all-be-freelancers-one-day">The New Normal: Why We’ll All Be Freelancers One Day</a>

<h2>Six-Figure Earners: Snobby or Savvy?</h2>

<a href="https://debragordon.com/about/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Debra Gordon</a>, a medical and health care communications consultant from Illinois, believes all freelancers can earn six figures. Gordon, who runs a course on six-figure freelancing, says there’s a growing emphasis on big earning because so many freelancers are accustomed to earning less. As such, they view the six-figure mark as the Holy Grail.

“Earning potential isn’t unlimited—we’re not corporate CEOs—but it is far higher than most freelancers think,” Gordon says.

The most common obstacle to earning more, Gordon finds, is putting value on one’s talent and product.

That said, if you’re afraid of marketing, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/5-signs-youre-cut-out-to-be-a-freelancer">you probably shouldn’t be a freelancer</a>.

“I’m continually struck by how many freelancers tell me they hate marketing, are scared of it [and] don’t want to do it,” she says. “My answer is always the same: Then you shouldn’t be freelancing. If you can’t embrace marketing in all its forms—passive, active, extroverted—then you are in the wrong field.”

<a href="https://www.cathieericsonwriter.com/about/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cathie Ericson</a>, an Oregon-based writer, has been able to earn six figures throughout the past few years by finding jobs that hit her target billable rate, instead of taking hourly work. Weeding out lower-paying projects was key to making bank.

“There are no secrets [to earning over six figures], it’s just a matter of being marketing minded and then <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/a-3-step-formula-for-landing-freelance-gigs">doing great work so you get more of it</a>… and referrals,” Ericson says.

Ericson believes that earning six figures can, in a way, solidify a freelancer’s position as someone who does real work instead of just dabbling in it. Anyone who wants to work toward earning six figures can likely be fruitful at it, but she thinks writers have to have some innate assets to succeed.

“You have to be Type A, a salesperson, as well as a writer, and that’s not necessarily everyone’s personality,” she says.

When <a href="https://ilimaloomis.com/bio-author-profile-ilima-loomis/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ilima Loomis</a>, a freelance writer from Hawaii, worked as a staff writer or editor, she could not have earned six figures. As a freelancer, though, approaching six figures gave her a sense of empowerment that leaving a full-time traditional job paid off. Still, she is not sure why people are so focused on six figures, particularly.

“People treat it as some kind of milestone or indicator that you’ve ‘made it,’ and I don’t think that’s always fair,” she says. “Feeling that you ‘should’ be striving for six figures can add to the pressures of what’s already a stressful business.”

Loomis says not all freelancers can earn six figures, as it depends on their field, location, availability and business development acumen.

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-freelancing-that-you-should">10 Things You Didn’t Know About Freelancing (That You Should)</a>

Chunky paychecks have come from having a few larger, multi-month projects outside of journalism.

“I think you need that big cash infusion a couple of times a year to take you over the top, it’s hard to get there just by pulling together a lot of smaller assignments,” she says.

<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/podcast/ep-12-how-to-learn-something-new">Diversifying your skills</a> is vital for writers, who oftentimes pigeonhole themselves into different niches or types of writing, such as blogging or copywriting.

For <a href="https://davidgeer.com/about_us/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">David Geer</a>, a technology writer from Ohio, his specialty—along with high demand for writers in the area—has made it easier for him to earn big.

“Not all freelancers have to earn six figures,” he says. “Many freelancers who want to grow as writers and as business owners set goals, including financial goals. Six figures seems to be the established, reasonable, doable goal that writers accept.”

<h2>What People Earn</h2>

In a <a href="https://go.payoneer.com/rs/payoneer/images/freelancer-report-mass-payouts.pdf?aliId=1473183" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2015 survey</a> of more than 23,000 freelancers globally, Payoneer found that freelancers work 36 hours a week and earn $39,000 a year on average. According to an analysis in <a href="https://time.com/money/4023097/freelance-economy-facts-stats/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Time</a>, 49 percent of freelancers earn anywhere from $25,000 to $75,000; 27 percent make more than $75,000 and 24 percent earn less than $25,000.

The “<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/the-new-normal-why-well-all-be-freelancers-one-day" target="_blank" title="Freelancing in America 2015 Report | FreelancersUnion.org" rel="noopener">Freelancing in America: 2015</a>” survey reported that 34 percent of (not all full-time) freelancers instantly earned more than they did at their traditional job income, 23 percent said it took six months to do so, and 21 percent out-earned their old jobs within the first year of freelancing.

As a freelancer who has had profitable and not-so-lucrative years, I’ve learned not to place so much focus on money.

Making six figures a year sounds great, but don’t forget to focus on honing your skills and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/content/ep-3-relationship-boot-camp">building relationships</a>. When you do that, you’re cultivating a solid business that will thrive regardless of how much you can earn.

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/how-to-start-a-freelance-business">How to Start a Freelance Business</a>

Because it’s not all about the money. | SUCCESS

What Successful Freelancers Know About Earning Six Figures

What Successful Freelancers Know About Earning Six Figures | SUCCESS

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Solopreneur, moonlighter, independent contractor, freelancer… whatever you call it, more people are freelancing these days.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/the-new-normal-why-well-all-be-freelancers-one-day">The New Normal: Why We’ll All Be Freelancers One Day</a>

Whether you plan on becoming your own boss or just work with freelancers, there are a few things you should know about these solopreneurs.

<h2>1. Not everyone likes to be called a freelancer.</h2>

Andrea Rotondo, a project manager and editorial specialist from New York City, wishes more independent contractors approached their craft as small-business owners rather than freelancers.

“Many people hear the word freelancer and think of the waitress who is acting on the side, or the insurance salesman who’s writing a novel on the weekends,” she says. “Thinking of yourself as an entrepreneur and treating your business as a vehicle to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/10-pieces-of-career-advice-for-my-21-year-old-self">move your career forward</a> is paramount to your success.”

<h2>2. Chaotic freedom appeals to us—so does professionalism. </h2>

<a href="https://contently.net/2016/07/05/trends/contently-study-state-freelancing-2016/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A new Contently survey</a> (writers were most of the respondents) found that 76 percent of them do it by choice. Sure, having to manage your own books and deal with wage instability are hurdles, but the majority of us wouldn’t have it any other way. In fact, we like the thrill of it all.

In 2015 an Upwork and Freelancers Union survey reported that 60 percent started freelancing by choice, up seven percentage points from the year before. And 50 percent of freelancers would never go back to traditional work regardless of pay. At the same time, independent contractors want to be taken seriously by clients. Translation: Pay us on time and respect our time, too.

<h2>3. Freelancers aren’t just creative types.</h2>

Businesses often team up with copywriters, artists and designers for services, but there are plenty of opportunities for <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/how-to-start-a-freelance-writing-career">freelance journalists</a>, musicians, project managers, IT professionals and accountants, just to name a few. Any service that a business can subcontract out can be filled by a freelancer.

<h2>4. We like to share. </h2>

When Von Glitschka, an Oregon-based creative director and illustrator, interviewed designers for his recent presentation at the HOW Design Conference, he found they share art on social media even if they haven’t been hired. “This is how they get most of their work,” he says. It has replaced using source books and artist representatives to acquire work.

The Contently survey results concur with this, as 65 percent reported using their social media profiles regularly. More freelancers ranked social media a 10 on a scale of one to 10 for its importance to their work.

<h2>5. Hustling is our way of life. </h2>

<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/podcast/ep-14-market-yourself">We have to constantly market ourselves</a> to get new projects. “If you hate pitching and marketing, and all you want to do is write stories and not think about the business side, you will be more successful in a staff job,” Loomis says.

Rotondo cautions that freelancers must take all aspects of business seriously. “That means devoting time to marketing, admin tasks like invoicing and collections, and customer service,” she says. “It’s easy to fall into a pattern of solely focusing on your art but that actually puts you at a disadvantage.”

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/5-signs-youre-cut-out-to-be-a-freelancer">5 Signs You’re Cut Out to Be a Freelancer</a>

<h2>6. We’re good at lots of things.</h2>

Jennie Phipps, a Florida-based freelancer, spent more than 15 years as an editor in the newspaper industry before going full-time freelance for the past 20 years. The shift wasn’t a “huge leap,” Phipps says. Previous experience—even if it wasn’t on a management level—can be a huge asset to freelancers because it helps them realize all of the other things that go into producing work, such as strategy meetings and working with teams.

Though some freelancers prefer to specialize in one service or industry, Rotondo, who worked previously in book publishing, likes to do it all. “It’s also easier to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/6-signs-of-job-burnout">avoid burnout</a> if your projects span a range of skills,” she says.

<h2>7. Networking still counts.</h2>

Don’t skip a cocktail hour if you’re solo. “You really have to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/content/ep-9-networking-101">put yourself out there</a> because if you work from home like I do, you’re alone all day long,” says Leah Ingram, a freelance writer from New Jersey.

Illima Loomis, a freelance journalist from Hawaii, thought it was important to meet magazine editors when she began, but found fellow writers to be more helpful to find assignments. “I’ve received a tremendous amount of work through referrals and tips from my writer friends,” she says.

<h2>8. Moolah is on our minds.</h2>

Despite owning his business for well over a decade, Glitschka says he still has a survival mindset, though he earns a good living. Because freelancers can set their own rates, for the most part, many don’t know when to turn down low-paying work because it could come at a time when they are in a lull.

“It’s so important, especially at the beginning of your freelance career, that you cultivate the right clients and take work that will ultimately help position your career where you want it to be,” Rotondo says. “Sure, you can take a job that will net you very little money, or you could use that time to network and pitch yourself to clients that will actually make a positive difference to your bottom line.”

<h2>9. We’re young—at least at heart.</h2>

Sure, there are plenty of millennials who enjoy being their own bosses, but <a href="https://www.pwc.com/us/en/industry/entertainment-media/publications/consumer-intelligence-series/assets/pwc-consumer-intellgience-series-future-of-work-june-2016.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a PwC study</a> found that people 50 and older are about two times more likely to desire being a freelancer than those ages 18 to 34. (Maybe that’s because traditional work offers more flexibility than it did in the past.)

<h2>10. We’re not all starving artists.</h2>

When David Geer, an Ohio-based writer, went freelance, he did so for financial security. As a freelancer who fires a client or gets canned, you might lose income but <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/a-3-step-formula-for-landing-freelance-gigs">you can make it up by securing another client</a>.

“If you want to earn more, with freelancing there is no employer putting a cap or ceiling on how much you can earn or how much of the overall business earnings go to you after costs and taxes,” Geer says. “You are in control of whether you get additional work, an increase in pay, or both.”

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/how-to-start-a-freelance-business">How to Start a Freelance Business</a>

&nbsp;

Want to take control of your future? Step into the YouEconomy to create the financial freedom and flexibility to run your life your way. Join the movement at <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/youeconomy">SUCCESS.com/YouEconomy</a>.

No, not all freelancers are starving artists.

No, not all freelancers are starving artists. | SUCCESS

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Freelancing (That You Should)

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Freelancing (That You Should) | SUCCESS

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Personal Development

Personal Development Archives

Personal Development | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

After grocery shopping today, I drove an additional five minutes to a different store. It had a few items that were cheaper than the first. I am a gal who likes a great deal, and I didn’t mind the extra time it took to get it.

I wouldn’t say that is always the case. Over the summer, I turned down a big project in order to be able to spend the week lounging at the beach. I rarely turn down a work project—especially a lucrative one. It was an especially gorgeous week at the Jersey Shore, though, and they don’t come that often.

My bank account may have been lower than I wanted after skipping the project, but the memories of that sunny week last me all cold winter long. I adore time spent doing something that renders me utterly blissful such as ocean swimming. My life isn’t a fairytale, though. I did return to work and have been busting my butt ever since.

A <a href="https://spp.sagepub.com/content/early/2016/01/04/1948550615623842.full.pdf+html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">recent study</a> in Social Psychological and Personality Science found that people who value their time more than pursuing money were happier. In a series of six studies, the researchers asked more than 4,600 participants questions such as whether they would prefer pay more rent for an apartment with a short commute or a pay less rent for an apartment with a long commute. Just more than half of respondents said they valued their time over money, and overall they were happier than those who said making money was more important than their time.
Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/john-c-maxwell-5-qualities-of-people-who-use-time-wisely">John C. Maxwell: 5 Qualities of People Who Use Time Wisely</a>
“It appears that people have a stable preference for valuing their time over making more money, and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/john-c-maxwell-5-qualities-of-people-who-use-time-wisely">prioritizing time</a> is associated with greater happiness,” says lead researcher <a href="https://ashleyatubc.wordpress.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ashley Whillans</a>, a doctoral student at the University of British Columbia.

Whillans says that gender and income did not affect whether people valued one aspect over the other.
<h2>What’s It All Worth?</h2>
When I heard about this study, I knew it demanded more exploration. Are we more likely to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/rohn-9-things-more-important-than-money">appreciate time more than money</a> when we are (likely) older and more financially stable? Do some people value their time more because they know money doesn’t buy happiness? Or are we a generation that cares more about pleasant experiences instead of padded bank accounts? Can we value our time and make big bucks, or do we have to choose one over the other?

Clearly, I can’t take every other week off to work on my tan. Making the effort to take time off for things I enjoy and cannot always do is more important than raking in big bucks, so long as it’s in moderation and I can pay that darn mortgage each month.

Certainly, if you have a lot of discretionary income, you may be able to use it to free up your time. I have a wealthy friend who decided to hire a landscaper so he could devote time to his children instead of ignoring them while mowing the lawn. Another person may prioritize the peacefulness of gardening over spending time doing something else.

What if you do not have all that extra income to hire house cleaners, grocery shoppers and whatnot? You may trade off in other ways: You may not mind spending an extra hour venturing to two grocery stores instead of one to nab the best deals. You may, however, take the money saved and put it toward that landscaper in order to allocate more time for whatever makes you joyful.

In short, there are no easy answers. We generally prioritize one thing over the other depending on our core values, but that can change at different times during our lives. If we know we can be happier putting more emphasis on our time than making money, though, maybe we should try it.
Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/can-money-really-buy-happiness">Can Money Really Buy Happiness?</a>

<h2>Love Your Time</h2>
Want to start valuing your time a little more because you believe it will make you happier? Whillans suggests changing the way you spend your money. Work fewer overtime hours, spring the extra $20 for a cab home if the bus is going to take longer, or go to the pricier grocery store that’s closer to your home so you have more time for things you enjoy.

“The key is making sure that in addition to using money to have more time, people also spend their <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/want-to-be-successful-do-these-7-things-in-your-spare-time">free time</a> in better ways,” Whillans says, adding that “better ways” would include devoting time to things that make you happy. For some of us that means lounging on a beach, while others want to spend time with family and friends. My guess is that you can make extra time but if the thing you do with it does not make you content, you probably won’t be happier in general. Being aware of <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/the-success-guide-to-happiness">what makes us genuinely happy</a> is also a must so you can put that time to good use.

Another way to value your time is to let others know it. Let your clients know you clock off at 5 p.m. on Fridays to take the weekend off—then don’t respond to emails until Monday to prove your point. Be upfront about your time constrictions.

You may have a job at a company that wants to prove they value you by showing that they value your time.  Whillans is working with a few organizations to develop ways they can show they respect their employees’ time, and help them get more out of it. For example, one company assigns “do not disturb” time periods when internal instant messages cannot be sent.

“Providing employees with the ability not to check emails after 5 p.m., or rewarding employees for their hard work with extra vacation days, can send the signal to employees that their company cares about their personal time, thus enabling employees to empower themselves to prioritize their time versus having more money,” Whillans says.
Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/want-to-be-successful-do-these-7-things-in-your-spare-time">Want to Be Successful? Do These 7 Things in Your Spare Time</a>

A recent study found that people who value their time more than the pursuit of money were happier.

A recent study found that people who value their time more than the pursuit of money were happier. | SUCCESS

Why Time Is More Important Than Money

Why Time Is More Important Than Money | SUCCESS

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Future of Work

Future of Work Archives

Future of Work | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

Freelancing is not just a buzzy, passing trend. It’s here to stay, and it’s affecting everyone. Freelancers—the independent contractors, the moonlighters, the temporary workers, the people who build a business out of this—are shifting the entire workforce.

Upwork and Freelancers Union teamed up to produce the “Freelancing in America: 2015” survey, which was conducted by Edelman Berland. In addition to statistics on things like how many freelancers there are (one in three people is freelancing in some way—that’s about 34 percent of us), the report provides insights into why people freelance and how it’s changing how the U.S. workforce works.

“Americans are starting to have a different view of careers,” Sara Horowitz, founder of Freelancers Union, says. It’s not all “artisanal yuppies in their pajamas.”

She says people have figured out different ways to have a career, and they’re finding that it doesn’t necessarily mandate working a traditional 9-to-5 job.

Kenneth Matos, senior director of research at the Families and Work Institute, says that people aren’t necessarily seeking to telecommute, either—they just want that flexibility. (His group recently released <a title="How Effective Is Telecommuting? Assessing the Status of Our Scientific Findings | PsychologicalScience.org" href="https://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/publications/telecommuting.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a report that found telecommuting works best in moderation</a>.)

“They want the ability to have control over their schedule and workplace so they can achieve all of their goals,” he says. Those goals can include having time with family or spending less time traveling to work on a daily basis.

The most essential part of working flexibly is to match where you work to how you work, Matos added. For some that means working from home; others still report to an office but on their own schedule, which many <a title="Flexibility Drives Productivity | Regus.com" href="https://www.regus.com/images/Flexibility%20Drives%20Productivity_tcm8-49367.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">studies have found boosts productivity</a>.

As more people begin freelancing—some out of necessity, others out of desire—there are now about 50 percent that say no amount of money could get them to go back to a traditional job. Of those surveyed, 34 percent earned more instantly than they did at their traditional job income, 23 percent said it took six months and 21 percent out-earned their old jobs within the first year of freelancing. More than one-third of freelancers say demand for their services increased in the past year, and 48 percent expect their freelance income to rise in the coming year.

Another cause for the shift to flexible and freelance work is due to businesses needing flexibility and skills for short-term projects. Many organizations realize it’s more cost-effective to hire on an as-needed basis—and seek out specialized skills—instead of retaining a full-time employee. People know this, so more are wading into freelance waters, even if that means moonlighting on the side of a traditional job.

“Arguably some of your best talent out there is going to be your freelancers,” says Stephane Kasriel, CEO of Upwork.

Horowitz and Kasriel both said that the need to train freelancers beyond their area of skill (perhaps on things like managing accounting or legal aspects of freelancing) will increase. Many freelancers learn about the business aspects of independent contract work as they go, but Horowitz and Kasriel see potential for employers to take on training. Who knows, maybe corporate seminars in the future may not focus solely on building employees’ skills in a specific industry, but in how to run a freelance business—especially if the company uses a lot of freelancers.

So, not surprisingly, freelancers are affecting corporate America. A more prominent freelance workforce will and already has impacted the strategies that hiring managers and recruiters use to bring in competent workers. We could be seeing a whole new breed of job advertisements—ones that aren’t seeking out employees, but project workers.

“What I really think corporate America needs to see in general is that freelancers are pioneering a new way of living,” Kasriel says.

<a title="5 Signs You’re Cut Out to Be a Freelancer | SUCCESS.com" href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/5-signs-youre-cut-out-to-be-a-freelancer" target="_self" rel="noopener">Are you cut out to be a freelancer? There are 5 signs you are—and 7 you’re not.</a>

[node:summary] - How freelancing is shifting the American workforce

How freelancing is shifting the workforce into a ‘YouEconomy’ | SUCCESS

The New Normal: Why We’ll All Be Freelancers One Day

The New Normal: Why We’ll All Be Freelancers One Day | SUCCESS

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