Are You Anxious?
Anxiety is defined by Wiktionary.org as “an unpleasant state of mental uneasiness or concern about some uncertain event.” This is probably the biggest obstacle I have had to learn to overcome when it relates to running my own business. I can be the most vocal person at times and be shier than a mouse at others. My main problem stems from dealing with hearing loss since birth and wondering if I will catch everything or end up saying “yes” when someone asked me a question. But this is only an excuse. Here are some tips to how I’ve learned to deal with anxiety as it relates to my freelance business:
- Music. It has often been said that music relaxes the mind. eHow even has a post on why this is is true. I find it keeps my mind from focusing on the fears that I have of introducing myself to a new client, calling a potential client or even sending my clients a bill reminder.
- Remember Braveheart. Okay, this one may sound funny, but it’s very true. Bravery can help you overcome anxiety. Envisioning this scene always pumps me up when William Wallace (Mel Gibson) yells out to the troops, “Aye, fight and you may die. Run, and you’ll live… at least a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willin’ to trade ALL the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they’ll never take… OUR FREEDOM!” If you don’t remember it, then watch it now.
- Remember it’s over soon. The final thing that always helps me get past my anxiety is knowing that it’s going to be over soon. Whatever it is I’m about to face. Sometimes it’s been a difficult phone call, breaking off a relationship with a client that treated me poorly, or repeated phone calls/email to get paid for services I completed. I am human and hate to annoy people and so when I know I’m entering an uncomfortable situation I become really anxious. Listening to music helps those nerves, remembering Braveheart can really pump me up, but the thing that matters most is reminding myself it will be over before I know it.
I hope these tips resonated with you in some way. Freelancing is hard work and we don’t take it lightly. We feel all the client pressures, the financial setbacks, the headaches, and much more. Just remember that tomorrow is a new day with new possibilities, not anxieties.
Coincidentally, Braveheart is my favorite movie of all time! I never related it to freelancing though, but I guess now I can.
Personally, I have found that the majority of my freelance related anxiety comes from being overwhelmed or not knowing where to start. My boyfriend used to have this problem, but seems to have conquered it by making to do lists (each night for the following day) and breaking up projects into smaller, easier tasks. That way you can knock things off the list and not become overwhelmed so easily.
Braveheart is an epic freelancing movie, haha!
To-do lists are a great idea! I’ve also scheduled myself time on my calendar to call a client or potential client. But even when I have a project on hand and ready to rock it is difficult to know where to start! Forcing myself to set my projects up on Basecamp was probably the best thing I ever did. That way, I created a map of a project and it laid a strong foundation that I could build upon as I got more involved with it.
Great advice Holly!