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Freelancing as a journalist is a rollercoaster, but savoring the small wins can keep me motivated and pushes me towards my biggest goals. Starting each day with a positive mindset and celebrating milestones usually allows me to complete all my tasks, and contributes to my mental health. Or at least this is what I’d like to think

The ups of freelancing

Given the hurdles and uncertainties of freelancing, it is easy to second-guess my decisions. But there are indeed certain things that make me extremely happy about what I do, setting the stage for small victories that keep me on the surface.

First, there is the creativity side. There is something inexplicably satisfying about coming up with topics and ideas and seeing people being content with them. For instance, as a science journalist, I get to cover the latest developments and policies related to this, speak to scientists, and understand as well as translate this knowledge into easily comprehensible articles.

Second, if freelancing isn’t enough, I can always land a side gig related to another field. Whether this is part-time work, or something completely different, I also have the flexibility to venture into new horizons, picking up new skills and developing new relationships.

Last but not least, being able to travel freely is something that can really tip the scales in favor of full-time freelancing. Travelling at my own leisure without worrying about days off or my boss is exhilarating and freeing. I finally have the flexibility to still earn money regardless of my location.

The wins worth celebrating

Small wins in freelancing are extremely important, especially because they sustain my motivation. Also, securing a byline is a powerful tool to combat my self-doubt. Of course, it is not always a smooth sailing, but celebrating these moments creates a positive feedback loop for long-term success.

Landing my first big byline in a notable publication, receiving positive feedback from editors or readers, or seeing my stories widely shared or picked up by other outlets are milestones that I like to cherish and celebrate. Additionally, achieving personal goals like securing a dream commission or completing a deeply meaningful project usually make me excited about what I do. I try to make myself celebrate these one way or another. Taking the time to celebrate these achievements usually makes me think I can actually do this.

But celebrating and not getting frustrated isn’t always easy. There are different ways to keep improving every day, taking small steps, that one way or another are part of my journey. I signed up for a marketing course, which allowed me to learn new skills and tools to support my day-to-day tasks. Hopefully, in the future, this knowledge would increase my chances of landing more gigs. Additionally, I’ve set my own goals to pitch to five new outlets every month, using X to follow editors and signing up for newsletters who announce pitch calls. The last bonus to this is that by following a course and having specific goals gives structure to my days, making the journey less chaotic.

Also, I try to track my positive development because I am aware that I need to also look at the bright side of the situation. It’s a well-known fact that freelancing could be rather frustrating at times. So, keeping a little “wins” journal to log different milestones, such as when I pitched, whom I pitched to, what was the feedback, and how that made me feel, really makes a difference with regard to my determination and resilience. But this “wins” journal doesn’t have to be anything complicated – it can be as simple as a notebook or a Google doc to log this information. By organizing the good in my work, I find it easier to distance myself from the bad.

However, tracking isn’t enough. I try to reward myself for being able to achieve what I had in my mind. My rewards are never anything big or spectacular. Most of the time, they are something as simple as a nice coffee at my favorite café, or a calm day off reading or watching Netflix.

Also, I try not to forget to share my little milestones with family, friends, and the freelancing community. Receiving support always give me the necessary courage to keep going forward. By doing this, I am able not only to find strength in myself but also identify patterns that work. For instance, I have found out which pitches work and which do not, which editors respond well to my ideas and who are the people who do not respond at all. In this way, I can create a meaningful relationship with my current clients, which so far has resulted in longer, more steady collaborations.

Freelancing is a marathon, not a sprint. By tracking my wins, whether this is a new byline, or a kind note from an editor, and celebrating every step, I somehow have made it to receiving calls from clients and receiving more work.