I guess you’re probably cocking an eyebrow and wondering, "How does lacing up neon trainers and getting all sweaty help with my freelancing?" But bear with me.
As fun as it sounds to convert the freelance world into a horde of running fanatics, that's not the end goal here. My mission? To reveal that your secret freelancing superpowers might just be hiding in the last places you'd think—and not all of them involve sitting in front of a screen.
1. Discipline
There’s no chance in hell I'd peel my eyes open for a 5am client call. But to greet the sunrise with a runner’s high? Sign me up! The unexpected bonus? Doing something you're passionate about before the sun's even up makes diving into those deadlines a smidge less daunting.
2. Compari-what?
You're out for a run, and another runner zips past you. Do you suddenly turn into a Speedy Gonzales to keep up? Heck no. You know that while this is your recovery run, they might be pumping out an interval sesh. The moral of the story? Everyone's hustling their own race. So, ditch the comparative side eye and soak in the freelancing life's small joys.
3. Pace yo’self
If you sprinted off at the start of a marathon, people would think you'd lost your marbles. The same goes for freelancing. Sure, you could work at warp speed, but is that sustainable? Put in the quality reps every day, and it will prevent you from burning out.
4. Tame the stress beast
Nothing beats the client-induced stress as a post-run endorphin rush. Okay, fair enough. Gin does that too. But post-run, you're primed to tackle tomorrow's to-dos with fresh gusto. Rather than nursing a leftover headache.
5. Confidence
Tricky client revision? Piece of cake. A back-to-back Zoom marathon? Bring it on. Every finish line I cross fuels my belief that I can handle anything. Guess what? That radiating confidence? Clients can smell it from a mile away.
W.W.R.D.?
- Looking to outpace your freelancing competition? Shake things up, move a little. Or a lot.
- Stuck on a challenging project? Swap the desk chair for a jog or a tennis match.
About Susan Rov
Susan traded cocktails and lattes for words that move. As a copywriter on a mission to end boring, she brightens brands and makes an impact. Number 463 on the list of fiction readers left standing, you'll find Susan at sunrise—running, writing, and wondering how to change the world next. That drive led her to become a founding team member of BRIL.LA.