Make the Season Bright: How Independent Workers Can Beat Holiday Loneliness
The holiday season is upon us!
Twinkling lights and festive gatherings begin. But, for independent workers—freelancers, contractors, and consultants—this time of year can feel a bit lonely. While being self-employed has plenty of perks, without a traditional workplace to call home, you may find yourself on the outside of the workplace festivities and this can be isolating. However, with a little creativity and effort, you can flip the script and make this season a vibrant and joyful time, building connections and creating your own traditions.
Why can the holiday season feel lonely for independent workers?
For starters, you may not receive an invitation to workplace parties. This doesn’t mean your clients or the teams you work with don’t like you. It just means they’re keeping it simple and centered on their traditional workers. However, without a holiday party to attend, you may miss out on the camaraderie and celebratory buzz that comes with being part of an office team. This can make you feel a bit left out and you may find yourself pining for the days when you had a regular job and were part of company traditions.
Next, holiday parties signal the end-of-year slowdown. At this time of year, projects may wind down, emails slow to a trickle, and clients go quiet as they head off for their own celebrations. This lull can potentially leave you feeling unmoored, especially if you thrive on a busy schedule. Additionally, the year end slow down can also impact your budget which can be tough as you watch your family, friends or clients go on a year-end vacation.
Finally, networking looks much different. The holidays are a great time for traditional workers to naturally network and build relationships. They connect easily with their colleagues through office parties, trays of holiday goodies in the lunchroom, and conversations about new year plans by the coffee station. On the other hand, freelancers, contractors and consultants must actively seek out their own social opportunities during the holidays to keep their networks going. This can feel less celebratory and more like a chore for independent workers.
So, how can freelancers, contractors and consultants thrive during the holiday season?
Consider hosting your own gathering. Who says you need a workplace to have a holiday party? If you are extraverted, host a get-together for your network of fellow independent workers, clients, or friends. Whether it’s a potluck dinner, a virtual coffee chat, or a festive happy hour, creating your own event gives you something to look forward to and strengthens your connections.
Connect with independent workers in your co-working space. Many co-working spaces host holiday-themed events or provide a space buzzing with activity. You’ll meet other independent workers, enjoy some holiday cheer, and feel part of a community.
Think about volunteering your time. One of the best ways to combat loneliness is to give back. You could volunteer at a local food bank, animal shelter or lend a hand at a toy drive. Not only will you make a difference, but you may also meet like-minded people who share your generous spirit and this can widen your social or professional circle.
Consider creating your own traditions. Make the season special by starting a tradition just for you. This could be a decadent holiday coffee from your local coffee shop, a cozy movie night out with a friend, or a networking lunch at a local café. It’s always a good idea to embrace the freedom and flexibility that independent work offers and celebrate the end of the year in your own unique way.
Reflect and plan for the year ahead. Downtime during the holidays can be a gift for an independent worker. You can use this time to reflect on your yearly accomplishments, update your LinkedIn account, make plans for the coming year, and dream big about your next steps. You could pair your business planning with a Chestnut Praline latte (yes, this is a real drink), or a holiday playlist to make the process enjoyable.
Why does taking the reigns on the holiday season matter, you ask?
As independent workers, we have the flexibility to shape our work lives and cultivate connections that are meaningful to us. By taking the reigns with purpose and intention, we can find joy not just in the holidays themselves, but in the creativity it takes to make them special. So, deck the halls, reach out to your community, and let your festive entrepreneurial spirit shine. After all, independent workers know better than anyone how to be resilient and resourceful, and make something extraordinary out of the ordinary.
Here’s to a holiday season filled with joy, connection, and entrepreneurial sparkkle!
Happy Holidays!
Here are the Realities of Becoming a Freelancer
I became a freelancer after graduating from high school, getting my first job and then getting laid off in the pandemic. I’ve learned that freelancing certainly has it’s advantages and also has it’s disadvantages. Here are some of the realities.
When it comes to being a freelancer, there are many advantages that make freelancing seem nothing short of a dream job. However, wherever there are advantages, there are also disadvantages. All of which I will be exploring throughout this post.
I am a freelancer who has been working alongside Purposeful Careers for the past six months. I graduated from high school in 2019, and I took a stab at News Broadcasting in the Fall. I decided it wasn’t for me, and so I took it upon myself to get a job working at a grocery store over the course of the holiday season. Then I got a part-time job working for a company called Jiva who had originally approached me because they wanted me to help them do video work. Unfortunately, the pandemic hit, and I got laid off. I didn’t want to have a huge gap in my work history so I approached Purposeful Careers, and asked them if they needed help. I have interest in social media, so we decided I would help create posts.
My job can be compared to that of a social media marketer because over the past several months, I have been working on a graphic design platform called Canva, creating and putting together content for both Instagram and Pinterest. In just six months, I’ve been promoted to taking a stab at writing a blog post. So, here I am.
Freelancing involves working independently for multiple people and/or companies on a contract basis. In other words, a freelancer is a self-employed individual who offers various services to their clients. I have learned over the last six months that being a self-employed freelancer has both advantages and disadvantages that everyone who is thinking about it, should know before they dive in.
Some of the Advantages
Being a freelancer means that you are your own boss, and that you have freedom to choose. You can choose your work hours. You can choose who you want to work for, and for how long you want to work for them. You can choose where to work, and you can choose when to call it a day. For example, I work part-time, three days a week from the comfort of my couch, but I don’t get to choose my hours. I start at 1:00 PM and end at 5:00 PM. During that period of time, I get a new assignment or I continue to work on the assignment from the previous day. I get to go to work in what I would call “picked-up-off-the-street” attire (basically whatever I want).
I also enjoy being able to work without having the commitment of the commute. Being able to wake up, and start work from the comfy cushions of a worn-out-couch is one of the joys of freelancing. Being a freelancer means that you represent yourself, and your brand image, and the biggest advantages of being a freelancer is flexibility and freedom.
Another advantage is the fact that it’s been hard to find a traditional part-time or full-time job in this pandemic. Freelancing has given me the opportunity to learn new skills and get work experience that I wouldn’t normally be able to get. As well, because I don’t have a career direction chosen yet, I’ve been able to test drive social media content creation as a potential career.
Some of the Disadvantages
Keep in mind that as a freelancer, there’s bound to be disadvantages. You have your work cut out for you because it is your job to put yourself in the path of potential work, and find your own clients. As I mentioned, I approached Purposeful Careers after I got laid off. Purposeful Careers has now told other business owners about me so I could have potential clients in the future.
Your workload as a freelancer will vary, and you will not always have a steady stream of income. Not having a steady workload, and not being able to rely on a guaranteed stream of income can be a dealbreaker for some. In my experience, there will be days when my client suddenly decides that they don’t need me, and there will be days when my client is unorganized. For example, let's say I’m scheduled to work on Tuesday afternoon and on Tuesday morning my client says, “It’s okay. You don’t have to work today.” As you can see, being given short notice when it comes to when you work, and when you don’t work is something that freelancers have to deal with. Receiving short notice is a bummer, but in my eyes, it just means I can go back to bed. If you are the kind of person who needs consistency, and a steady income stream then freelancing is not for you.
Freelancing is a great opportunity to make money doing something that you want to, and already know how to do. Both the advantages and disadvantages are worth looking into if you are interested in becoming a freelancer. All in all, freelancing is a job that pretty much anybody can pursue, and if you were to give it a shot, you might find that it is a dream come true.
