How to Survive the lonely life of a freelancer

I had a conversation with a client today, who said:

'Yeah, but you're just the fluffy bunny stuff. 

We know we have to do it but you're just not a priority at the moment.' 

Charming! But it just about sums up my life as a freelancer. Especially in the field I work in. Social media and PR. Sometimes I can go months without speaking to any of my clients. A few emails might go back and forth, but mostly I'm at the bottom of the list and often ignored.

I get it. They're busy people, I don't work in the office and I'm often just forgotten and left to get on with it.

But when you work from home, on your own, sometimes you really need those conversations and it can be flippin' hard work to keep going and stay motivated when you don't get any feedback. But this is the career I've chosen and, despite all of this, the career I wouldn't change. So I have to get on with it. Here's how I survive the lonely life of a freelancer.

DON'T TAKE IT TOO PERSONALLY

The constant rejection can be pretty tough to take. And sometimes it really does feel like you're doing a shit job and no one likes you. But honestly, you gotta let it go. It's not you and actually, if you're being left to get on with it (and still being paid!) it probably means your client trusts you and is happy with what you're doing.

DON'T LET THEM FORGET YOU

That being said, it's important that they don't forget about you. No matter how much you're ignored, don't give up. You don't need to be a pest, they're obviously busy, but don't stop calling or emailing if you need something, and wherever possible, arrange a face to face meeting at their office so they don't forget you. Remind them what they're paying you for. 

MAKE SURE YOU CAN JUST KEEP GOING

Because I'm often ignored for weeks on end, I need to make sure I stay on top of things and can keep things going with or without the additional information. That means I need to know the industry I'm working with and when I do get to speak to someone, I drain them for every bit of information I can get. I work ahead as much as possible and keep up to date on industry events and important dates to link in with. 

BUDDY UP

If your main contact is the MD of a company, it's likely to be pretty tricky to pin them down for information. Find someone at the company who can get you the information you need. Keep in touch with them and get them to poke the client with a stick every now and then. 

FIND SOMEONE TO VENT TO

The one and only thing I miss about working in an office is not having a great team behind me on those really tricky days or just to bounce ideas off every now and then. Luckily some of my best friends were made in my early PR days and I regularly use and abuse them as a sounding board for ideas, reassurance and a bloody good vent. If you can get out and meet up with other freelancers in your industry even better. But having someone at the end of the phone for those tough days, makes all the difference. 

Other than that, and the lack of a Christmas party, I love working for myself and feel really lucky to be able to do it. It's not for everyone, but it's definitely for me. 

Hello September - 3 ways I get ready for Winter

There's something about the start of Autumn that fires up the motivation in me. Now's the time I want to get my routine on track, refresh my daily regime, update my make up bag and wardrobe, and get us all ready for the end of the year.

Here's how I get us ready for Winter

I start with my September de-clutter. I do this at the start of each new season. I get rid of all the stuff I don't want any more and replace it with new, 'seasonally inspired' clutter! Right now, it's all about the Hygge.

Our wardrobes get a big overhaul. At the start of a new season, I'll sort through our clothes; charity shop anything we've not worn, or no longer want and fold up and pack away all the wardrobe staples we wear year after year. Summer dresses, holiday clothes, majority of my bikinis and beach bags, all get packed away into a suitcase, with other seasonal items, ready for next year.

Our Autumn / Winter staples - coats, boots, jumpers, hats and scarves - then get a dusting off. (I usually do another clear out. I have another four bags ready for the charity shop.) And then I find homes for all the new items. With the weather not being able to make its mind up, our shoe cupboard is heaving. I'm not ready to put away the Birks, but I've needed my ankle boots this week, so there will be another sort out in a few weeks when we're done with our sandals and shorts.

Then I give the rest of the house a once over and get rid of anything else we haven't used in the last 12 months and usually send another box to the charity shop.

We're getting the garden ready for Winter too. Packing away the Summer essentials so they don't get ruined. Clearing out plant pots and getting everything ready so we can keep on top of the weeds over the Winter months.

The changing weather means we stay in a lot more, so my focus is massively on our home right now. It's coming up to a year since we moved in and we've done a few basic tidy up jobs, and the garden got a good seeing to over the summer, but now it's time to accessorise. I am so excited about this.

When we moved in we gave ourselves a blank canvas that we can add accessories to and change up as we wanted to. I've been planning each room and buying little bits, to add to the look over the last year, but now the Summer's over, I'm upping my search.

I'll be looking for new pictures to add a touch of colour. I got this 'Jordan Carter' print. earlier in the year and I'm looking for something to accompany Maurice. (Willing JC to create a Tiger print to buddy him up with!)

I'm finally going to get around to making a macrame plant holder for the corner of my living room.

I'm all about the succulents right now, so I'll be adding to my collection. I'm aiming for at least one in every room. I'm getting quite obsessed with finding new succulents and holders. (Finally I plant I can look after) (Because it needs no looking after!) (Let's not talk about the one I over watered!)

I'm looking for bunting, garlands, pom-poms, lights and fun prints to cover the rest of the house. I've got loads of ideas and I'm spending a lot of time on Pinterest planning each room. You can check out my Pinterest account 'here'.

With my Summer wardrobe safely packed away, I'm setting my sights on Autumn/Winter fashion. The internet is abuzz with London fashion week and it's giving me lots of inspiration for my own wardrobe.

My style has been a work in progress over the years. I've never really known what my style was and have often made silly purchases. This is the first year I feel like I really know what I want for my seasonal wardrobe and I'm looking forward to finding some key pieces that will take me straight through to Spring.

I'm looking at more ripped jeans and fitted t-shirts, ankle boots, trainers for running around after my little boy and a good pair of shoes to see me through more formal days. Chunky jumpers will of course play a very important part of my new wardrobe.

I chopped all my hair off last Autumn, and I'm finally finding my way with it so it's going to be fun bringing it all together.

The change in weather means a change up in the colours I'm wearing too. I swop my bright pinks and coral nails for a more toned down shade of red round about now and I love it. It also means a change in products and make up. I love finding new products to get my skin through the cold months.

My skin has changed a lot in the last couple of years. There are definite signs of ageing popping up and the sleepless nights have really caught up with me, so it's time to re look at the products I use to fight the lines and stock up on the make up for disguising it!

I'll keep you posted on the new purchases.

I don't really need a seasonal excuse to get my planner out. I love to sit down and organise our lives, so we know where we are each week, what needs to be done and plan in any jobs that need to be tackled. The Summer holidays seemed to knock our routine right out the window, so I am back on it in full force.

The next few months are typically really busy for us. There are a lot of birthdays, work for both myself and my husband seems to peak at this time of year and everything just seems to be happening at once. (Maybe the lazy Summer has something to do with it?) So it's really important that I plan our weeks so I can fit everything in and keep on top of myself. As well as making sure I get some exercise in and down time too. (because I really need that!)

I try to keep about two weeks ahead of myself with work. You just never know what's around the corner. So I try hard to stay ahead, in case something comes up that means I can't do as much that week.

That means I need to be really organised. I plan the week ahead for all family stuff and make a note of things that need to be done that week. And then plan each day out to fit everything in. I try and do a meal plan every week and shop around that. Most of the time we stick to it and when we do it works really well. Some weeks all the planning gets too much and we end up winging it. It always ends up in a more expensive shop and some slightly unhealthier choices, but sometimes I just need to move away from a plan and relax.

Now I've got us all Autumn/Winter ready, I feel like I can relax a bit. I know, pretty much, what we've got to do in the next four months and I'm so looking forward to some cosy Sunday afternoons watching movies with my boys in our home. 

How do you get ready for winter? Come chat to me on my Facebook page 'A Zest of Gem' 

Remembering to Have Fun With a Touch of Roald Dahl Magic

I haven't been at my happiest lately. I'm not looking after myself and it's taking it's toll. I've been stressing out about things I've had no control over and feeling super stressed about it. It's meant I've been very serious and totally boring, so I decided to do something about it and get some fun back into my life. 

I was feeling the need for some laughter and silliness so I dug out some of my old books and came across a collection that brought an instant smile to my face. 

Roald Dahl is an absolute hero of mine. I read all of his books as a child, I've seen all the movies and I just love finding out new facts about this incredible man. When I found out I was pregnant, back in 2011, one of the first things I did was to get a brand new collection of Roald Dahl books ready to read to my child. When I spotted them on our book shelf my face beamed, this was just what I needed. So, I started reading them all again - and it's given me an instant happiness boost. 

From the amazing illustrations of Quentin Blake, to Roald's talent for expressive story telling and fantabulously made up words, I find myself laughing out loud as I remember what happens next and smiling like a Cheshire cat at the wonderful, off the wall tales and hilarious characters. 

One of my favourite's is Boy - a short collection of stories of Roald's school years. His accounts of the terrible way children were treated by adults back then and the way he dealt with so many, rather disturbing, encounters grab every inch of my heart and, just like all of his stories, leave me wanting to know and hear more from this incredible man.

So far, my son has discovered Fantastic Mr Fox and I just can't wait to share the magical world of Roald Dahl with him when he's a little older, until then, I'll continue to boost my happiness with his magic words. 

Coincidently, it's Roald Dahl day on Sunday 13th September. It would've been his 99th birthday! I love the fact children today are still enjoying his tales and so many budding writers continue to be influenced and embraced by his legacy. The mark of a true legend and wonderful man. Here's to you, Boy, thank you for reminding me who I am.