How I’m coping with not having paid projects

After two years of nonstop work, January came with no work prospects. Here’s what I’m doing to not freak out about it.

If there’s one thing I knew about this line of work when I started it is that I would have to learn how to live with instability. After more than 5 years I can’t say I’ve mastered it but there are a few things I’ve learned that helped me. So here’s what I’ve been doing:

1. Taking time to rest

I know that 2 years ago resting would be the last thing on my mind if I had no commissioned work planned. But after months of not stopping, my body went into shutdown mode at the beginning of the year.
Do you know what’s scarier than not having work? Having no health. So I’m taking my time to rest, well at least as much as I can with a toddler (:

2. Making time to play

Over the last few years I accumulated a lot of art supplies I kept on buying while being too busy to actually make time to use them. So I’m taking this as an opportunity to play and explore with my style.

3. Updating my portfolio

I haven’t updated my portfolio in 2 years so naturally there are a lot of new projects to add to it. And even harder: removing what no longer fits there.

4. Preparing for Bologna

After a 3 year break due to Covid and motherhood, I finally decided to go to the Children’s Book Fair again this year. (Already suffering because it’ll be my first time away from my baby. Any tips on making it less hard are welcome) This time I have 0 expectations: I just want to be inspired. I will however still try to make a new portfolio to take with me.

5. Learning something new

I bought 2 domestika courses during Black Friday last year thinking I’d be able to make time to take them. I didn’t. There’s no time like the present!

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Times like these are the scariest part of being self-employed.
But experience has told me that this is just a phase and instead of freaking out, I’m actually excited about what lies ahead (well most of the time at least).
Have you been through something like this? What did you do to help you not freak out about it?

If you have any projects in mind my work could be a good fit for, let's talk!