Building good habits is so important for freelancers who want to succeed. Good habits help us focus on what we truly want from our work and how we get it. They also help us stay focused on our goals and prevent productivity from slipping away.
In this article inspired by James Clear’s Atomic Habits, I’ll share the three atomic habits I want to do consistently to grow as a freelance writer. These habits will hopefully strengthen the foundation of my business.
Connect with prospective clients.
After two years of freelancing for different organizations and websites, I’ve built quite a list of leads and clients on HubSpot. But as any business owner knows, you need to make the most out of your contacts list. One habit I’d like to build is regularly getting in touch with prospective, current, and past clients and discussing how I can further assist them. This will help open up more projects and opportunities, generating more income.
Create an outline before writing the first draft.
Writing is like building a house. Before you can even think about the flourishes and finishing touches, you need a blueprint and lay down the foundation first. Another habit I’d like to develop is creating an outline before writing the ugly first draft. A detailed sentence outline like those we wrote in our student days may not be necessary. Jotting down ideas and bullet points will suffice.
Read a book every day.
This year, I challenged myself to read two books a month. While it might seem like a lofty goal, I firmly believe in the many benefits of reading. I am far from reaching my reading goal. But I enjoy reading printed and ebooks and listening to audiobooks so much that I’d like to commit 30 minutes daily.
Getting started
As Atomic Habits author James Clear can attest, building good habits is the root of success. By sticking to the three atomic habits I’ve shared, I hope to develop new lifelong routines. With the right habits and mindset, I want to make significant progress and make a name for myself as a freelance writer.