Signs You Are Sabotaging Your Freelance Career

You can sabotage your career in many ways. You could insult your team, upset your manager, take more time off than you are allowed, or many other things. Being responsible for your professionalism is a part of being employed but if you are self-employed or working as a freelancer, you do not have to answer to anyone.

The Freelancer sector is experiencing high levels of success and growth. Everything seems to be falling into place for them. A freelancer might look successful, but there could be stress and a different picture if you look more closely. On the inside, things usually appear quite different. Some people are made for the freelance life, but what if you find yourself becoming unhappy? 

Here are some warning signs that indicate you might be sabotaging your freelance career.

There are simple self-checks that you can perform when logging in to work. Do you play games on your phone more than you work? Do you procrastinate more than you are productive? Are you honestly, deeply unhappy about your situation?  Only you can answer these questions honestly, and if you are lying about the answers, the only person you are lying to is yourself. Be accountable and be self-aware. 

Sign #1. You have a long list of excuses when asked to do the bare minimum

This mentality is destructive since it prevents someone from exploring their interests and skills. To keep things fair, you focus only on tasks you know you can complete well. For various reasons, many freelancers like to put themselves down. Some feel that it is necessary to obtain that sort of formal training. A longer record of successful projects or a larger clientele would be ideal. It’s never just one thing; rather, there’s always a collection of things that prevents you from reaching your potential. 

Sign #2. You accept things as it is even if you’re disadvantaged

Fear of what others think or how they might act is another form of self-sabotage in the workplace that can prevent you from doing things like voicing your opinion at a presentation or negotiating your pay with a client. Because of fear of what may happen if you voice out your thoughts, it’s easier to get trapped in a rut of anxiety. But since building a freelance career is an ongoing process, it’s crucial to recognise and correct these self-defeating routines before they derail your progression in the industry.

Sign #3. You Procrastinate… a lot!

You put off starting an important task until the very last minute. Procrastination can have serious consequences on a person’s professional reputation and performance if left unchecked. Effective time and task management are fundamental for the survival of most home-based entities. Even skilled freelancers and contractors might experience procrastination for a variety of reasons; therefore, it is integral to learn how to avoid the impacts of procrastination on your work.