Hi Reader,

Happy Friday!

WELCOME TO 2026 🥳

I've spent 3 weeks eating mince pies, drinking fizz, hiking, relaxing, and generally forgetting how to string a sentence together.

But now I'm back and I'm feeling PUMPED.

Who knew 3 weeks off could claw back my motivation from the fiery depths of nowhere?!

Anyway, how are you? How are things looking for you in 2026? Is there anything you're particularly excited about? Scared about? Worried about? Pumped about? Let me know!

I'm going to be recording lots of podcast episodes over the coming weeks, so I'm all ears for your ideas and suggestions.

P.S. This week on Instagram, I shared what why I'm not really doing anything differently this Jan. Check it out here. And don't forget to give me a follow for regular tips and tricks!

Here's what I've been up to this week work-wise:

👉 I wrote 2 pieces for clients (Stan Store and an influencer marketing tool)

👉 I had a call with an ongoing client about Q1

👉 I started the week in a cabin in Cornwall and ended it in a Cabin in Sussex

⏱ Approx hours spent on client work this week: ~10

⏱ Approx hours spent on non-client work: ~2

💰 Total revenue this week: £1,600

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Friday Freelance Tip​​ ✨ ​

Every year around this time there’s a certain pressure to decide what’s next, to identify the next lever to pull or system to rebuild or version of yourself to roll out, and I’ve noticed that the longer I’ve been freelancing, the less convincing that pressure feels (thank the lorrrrrd).

The truth is that my big plan for 2026 doesn’t involve anything new, ambitious, or disruptive, and that’s not because I’ve run out of ideas or energy, but because I’ve reached a point where I understand what actually keeps a freelance business healthy over the long term.

In 2026, I’ll continue building my network by having real conversations with 5-10 new people a month because I’ve seen over and over again that steady relationship-building creates a level of trust and familiarity that compounds.

I’ll continue working with my existing clients, many of whom I’ve built long-standing relationships with.

There’s something ~deeply grounding~ about that kind of continuity, especially in an industry that constantly frames novelty and change as signs of progress.

I’ll also keep recording podcast episodes and sending out a Friday Freelance Tips newsletter every Friday, partly because it creates a rhythm that keeps me connected to my work and the people I’m writing for, and partly because showing up regularly in a way that feels manageable has turned out to be far more sustainable than chasing bursts of visibility or momentum.

I’ll continue making time for hobbies and spending time outdoors, because stepping away from work has become part of how I protect my ability to think clearly and enjoy the business I’ve built.

I’ll keep going to freelancer events and coworking regularly, sitting alongside people who understand the strange mix of freedom and responsibility that comes with this kind of work.

All of this might sound ~underwhelming~ if you’re expecting a big strategic reveal, but over time I’ve come to see that the most resilient freelance businesses are built on repetition, familiarity, and trust, rather than constant reinvention or reaction to every shift in the landscape.

With AI changing how work is produced and valued, and with many freelancers feeling uncertain about consistency and demand, it can be reeeeeally tempting to assume that survival depends on doing more, moving faster, or reshaping yourself every year...

...yet my experience suggests that the freelancers who fare best are the ones who double down on relationships and a way of working that, well, works for them.

A business that relies on strong human connections, clear boundaries, and sustainable routines tends to hold up well even as tools, platforms, and trends evolve, because its foundations aren’t tied to any single tactic or moment in time.

So my plan for 2026 is to keep doing the work that has already proven itself, to stay connected to people in a way that feels human and generous, and to build a business that supports a life I actually want to live.

How about you? What are your plans for 2026? I'd love to hear from you!

We need more Freelance Money Diaries entries! I'm forever grateful to anyone who shares their finances with us (you can do it totally anonymously!).

Click the button below to do yours!

As always, happy freelancing :)

Lizzie ✨

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