You made it through one hell of a freelance year


Hi Reader,

Happy Friday!

Hopefully, by the time you receive this, my out of office will be on and my laptop will be hidden in a drawer somewhere out of reach.

It's been a shocker of a year, right?

I think we all need some time to sit and stare into space.

P.S. This week on Instagram, I shared what I'd do as a freelancer "doing outreach" but not seeing results. 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 3 pieces for clients (Sinch Engage, Salsify, and an influencer marketing tool)

👉 I refreshed 2 Shopify posts (I decided to get ahead for Jan)

👉 I had a call with a new client

👉 I was interviewed for The Times 😱

⏱ Approx hours spent on client work this week: ~15

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

💰 Total revenue this week: £3,750


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The unsexy side of freelancing

In the latest episode of the It's Fine, I'm a Freelancer podcast, I’m pulling back the curtain on the messy, unsexy backend of my business, from switching accountants to finally reviewing my expenses, and why every freelancer needs to do a regular business audit.

I’m also talking honestly about one of the toughest parts of freelancing: clients going silent. At the start of November, four clients promised briefs… and only two delivered, which completely threw off my schedule and revenue planning. I share how I’m navigating that, why the usual “just get paid upfront” advice doesn’t always fix the problem, and what freelancers can do instead.


Friday Freelance Tip​​ ✨

This is my annual reminder that I will not be hustling hard until the very last second of the year.

I will not be squeezing every last drop of productivity out of the final two weeks.

I will not be “finishing the year strong.”

I WILL be fading out in a merry haze of mince pies and wine.
An Irish goodbye, of sorts.

I WILL be diligently moving tasks to January’s to-do list (January Lizzie won’t know what’s hit her 🤭).

I WILL be letting emails marinade in a rich, saucy mix of chestnut stuffing and absolute ignorance.

I WILL be hiding my laptop in a drawer for the entire festive period.
(I did this one year and genuinely couldn’t remember where I’d put it when I came back to work. That’s the energy I want for 2026.)

Nothing good has ever come from forcing creativity while wearing elasticated trousers and eating your third (or seventh) chocolate of the day.

So if you see me online… no you didn’t.

That said, I know this won’t be the reality for everyone.

It’s been a tough old year in the freelance world. If taking time off feels stressful because you don’t have work lined up, or because you’re rebuilding momentum, or because rest just isn’t accessible right now, that’s okay too.

The beauty (and sometimes the burden) of freelancing is that we get to do things our way.

So use this time in whatever way feels genuinely productive for you:

  • Resting and going properly offline
  • Tying up loose ends
  • Shoring up your systems
  • Laying some groundwork for Jan


There’s no moral high ground here. No “right” way to freelance the end of a year.

I’ll also say this: things do feel like they’re on the up.

The start of 2025 felt fragile for me and for a lot of freelancers I know. But over the past couple of months, I’ve noticed a real uptick in enquiries and work again.

Every year as a freelancer is wildly different. I’ve weathered enough of them now to know that things may or may not go to plan. That’s really just part of the deal.

It’s not an easy life, but the benefits still far outweigh the cons.

So take a moment to give yourself a proper pat on the back. Not everyone can do this, and you made it through one of the most turbulent freelance years yet.

I’m wishing you a very happy Christmas and an end to the year that YOU choose.
I’ll be back in the new year.

And if there’s anything you’d love me to talk about in 2026 or anything you need help with, just hit reply and let me know.

I’m here for you, whatever that looks like 💛

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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Friday Freelance Tips ✨

Want a sneak peek into what it's really like being a freelancer? Spoiler: It's not all sunshine and rainbows. Every Friday, I share a tip I've learned from painful personal experience, plus everything I've been working on that week. Join me (and 7,000+ fellow freelancers!) on a behind-the-scenes adventure! 👇

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