Today, we’re talking about the tough stuff.

There are no right words that reflect the shock and sadness of the recent events in Texas and Buffalo. Add a potential recession on top of that and it can feel like the world is crashing down around us.

For those of you who need time and space, I wholeheartedly hope you’re taking it, whether that means taking a break from social media, making more time for yourself, or prioritizing time with family and friends.

Today, we’re shifting the newsletter a bit to focus on the tough stuff.

How to deal with client work when you need time to cope & grieve

We know how hard it can be to continue on like everything’s normal when it doesn’t feel normal or good.

If you need time away from work to process emotions, know that it’s okay to take it. Your wellbeing and emotional and mental health come first.

Here’s an email template you can use to communicate this to your clients:

Hi X,

I know you’re aware of the tragedies that have occurred over the past few weeks. To be honest, these are impacting my overall well-being and focus right now. I need to take a short break from client work to gather myself so I can come back and do my best, most creative and focused work for you. I plan to take a break from Date 1 to Date 2.

Looking forward to returning soon and driving business forward.
XX

We also encourage those who are feeling upset about the recent gun violence to take action. I know sometimes it can feel hopeless to do so, but stay strong - every call, email, and donation helps. Here are some recommendations if you want to get involved:

Donate to organizations that are working day in and day out to implement change. Some of our favorites include:

Call or email your representatives and voice your opinion.

What to expect from the upcoming recession

We’ve been thinking a lot about the looming recession and what that might mean for our freelance community. We want to make sure you feel fully equipped and ready to handle what might come next.

A majority of sources say that a recession can actually work in favor of freelancers. Businesses are less likely to hire, but still need resources to push growth.

When Andrea and I were faced with the 2020 recession, we actually saw our business boom rather than slow down. Most of our clients and the companies in our space were on hiring freezes but still needed to get things done.

We anticipate this recession being similar. That being said, you might experience a shift and shake-up with your clients. It’s absolutely possible that a client or two gets spooked by the recession and cuts budget. If that happens, I want to remind you that others will pop up. Your business will ebb and flow, every freelance business does, but keep in mind this is often temporary.

If you want to keep an eye out for new opportunities, here are some places to do so:

For writers, The Writer's Job Newsletter sends the best paid remote freelance writing opportunities, straight to your inbox every week, for free. Subscribe now.
For designers, marketers, and other business professionals, we’ve pulled together a full post on how to find freelance work.

I know how scary this time of uncertainty can be. If you want to feel more confident going into the recession, here are some additional things you can do:

Shore up existing clients. Bring their attention back to the value you provide. Look for opportunities to expand your services or extend a project.
Diversify your income stream. Thinking of creating an online course or developing a workshop? Now is the time!
Focus on building up your nest egg, so if you do lose a client and have a slow month or two, it won’t tank you.
Re-engage with your network. Start posting on social media, scheduling virtual coffee dates with former colleagues and clients, and reconnect with other freelancers.

Hang in there, friends. We encourage you to stay in touch with positive members of your community, express your concerns, and band together.

We’ll be out here rooting for you and supporting you through it all.

Cheers,
Samantha

P.S. We’ve been busy improving Harlow based on feedback from our users and community. The latest:

New and improved task creation
100+ new currencies
New proposal templates
The ability to import historical invoices

Get the full scoop here.