top of page

How to Stay Motivated as a Freelancer: 10 Must-Have Tools to Keep You Inspired and Productive

Writer's picture: Andres WiestAndres Wiest

Close-up of a smartphone on a white surface, showing 9:56 time. A hand with French manicure touches the screen. A green apple nearby.

Freelancing means juggling client calls, deadlines, invoices, and those inevitable moments of creative block. Staying motivated as a freelancer isn’t always easy, but I’ve learned that having the right resources can make all the difference. These tools not only help with freelance stress management but also foster creative problem-solving skills and a growth mindset for success.

Here’s a curated list of 10 resources every freelancer should bookmark—because when entrepreneurial challenges arise, you want to focus on delivering your best work, not searching for the right tools. These resources have personally saved me countless hours and kept me on track, even on the busiest days.



 

Trello board titled "Current Org & Hiring Needs" with columns for Team 1 and Team 2, listing roles like "Dev Mgr" and "SW Eng" with hiring tags.

1. Trello

Whether you’re managing multiple projects or just trying to keep your to-dos organized, Trello’s visual boards are a lifesaver. It’s a place where you can map out deadlines, assign tasks to yourself (or a team if you’ve got one), and track progress. According to Forbes, Trello’s intuitive drag-and-drop interface makes it ideal for managing multiple clients or complex workflows. I’ve relied on Trello for years, especially when juggling client work alongside planning content for my coaching business. It’s an essential tool for freelance stress management.


 

Canva design interface with options for documents, whiteboards, and more. Colorful sample designs are displayed below a purple header.

2. Canva

For quick, professional-looking graphics, Canva is a freelancer’s dream. It’s my go-to for creating social media posts, blog headers, and even PDFs for my coaching clients. The drag-and-drop interface makes it simple, even if you don’t have a design background. According to ClearVoice, Canva offers thousands of free templates pre-sized for various platforms, making it easy to create visually appealing content. This tool has been pivotal in boosting my creative problem-solving skills.


 

Toggl Track dashboard showing time entries in pink graph. Tasks include Newsletter Emails and UI Edits. Side menu lists Track and Manage options.

3. Toggl Track

Time is money, especially for freelancers who bill hourly. Toggl Track lets you log your hours and provides insights into where your time is going. According to Wired, Toggl Track excels in enabling you to quickly assign blocks of time to certain tasks and projects, without overcomplicating the process, and then produces comprehensive reports on how your time’s been split. Personally, it’s helped me become more mindful of my work habits and ensure I’m not undervaluing my time. Building self-motivation for freelancers starts with understanding how you spend your hours, and Toggl is perfect for that.


 

Black background with white text reading "Unsplash" alongside a simple geometric logo. Minimalist and modern design.

4. Unsplash

High-quality visuals can elevate your work, and Unsplash offers a vast library of royalty-free images. It’s especially great for finding photos that fit niches like lifestyle, nature, or business, making it ideal for blog illustrations or social media campaigns. According to PetaPixel, Unsplash is one of the largest and most popular sources of free online images, offering millions of free images uploaded by photographers worldwide. I’ve used it for everything from blog illustrations to social media content. It’s perfect for freelancers who want to up their visual game without breaking the bank.


 

Task management software interface showing a task list with assignees and due dates. Left sidebar has templates like Projects & Tasks.

5. Notion

Think of Notion as your all-in-one workspace. It’s a blend of a planner, note-taking app, and project management tool. I use it to brainstorm blog ideas, track client invoices, and even plan my coaching content calendar. Its customization options make it invaluable for overcoming entrepreneurial challenges and staying organized. According to Forbes, Notion started as a note-taking app but has evolved into a project management tool perfect for solopreneurs as well as small teams.


 

Dashboard with financial metrics: profit $3,050, expenses $450, invoices $0, mileage $0. Green Subscribe button. Text: "You're all caught up."

6. QuickBooks Self-Employed

Let’s face it: managing finances as a freelancer can be a headache. QuickBooks Self-Employed simplifies expense tracking, invoicing, and even tax prep. It helps you record your self-employed income and expenses, track mileage, and prepare your Schedule C tax form. According to Intuit QuickBooks, this tool is designed to meet the unique needs of freelancers and small business owners, making financial management seamless. I remember a time when I was scrambling to organize my expenses for tax season—QuickBooks saved me hours by automatically categorizing my transactions and generating detailed reports. It turned a stressful process into a seamless one. This tool has been instrumental in giving me a clear picture of my finances, so I can focus on what I love—helping others.


 

Grammarly logo with a black "G" and text "grammarly" in lowercase. Simple design on a white background.

7. Grammarly

Writing clear, professional emails or creating compelling copy for your website? Grammarly is like having an editor in your back pocket. As a writer, it’s my trusted companion for catching typos and ensuring my tone resonates with my audience. According to Grammarly, it offers real-time grammar and spelling checks, tone detection, and full-sentence rewrites to enhance clarity and effectiveness. Good writing fosters self-motivation for freelancers by boosting confidence in communication.


 

Black Hootsuite logo with an owl icon on the left and the word "Hootsuite" in bold letters on a white background.

8. Hootsuite

Managing multiple social media accounts? Hootsuite lets you schedule posts, track engagement, and manage your online presence all in one place. According to Hootsuite, it offers features like AI-powered content creation, social listening, and analytics tools to enhance your social media strategy. For me, Hootsuite has been instrumental in maintaining a consistent posting schedule across various platforms, which is vital for fostering a growth mindset for success.


 

White "fiverr." text with a green dot on a dark green background, conveying a professional and modern design.

9. Fiverr

Sometimes, you need to outsource—whether it’s for a logo design, a website tweak, or transcription work. Fiverr is a platform where you can find freelancers for nearly every task. According to Fiverr, you can browse and search for services using categories, keywords, and filters to find what you’re looking for. I’ve used it to delegate smaller tasks, giving me more time to focus on big-picture goals. Learning to delegate is a crucial part of freelance stress management.


 

10. Mindful Productivity Blog (For Tips on How to Stay Motivated as a Freelancer)

Shameless plug: This blog is packed with actionable advice on balancing work and life as a freelancer. From managing stress to finding creative inspiration, it’s a resource I wish I’d had when I started. It’s a place where self-motivation for freelancers and creative problem-solving skills come together.


 

What tools do you rely on to stay motivated as a freelancer? Bookmark these resources, share this post with your fellow freelancers, and let us know your favorites in the comments below. Together, let’s build a community of motivated, inspired freelancers ready to conquer the challenges ahead!


 

References

  1. Forbes. "Trello Review: Features, Pricing & Alternatives." Available at: https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/software/trello-review/

  2. ClearVoice. "Canva Basics: How Freelancers Can Use the Free Design Tool." Available at: https://www.clearvoice.com/resources/canva-basics/

  3. Wired. "The Best Time Management Apps to Tame the Chaos." Available at: https://www.wired.com/story/best-time-management-apps

  4. PetaPixel. "Unsplash: What is It and How Does It Work?" Available at: https://petapixel.com/what-is-unsplash/

  5. Forbes. "Notion Review: Features, Pros & Cons." Available at: https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/software/notion-review/

  6. Intuit QuickBooks. "Overview of QuickBooks Self-Employed." Available at: https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/taxation/quickbooks-self-employed-overview/L0B1HRxnD_US_en_US?uid=lsgr9nmi

  7. Grammarly. "Product Features." Available at: https://www.grammarly.com/features

  8. Hootsuite. "Social Media Management, Analytics, Scheduling." Available at: https://www.hootsuite.com/platform

  9. Fiverr. "How Fiverr Works." Available at: https://www.fiverr.com/cp/how-fiverr-works

1 view0 comments

Comentarios


(385) 225-5246

Certification
  • alt.text.label.Instagram
  • alt.text.label.Facebook
  • alt.text.label.LinkedIn
Certification

©2022 by Millennial Zen Coaching. Proudly created with Wix.com

bottom of page