Staying Motivated As a Freelance Proofreader: 10 Tips

Staying motivated as a freelance proofreader is one of the hardest aspects of the job. While many people can master the fundamentals of proofreading, those who find long-term success must also sustainably manage themselves. It does no good to have the technical skills under your belt only to have your energy and desire fizzle out when the going gets hard.

A key aspect of self-management is keeping your motivation strong. In this post, we take a look at 10 strategies to stay motivated as a freelancer proofreader.

Establish a routine based on your energy levels

One way to stay motivated as a freelance proofreader is to do the bulk of your proofreading work when you are “in the zone.” These are the times of day when your energy levels are at their highest. 

Some people feel more productive in the morning or early afternoon; others are more productive in the evening. Whenever that time is for you, reserve it for your most important or toughest work. You will find that the work is easier, and the finished product will usually be of higher quality too.

Have a dedicated working space

Although you don’t always have to do your work in the same spot, it can be helpful to establish a dedicated workspace. This should be a location in your home that is reserved for working. Setting up shop in a spare room or working at a desk in the corner of your living room could be good options.

Regardless of where your workspace is, develop the habit of doing most of your work from there. The act of sitting down at your desk will help motivate you to work in a way that sitting on the couch often doesn’t.

Set goals and work toward them

Nothing is quite so motivating as working toward a goal.

Whether it’s winning your first client, achieving a revenue milestone, or increasing your rates, having business goals in place can be the motivation you need to grow as a freelance proofreader.

Side note: Ensure your goals are SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound. See the video below to learn more about SMART goals.

Take care of yourself

It may seem counterintuitive, but one of best ways to stay motivated in your freelance proofreading work is to focus on the non-work-related aspects of your life. This means eating right, making time for exercise, and getting enough sleep.

Have you ever noticed that when you haven’t slept or eaten well, your energy, confidence, and motivation all take a nosedive? On the other hand, when you’re well rested and eating the right things, everything else in life just seems to go more smoothly.

The same goes for exercise. The time you spend exercising often helps you be even more productive and motivated the rest of the day. I find that on days I prioritize exercise, I tend to get more work done (not to mention feel better) than on days I don’t.

Invest in yourself

Your freelance proofreading business’s greatest asset is you. And like any asset, you want to invest in yourself so that you will grow. This personal growth often directly leads to greater opportunities, so the ROI is clear.

Take the time to invest in yourself. Read good books. Attend useful seminars. Hire a business coach if necessary. Continuous personal growth is a great motivator.

Find accountability or work partners

Going solo as a freelancer is a tough road, making staying motivated especially hard. Finding accountability or work partners can help.

These partners don’t have to be proofreaders either. Anyone can be part of your support network. Join a local freelancer support group. Rent time at a co-working space and get to know the regulars. Find a Facebook group.

Having a person or group who understands the common challenges freelancers face and who can encourage you when times get hard is an essential component not only of staying motivated as a freelance proofreader but of finding success. 

Take regular breaks from working

We were not made to work every day of our lives. Working day after day without a break will eventually cause burnout and demotivation. It’s a much better idea to schedule regular days off.

A good practice is to block off at least one day, and one additional evening, each week. During these times, do not allow yourself to work or even think about work (the latter is much more difficult!). Also, be sure to schedule vacations throughout the year and alert your clients well in advance that you will be unavailable during those times.

While it may be hard at first, scheduling time off for yourself is critical if you want to stay motivated and engaged over the long haul.

Take advantage of the “free” in freelancing

One of the biggest perks of freelance proofreading is the ability to set your own schedule. With no set hours, you have the freedom to do what you want, when you want.

Would you prefer to go to Costco at 10:00 a.m. on a Wednesday to avoid the crowds? You can do it! Would you like to grab lunch or coffee with a friend? It’s just a matter of getting in your car. Attending your kids’ events, going to an afternoon baseball game, and anything else you would like to do is possible as a freelancer. 

Often, after running out on a personal errand, you will feel reenergized when you sit back down to work. And doing things like shopping during odd hours can save you time you would normally have spent standing in line or stuck in traffic.

You may have to shuffle work around to make this happen, and sometimes you may have to be responsible and stay home to work, but in general, being able to mix and match work and personal activities throughout the day can help you stay motivated.  

Keep a list of things to work on when business is slow

As a freelance proofreader, you will experience lulls when none of your clients is sending you much work. (Other times you’ll get so many requests you’ll wonder how it will all get done!)

Rather than letting these down times chip away at your motivation, use them to your advantage.

Days with little client work are the perfect opportunity to work on your business as opposed to in it. You could redeem this time by starting a blog, improving your website, or creating social media content. Perhaps you need to dial in your budgeting or research tools to help you run your business more efficiently.

As a freelancer, you are running a business of one, and as such you can always find something to help build a foundation or propel yourself forward. Working on your business can give you just as much—if not more—motivation as working for a client.

Remember why you’re doing this

As with any career, being a freelance proofreader has its ups and downs. There will be days when everything comes up roses and you feel like you are on cloud nine. Other days will make you question your life choices, and nothing seems to help.

On those days, rely on the ultimate source of motivation: why you chose to become a proofreader in the first place. 

As for me, I spent 15 years in the corporate world. After being laid off during COVID, I vowed never to go back. Whenever I have bad days, I think about the alternative—going back to a cubicle—and suddenly feel motivated to get back to work!

Your “why” may be different. Maybe this is your dream career. Maybe freelance proofreading allows you to work around your kids’ schedules. Or maybe you just find immense satisfaction in finding and fixing mistakes in text. Whatever it is, recalling your ultimate reason for freelancing can be a powerful motivator, especially when all else fails.  

Wrapping it up

Staying motivated as a freelance proofreader requires conscious effort, but there are many ways to do it. Discipline, time management, mindset, and self-care all play a part. But the rewards include the ability to stay healthy and focused in your business over the long term.

So which of these strategies can you start today?

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