How have others kept their confidence up this year in regards to work?
I was made redundant a few days before the first lockdown and due to ill health and difficult personal circumstances am yet to find work. I've been volunteering as a designer, attending online workshops and taking lots of courses but my confidence has totally disappeared in regards to taking on paid work. Has anyone else experienced this and how have they overcome it?
Replies13
- Keep talking to people. Keep connecting. Keep working. Always be polite. Try not to put too muc pressure on yourself. If you do a little bit every day, it'll all work out for you. Good luck!
- Also... Yoga is great for your confidence and positive mental health
- Yes of course this is only natural... I have been there and following a redundancy your confidence is the first thing to be significantly affected.Make a list of all your achievements and begin compiling a portfolio of all your best work.Take small steps each day and continuously remind yourself of all you have achieved (no matter how small).Keep connected to people you have worked with in the past, retain regular social contact and with friends and family too (reach out to friends and family for work contacts too).Make time for inspirational events and non-work creative activities.The Dots is the best platform I have found for staying connected, informed, inspired and positive.Wishing you all the best,Mandie
- @Emma LDRoutine has been described as the enemy of creativity.However, it has helped many through lockdown.Every other day I run for a solid 30 minutes.Once a week I answer a Five Minute Mentor question.Every day I do a One Minute Brief.Structure and purpose have fed my confidence.If I hit an obstacle I use a ‘how do I... in 10 minutes’ process.I set a timer and within that 10 minutes write down ways to move a project forward.Even if it is not fee paying work, I treat as a job.
- Hi Emma, I'd say the be kind to yourself advice is very true. Throughout my career I've learned that the key to stay connected to your enthusiasm and confidence in work is to stay connected to your instrinsic motivations (your "why") for doing what you do, rather than external motivators/rewards/recognition. Practicing mindfulness daily also really helps with this and everything we've been experiencing this the outbreak of the pandemic. The app "Headspace" is my favourite for mindfulness and meditation, and has a great pack on dealing with being made redundancy and much, much more.I also have a little workbook on my website with the secret to always having work, and you are welcome to check it out: https://www.marinaesmeraldo.store/free-tools
- Be kind to yourself. Confidence comes and goes whatever your experience and situation, so don't feel like you're the only one losing it. After 25 years in the business I still have really off days. Go for a walk, look up and out, and cut yourself some slack. I don't know how old you are, but the pandemic has been especially hard on those at the start of their career, not least because it's been so isolating. Nature is my go-to when i need a boost. Good luck and keep going. Even baby steps need tenacity.
- @Emma LD Thank you. Hope you get work soon. : )
- @Carly Giles Sorry you're feeling the same, its so tough but thank you for the advice and the book recommendation. I'll definitely look that up.I sort of fell into the volunteering by accident. My friends and I own a small CIC that lost its funding at the beginning of the year so I worked voluntarily there and then the other opportunities have just come through friends volunteering in the local area. I'm sure if you have a google for local initiatives, charities and CICs and start reaching out they will be very glad of some help!
- I know how you feel, I'm going through the same. Can I ask you how you got your volunteering design work?Just keep reminding yourself that you got work before so you'll get it again. And also, your worth as a person isn't tied your work. I've read a great book recently called The Confidence Kit by Caroline Foran, it's really helped me.
- Emma, it sounds like you've used your time during the pandemic very constructivley.As a freelancer I've often been through periods where work has slowed down cosiderably and my confidence has taken a hit. I've found the best thing to help me regain my confidence is to remind myself that my experience and skills can't be taken away from me and that someone will need them soon.Your work is awesome! Hang in there :)
- @Luke Freeman Yeah it's a tough industry at the best of times, sorry you experienced this feeling too! It has been a great opportunity to spend time learning new skills and taking on voluntary projects that I wouldn't normally have time for but its hard to keep the morale when there is no paid work! Thank you for offering to share contacts, that would be really helpful!
- @Morphe Digital Design Thank you for the advice! I did a huge portfolio reinvention this year and was accepted for a freelance role just before christmas which was a real confidence boost but unfortunately they've gone silent with no reply to emails (a real theme this year!). I definitely think getting back on here and connecting with people might help though, thank you!
- It is taugh even before this pandemic, though I have been lucky picked up a few clients and freelance with a few agencies. Went through this experence of feeling disenfranchised from the creative indsutry.Through this down time gave me time to work myself and learn new design experiences, come up with a business model.You have really good work that illustrates your calibre of a designer and good experience. I don’t mind giving you my connections if you want to approach for work.
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