A creative career is unpredictable at the best of times, but the added uncertainty of the pandemic has brought with it an increased pressure that has been challenging for most creative freelancers and businesses. Many have had to think creatively about how to stay afloat amid the difficulties. However, life still finds a way to teach us lessons through the struggles. Here are some of mine…

Lesson 1: Learn a new pace

This year I've had to slow down and speed up all at the same time. I've had limited capacity to do the 'unpaid hours' of marketing and skill-development, on top of increased caring responsibilities and challenges. I’ve felt I’ve had to work twice as hard for less pay so I've learned to have grace for myself when I've felt overwhelmed, taking things one day at a time. It's easy to think that a new year will bring with it the possibility of resuming the pace of years gone by, but we need to think about how we can give ourselves headspace to juggle responsibilities and goals, despite ongoing setbacks. I’ve had to be realistic about what I could say yes to and what I had to turn down. I’ve had to value my mental health above my perceived ‘success’ in order to find strength in uncertainty.

Lesson 2: Stay connected

I love having my own space to think but the lack of physical companions to discuss ideas and gain moral support took its toll in the first lockdown. In the past, social media was my go-to for creative community, but with the increase of negative posts online, this left me feeling less than motivated. Having smaller groups of support has been so helpful and kept me going, whether with online groups of other creative professionals, or mates I could call or go for walks with when things got tough. Checking in on others also created space for me to feel supported too – win win. Sometimes staying connected meant asking if friends were okay, other times it meant sending comedy gifts in the post and finding things to laugh about.

Lesson 3: Focus on the good

2020 has been a negative year for many of us, but in amongst it are glimmers of hope that things can change for the better. My work started to shift to focus on businesses and organisations that saw a need to serve their communities during the pandemic. I recognised the power of creativity to bring about positive and effective communication and gained more understanding of how essential it is. Companies were more focused on real needs and finding ways to evolve. I started to get enquiries from organisations that were adapting to the lockdown and needed to improve their online communication, as well as food businesses who needed help to promote their delivery services. I found that I had to take a much more versatile approach to my work than previous years, incorporating design, illustration, art direction and project management skills. Focussing on the good also meant being thankful for small things throughout each day – noticing small victories, receiving kindness, or really appreciating simple things that engaged my senses.

There was an increased need for food products and delivery services which gave me opportunity to create visual communication for food businesses. You can see this full project here — There was an increased need for food products and delivery services which gave me opportunity to create visual communication for food businesses. You can see this full project ***here***

Lesson 4: Know your worth

I have had an increase in pleas for free or low paid work this year, calling on my good nature to lower my fees to help businesses who are suffering. There are times when I have chosen to help others in ways I've been able, but to assume creative professionals can afford to go unpaid is, quite frankly, disrespectful, let alone unethical. As much as others may be struggling, we all deserve to pay our bills and we should not have to sacrifice things at the expense of bigger businesses who are likely to have access to much greater funds. This year I’ve ignored a lot of emails I would have perhaps replied to in previous years. I’ve not had capacity to explain value to people who question it, and long may that continue.

Lesson 5: Be honest

There have been times I’ve hid my true feelings because I wanted to be a strength to others who needed it. All this did was make me feel stuck and unable to truly be a support. It probably made other people feel like they had to cover up their own issues too. Being honest about how crap you feel creates space for others to be honest and to find ways to support each other. Let’s be honest, 2020 has been shit. What to vent? I’m all ears.

Lesson 6: Limit online use

This year has given us a greater need for digital products to sustain businesses – this is both a good and bad thing. Many businesses have adapted for the better and improved their online communication and are seeing results. We’ve also got wise to unnecessary travel and meetings when we can just chat online. The problem with this is the exhaustion that looking at screens all day can bring with it – zoom fatigue is real! I realised I needed to spread out video calls and take more time away from my screen than previous years in order to rest properly. This meant I found a greater connection to more tactile tasks when I got the chance – painting, making and fixing things in my home.

Lesson 7: Don't compare journeys

We are not all in the same boat. Some may have had to work two jobs, others may have lost loved ones, others still may have had their best year yet. I can't compare others' apparent success to my seeming lack of it (or vice versa) – there are too many factors at play here. I've had to accept that my capabilities have not allowed me to create the work I wanted to this year, and that's okay. People don't present the full picture online so I’ve had to have better blinkers on and focus on my own journey. If I got through the year, that’s enough.

Lesson 8: Get in nature

The need to engage brain and body has been essential this year. Getting outside, even just for 30 mins a day, has really helped me to stay focussed and recuperate. Many people noted how much louder the birds sounded. I think part of this was because we gave nature more room to flourish without cars and noise, but part of it was also the fact that we became more aware of simple pleasures. The lockdown taught me how to be human and connected to the world. It emphasised that we’re not the powerful beings we easily assume. Going for walks, noticing the colours and the sounds and feeling the wind on my skin was humbling and important.

Lesson 9: It’s okay to quit

There were days I felt so exhausted I had to quit my plans. At first I beat myself up over this and tried to push myself as much as I could, but it just left me feeling more deflated. I quickly realised that the world still went on when I stopped (no kidding!) and that really it was my own pride stopping me from resting and taking time out. It even made me more productive in the long run, so I learned to stop the old voice in my head telling me that time is money and learned to work smarter instead. I had to let go of a lot of ambitions this year, which kind of sucked, but quitting on non-essential brain energy has been helpful. I’ve been happier to just get by and create more space for rest. I’ve allowed myself to fail and quit.

Lesson 10: Play the Long Game

It was frustrating to have my plans ruined by unexpected setbacks this year, but all was not lost. Sure, things may look a little different in the future, but I have to play the long game. I’ve not been able to commit to my goals in the same way I’d have liked, but there's no reason why I can’t just chip away at them a little slower. Passion is not all about productivity, it’s about commitment to progress. Challenges have helped me to assess what's really important to me – and knowing those things have stayed despite adversity is a good sign I can be true to them in all weathers.

What have you learned in 2020? Has it made you change the way you work?

10 creative lessons learned in 2020