The typical freelance career looks like a wave. It has “crests”, where you have more than enough work to keep you going, and “troughs”, where you have little, if any, work on your plate.

During the “trough” or “famine” periods, you have to be extra careful since it’s when you’re most vulnerable to being upset, desperate and ready to take on any job, no matter how degrading the work and/or the pay, as long as you can get by. Nevertheless, there are better ways to deal with “troughs” than settling for the low-hanging fruit.

Think about it. If you have less work at the moment, you have more free time to focus on tasks that can help with your freelance business. These tasks increase your productivity, flex your entrepreneurial muscles, and most importantly, give your business a push in the right direction, whether you’re in a “crest” or a “trough”.