Ah, the holiday season is upon us.

As we all frantically finish projects, book vacations (If Omicron lets us?), and plan for the year ahead, we should reflect on the habits and routines that either helped us break through or stagnant in 2021.

As I look back on 2021 and nearly 6 years of freelancing, I realize that good habits are directly correlated to my success as a freelancer.

For example, I’ve managed to curb my bad habit of procrastination by running 2-3x a week and meditating daily.

Running and meditation also give me clarity so that I can be fully present on the task at hand rather than worry about the next thing on my ever-growing to-do list.

I try to meditate first thing in the morning and then head out for a run. When I’m ready to get started on my day, I feel energized, thankful, and sharp.

This translates into higher quality work, more focus, and growth in my business and personal life.

Building good habits requires consistency and discipline. A cheat code for making them stick is environment design. I first learned about this concept while reading the #1 New York Times bestseller, Atomic Habits. The concept is simple—To make good habits stick, reduce the number of steps to do them. Click the link above to see some great examples!

This is the final issue of 2021!

I’m humbled by the rapid growth of this newsletter, the words of encouragement I’ve received from many of you, and the community that we’re building here.

There are some exciting developments brewing in the lab, so stay tuned 👀

I’ll be on a much-needed break until January 9th, 2022 and I’m excited to come back refreshed to take Freelance Wins to the next level.

Enjoy the holidays with your loved ones, stay safe, and take care.

Until next time ✌️

-Joseph