Seven-ish Tools and Resources to Reignite Every Area of Your Freelance Life This Summer
The first half of 2020 wasn’t canceled, per se, but it definitely had its priorities rearranged. Honestly, as tough as it has been, and as many lows as we have experienced, I do feel that I have learned more about myself and our society than I could have imagined, and I no longer want to go “back to normal.” I want to make long lasting changes that will shape a new, better normal for the future. Here’s how.
Re: your books
I don’t know about you, but I am tired of using a bulky, expensive invoicing system with so many functions I don’t use, and so many fees I don’t want. I’m not going to name any names, but let’s just say it rhymes with Flicknooks. I’m now trying out Wingspan, a fresh, friendly, streamlined invoicing platform made specifically with freelancers in mind, that is soon to also help with your taxes, your bookkeeping, and even your health insurance. If you have never used a service for your invoices before, or found others to be too heavy, now is the time to give Wingspan a try.
Re: your head
Listen. If you were to track the number of times I washed or styled my hair from December to March, then compare that with March to June, you would see a marked decrease, then a flatline. It has just not been a priority. Now, as the hot weather kicks in and I start to consider taking meetings that require video and or in-person rendezvous, I am looking to make my scalp and follicles as fresh and healthy as possible, while continuing this low-maintenance trend. Enter Hairstory, a deceptively simple and ecologically-minded line including New Wash. Cleansing and conditioning in one product, naturally.
Re: your finances
(this is an affiliate link so if you click it and try out Public.com we will get a small commission which will be rad!)
When my main stream of income shuddered to a halt in March, I started to think seriously for the first time about diversifying my revenue possibilities. And, the upheaval around the stock market just made me all the more curious about the mysterious ways of Wall Street. I took the leap, and started a portfolio on Public.com. I’ve loved getting to see what investors I look up to are doing with their cash, learning what companies resonate with me, and specifically investing in woman-run companies. And guess what? My impressive $109.18 portfolio has increased in value by 1.43% in less than a month.
Re: your soles
Did anyone else forget what shoes were while self-isolating? I was shuffling to the store once weekly for 90 days, and now I’m contemplating actually hanging in the park, walking to a protest or rally, and getting out in my neighborhood to knock on doors and canvas for political candidates I am passionate about this summer. Keds are a tennis shoe that has literally been around since before women had the right to vote, and they are walking the walk 100%. If you ordered a FF Jet Pack with your ticket to Reignite, you’ll be getting Keds’ beautiful Handbook, featuring interviews, poetry, and stories from some of the truly intersectional and brilliant women they support.
Re: your government
Now more than ever, I know that if I want to improve my own life, I need to contribute to a more balanced and equitable society as a whole. No matter what political affiliation you have, studies show that women are more likely to find compromise and seek solutions across party lines, which is what I want in my government right now. I took She Should Run’s quiz to find out what my ideal role in political engagement can be (they’re a nonpartisan org btw) and found resources to help women who are thinking of running for public office.
Re: your cravings
Inlands Coffee, Shanti Bar, Bohana Snacks, Usual Wines, Uncle Nearest Whiskey
After three months of cooking comfort foods at home in one of NYC’s chilliest and most bummerest of springs, I am ready to eat healthy, mobile, and energizing. And I want my calories/dollars to feed other women entrepreneurs too. So how am I quenching my thirst, and what am I snacking on?
Inlands Coffee is all about regenerative farming, and treading lightly on the earth. Mushrooms are great for our ecosystem and our bodies, so Inlands blends them right on in with the bean. It doesn’t change the taste, but it does make the caffeination last longer with less jitters.
Shanti Bar is pure nutritional greatness, with one of the most pleasant textures of any energy bar I’ve tried. And the flavors are actually interesting and satisfying. Hard to believe, I know, but it’s true - the founders are chef-athletes.
Bohana is literally the most poetic snack to come across my desk in months. They are air popped sustainably harvested water lily seeds, higher in protein and fiber than popcorn, and seasoned to perfection by Ayurvedic BFF Shark Tank Survivors.
And for my evening enjoyment, I’m either going for single serving Usual Wines (great way to portion control or slip a sip into your bag while grabbing takeout) or digging deep into American history with a splash of Uncle Nearest Whiskey, the only Black woman-owned whiskey company in this country, named for the the first (and until now usually uncredited) African American master-distiller.
Re: your sisters
I am making a point to keep educational and antiracist books, movies, shows, audiobooks, and podcasts queued up and ready all summer long, and beyond. I am trying to remember that the more we educate ourselves about the injustices that others experience, and the privileges we have, the more empathy we’ll cultivate, and the better our relationships, businesses, lives, and society will become. I’m sure you’ve already got a million in your queues and baskets, but just in case:
Eloquent Rage, Brittney Cooper
Magical Negro, Morgan Parker
Beloved, Toni Morrison
The New Jim Crow, Michelle Alexander
13th, Ava DuVernay
Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston
Code Switch, NPR
I truly and sincerely hope that this short list of tools, resources, and women-led sustenance has got you feeling a bit more inspired, optimistic, and empowered and we move into a period of change and growth. And let me tell you: these vetted recommendations are just the tip of the iceberg of what we’ll be sharing at Reignite on June 26th. If you’d like to get together with your global Freelancing Females Family, network, meet other members, learn from experts, and get one-on-one wisdom for your career and life, grab your $11 ticket now, and snag one of the last of our limited edition FF Jet Packs too.