What I Learned from My First Year as a Freelancer
Freelancing felt like a dream—until it became a daily test of resilience.
One year into working solo in Japan, I realized freedom isn’t always gentle. It’s demanding, thrilling, sometimes isolating—but always rich with lessons. Here’s what I’ve learned so far, especially if you’re walking this path too.
Table of contents
Stress Is Inevitable. Strategy Is Optional.
There’s no boss. No salary. No one telling you what to do.
Sounds amazing? It is—until you’re staring at your bank account and wondering if you’re “doing enough.”
Financial factors are certainly the main pain point of your first period. And it stresses you.
Stress could be dangerous.
When you’re stressed, you want to hurry and convince yourself you’re making effort via unproductive tasks.
That is dangerous. Because you’re acting without thinking.
- Some days, I felt overwhelmed by silence.
Inside my bed. I was thinking. Why I can’t show results quickly ?
What doesn’t work ? And you lose your motivation to do your task. - Other days, I drowned in endless tasks. I’m just overwhelmed because I know I will never finish them. And it is bad to your body and mind.
What helped?
→ Building a rhythm: moments to think, move, work, reflect.
→ Asking: What did I learn today? Did it matter?
Stress didn’t disappear—but it became manageable. Like weather. You dress for it, and keep going.
Being a Young Woman in Japan’s Business Culture
Let’s be honest: Japan is still behind in women’s empowerment.
As a young female freelancer, I often felt invisible or underestimated.
In Japan, we have the culture to be modest and hide true opinion.
But instead of waiting to be seen, I chose to deliver value that speaks louder than any stereotype.
- I show up prepared.
- I listen deeply to my client’s challenges.
- I bring ideas that surprise them.
This could be a challenge for you; especially if you come from a completly different environment.
But, don’t hesitate to speak up. Try to be an examplel for Japanese woman.
Freedom is beautiful, but dangerous.
You manage your time, your income, your reputation. It’s liberating.
But without structure, freedom turns into chaos.
It’s easy to fall into a panic, or a soft lazyness, where you feel that you’re not on the right rail.
But there are two things important in those context. Keep your life healthy, and manage your time.
Here’s what I keep in mind:
Health is the basis of your life.
I exercise regularly and get preventive checkups.
Not a luxury—a necessity.
I also go every week to cycle. That is a refreshment for me. And I feel the impact having on my brain.
It encourages your productivity and help to save money spending for any type of diseases.
Time is money.
Track what gives you energy, and what drains it.
What seems to be unneeded, unuseful, not a priority to your business & life ?
I understand when you want to show your respect, politeness, and commitment through paying your time.
But if the person in front of you is truly a professional and respect you, he or she should understand that time is valuable for anyone.
Say no when needed.
Final Thought: Embrace the Hell. It Has Lessons.
My first year was challenging. If you’re considering starting your own independent entrepreneurial journey with full ownership, prepare to face some obstacles. For certain individuals or those in specific circumstances, starting like me can be a daunting task, filled with risks, stress, and fear.
While it’s true that high returns often require taking risks, I can’t deny the fact that some women don’t have the luck to easily achieve their entrepreneurial dreams. That’s why seeking help, seeking advice, and thinking about how you can start small are crucial.
Here aretwo key lessons I learned during my first year:
Building Relationships:
It’s not just about networking; it’s about building genuine connections with people who share your interests and goals. Sometimes, you need to invest time and effort in building relationships, but being too generous or too loose can lead to wasted time.
Self-Awareness and Improvement:
I identified my strengths and weaknesses and made an effort to improve. I made mistakes and created unused documents, but instead of blaming myself, I learned from them and embraced self-discovery.
Clarifying my vision and goals helped me shape my career and make my dream a reality. I identified the projects, skills, and challenges I needed to overcome.
Self-confidence means embracing your strengths and weaknesses.
And now, I want to meet others—like you—who believe work can be purposeful, poetic, and powerful.
