50+ Places to Find Freelance Work

50+ Places to Find Freelance Work

If you’re new to freelancing, figuring out how to land your first client (and your second… and your third) can be a little tough. Do you cold-email prospective clients offering your services? Do you focus on networking and hope for a referral? Or do you pour your energy into building your online presence and generate interest that way?

Well, those are all great options, actually. But let’s be real: When you’re facing down your next rent payment and scowling at your dwindling bank account, the priority is finding freelance work fast. Fortunately for all of us, a lot of other people have faced this problem in the past. And some of those people have built entire freelance marketplaces and communities to help solve it.

Below, we’ll share some of the best sites to explore if you’re looking to land your next freelance gig quickly or you just want to keep the doorway open to new clients. These sites are categorized by specialty, from general freelance sites to sites focused on marketing, writing, design & more. Further down, we’ve also featured several international sites that feature freelance jobs in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe & the UK, and Latin America.

Let’s dive in!

 

Here are the best sites to explore if you’re looking to land your next freelance gig quickly.

General Freelance Job Boards & Newsletters

For freelancers in all regions and all specialties

Harlow

Yours truly. The Harlow Freelance Job Board is chock-full of new gigs for freelancers across industries and verticals. You can filter by skill, company & more to find the right role. We include pay when it’s available and encourage you to pitch your rate when it’s not. We also highly recommend signing up for the Harlow freelance newsletter to get a shortlist of the hottest jobs delivered to your inbox every week, plus inspiration as you build and grow a sustainable business.

Cave Jobs

Cave Jobs manually combs the internet daily to find and upload freelance gigs and remote jobs posted by Team Leads, Founders, CMOs, Heads of Content, and even business owners on their feeds.

The Daily Lead

Get fresh freelance leads every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from The Daily Lead — a Substack with over over 3,000 subscribers.

Founder Gigs

Founder Gigs by Alex Friedman is a newsletter that curates fractional roles for founders who want to supplement their income while continuing to build other businesses and revenue streams.

Freelance Opportunities

Make space in your inbox every Friday for Kaitlyn Arford’s Freelance Opportunities newsletter. It’s chock-full of opportunities for journalists, copywriters, social media managers, and more.

Mylance

Get fractional jobs delivered to your inbox as soon as they’re posted directly from the company’s website. Get on Mylance’s list.

NoDesk

Work from anywhere. NoDesk specializes in remote freelance jobs and gig work all over the world, primarily in the tech industry. Add “freelance” or “contract” to the search bar to find roles that suit your needs, or search by function/specialty.

Remotive

Similar to NoDesk, Remotive features vetted tech jobs all over the world, and you can explicitly search for freelance or contract roles to find a solid selection of quality opportunities.

Surely + Work

Surely + Work has hundreds of open freelance jobs across professions, industries, and locations. You can find some great niche roles here. Dig in!

We Work Remotely

We Work Remotely is one of the largest remote work communities in the world and is jam-packed with a diverse set of freelance opportunities. From graphic design gigs to engineering positions and everything in between – they’ve got you covered.

 

General Freelance Marketplaces

For freelancers in all regions and all specialties

Freelancer

If you’d prefer to browse gigs, Freelancer is a great option. They feature freelance job listings, so you get a bit more info about the project up front, and you can submit quotes to “bid” on them if you’re interested. Like Fiverr, you’ll still create a profile to attract people looking to hire, and you’ll be paid when the client marks the job as complete. Unlike Fiverr, Freelancer offers flexible pricing options and lower fees.

Membership Fee: $0
Pricing Options: Fixed Price or Hourly
Transaction Fees: 10%

Freelancing Females

Functioning as a community, directory, job board, and resource hub, Freelancing Females is a haven for self-identified women who work for themselves. You can browse their job listings and resources for free and sign up for their membership to get listed in their directory, join their Slack channel, and gain access to live workshops and exclusive discounts. On their site, they also feature a rad rate sheet where you can see what other women are charging around the world.

Membership Fee: $18/quarter or $59/year
Pricing Options: N/A
Transaction Fees: N/A

FreeUp

Another player in the freelance marketplace, FreeUp offers more flexibility with pricing and more consistency with payments. You can charge whatever rate you’d like (the fees are on the client) and you’ll be paid out weekly for your work through PayPal or Payoneer. FreeUp practices a bit more discretion with their “hires”—you need to apply to join as a freelancer, interview with a team member, and pass a test in order to be accepted. But once you’re in, you can enjoy access to their community benefits, like 24/7 support and vetted, high-caliber jobs.

Membership Fee: $0
Pricing Options: Hourly
Transaction Fees: 0% (client pays fees)

Guru

If you’re looking for a lot of flexibility and a powerful system to back you, Guru knows what’s up. This freelance marketplace is free to join, but they offer a range of membership options that can cater to varying needs and support you as you scale your business. Their free plan limits you to sending 10 quotes per month, which is fine for most freelancers anyway, so you can skate by at no cost (besides transaction fees) unless you want more powerful features, like Premium Quotes and boosted rankings to help you stand out.

Membership Fee: $0 to join, costs to upgrade
Pricing Options: Fixed Price, Task-Based, Hourly, or Recurring
Transaction Fees: 9% on their free plan (but you can agree to split up to 5% with the employer)

Shoutt

Looking for creative, marketing, or technical work? Shoutt is a commission-free marketplace featuring over 1,000 open roles (all added within the last 7 days — so they’re guaranteed fresh). Sign up for a free account to browse or become a paid member to apply and create contracts.

Membership Fee: $0 to join; $19.99 to apply to jobs
Pricing Options: N/A
Transaction Fees: N/A

Toptal

Similar to FreeUp, Toptal extensively vets its freelancers, conducting interviews to assess your skills and matching you with relevant jobs. Their clients range from Fortune 500 businesses to Silicon Valley startups, so you’re guaranteed high-quality projects with top companies around the world. Best of all, they don’t take a cut from your pay, so you get the rate you want. If you’re looking to make a career of freelancing and you have a strong resume, joining Toptal is a great move.

Membership Fee: $0
Pricing Options: Hourly or Weekly
Transaction Fees: 0% (client pays fees)

Twine

Twine is a freelance marketplace for creatives, developers, and marketers. You can build a one-page website on their platform to showcase your work and apply for jobs in just one click. It’s free to get started, but they do charge transaction fees for some payment processors. And you can upgrade to their Pro plan to unlock more features.

Membership Fee: for Free plan: $0; for Pro: $7.49 per month (billed yearly) or $13.99 monthly
Pricing Options: Lump Sum or “Vault” payments
Transaction Fees: variable

 

Freelance Design Job Boards & Newsletters

For freelance designers in all regions

Authentic Jobs

Authentic Jobs is a job board for designers, developers, and other creatives. They feature solid listings from reputable companies, and you can browse and apply free of charge. Check out their listings today if you’re looking for leads.

Smashing Magazine

If you’re looking for a simple place to find and get the job done, look no further than Smashing Magazine’s job board. Clients post jobs and gigs here regularly, so you can scan the list on your own time and apply as you wish. There are no fees or memberships—just a handy collection of opportunities.

 

Freelance Design Marketplaces

For freelance designers in all regions

99designs

99designs has been helping designers find work since 2008. Their unique platform allows you to work 1:1 with clients or participate in design contests to win a job. Designers are vetted and receive more perks as they take on more projects, ascending from Entry Level to Mid Level to Top Level as they gain experience on the platform. As your level increases, your fees decrease, making it a platform worth investing in.

Membership Fee: $0
Pricing Options: Fixed Price, Task-Based, Hourly, or Recurring
Transaction Fees: 15% at Entry Level, 10% at Mid Level, and 5% at Top Level, plus a 20% client introduction fee applied to your first $500 of income (which is waived if you win a client contest)

Dribbble

Acting as both a freelance job board and a membership marketplace, Dribbble is a flexible option for designers to find work. You can scan their list of opportunities for free or join their Pro Business plan to get their daily leads newsletter—AKA high-quality gigs in your inbox daily—so you don’t have to chase down opportunities.

Membership Fee: $15/month paid annually or $20/month paid monthly
Pricing Options: N/A
Transaction Fees: N/A

 

Freelance Marketing Job Boards & Newsletters

For freelance marketers in all regions

Content as a Career

Get work-from-anywhere marketing roles delivered to your inbox every Friday by Content as a Career. The opportunities are hand-selected by one of our favorites, Tamilore Oladipo.

Top of the Funnel

This free Slack community for content marketers and SEO specialists features fresh job opportunities, resources & more. Join TOFU today.

Yentalist

Yentalist by Olivia Dreizen Howell and the Fresh Starts Registry crew features a curated list of great remote marketing jobs. It’s updated a couple of times a week with the latest and greatest.

 

 

Freelance Marketing Marketplaces

For freelance marketers in all regions

Advisable

Similar to MarketerHire, Advisable hooks you up with tailored opportunities based on your experience and preferences and puts great care into vetting the freelancers before accepting them as “Advisable Specialists.” You can join for free, and if you make it through the application process, you’ll enjoy a steady flow of new work. If you want extra benefits, like higher-quality clients, greater exposure, and even custom lead gen campaigns, you can apply to join their Advisable Elite program, which is also free.

Membership Fee: $0
Pricing Options: Hourly
Transaction Fees: 20% for payments <$10,000; 10% for payments >$10,000; 5% for payments >$25,000

MarketerHire

For seasoned marketers seeking freelance work, MarketerHire is a game-changer. They qualify clients for you and take care of contracts and payments, so you can skip the business management and still enjoy a full pipeline. Oh, and it’s free. MarketerHire carefully screens and vets all the freelancers on their site, accepting less than 5% of applicants, so if you’re an expert who only wants the top jobs available, this site is for you.

Membership Fee: $0
Pricing Options: Hourly
Transaction Fees: N/A

 

Freelance Writing Job Boards & Newsletters

For freelance writers in all regions

The Career Design Newsletter

The Career Design Newsletter by Dan Marzullo brings you weekly freelance writing gigs and advice on building a creative business doing work you love.

Freedom With Writing

Freedom With Writing is a website that acts as a matchmaker for freelance writers connecting them with editors and publishers who are seeking their work. In addition to e-books, case studies, and other resources, they also send reviews of companies that hire freelancers and sites to help you find the freelance writing gig that works for you.

Freelance Framework

Get daily freelance writing gigs delivered straight to your inbox from Freelance Framework, a newsletter by content marketer Chris Bibey.

Freelance Writing Jobs

Freelance Writing Job Board is updated with fresh freelance writing and blogging jobs every day. If you’re seeking online writing jobs, part-time on-site jobs, internships, or more – they’ve got them for you.

The Freelance Writing Network

The Freelance Writing Network has paid and free versions of their Substack, all aimed at helping writers find the best new gigs. Their paid subscription includes early access to weekly jobs, high-paying gigs, and a weekly round-up of bonus opportunities, like fiction & poetry submissions, retreats, and more.

Kat Boogaard’s Newsletter

Kat Boogaard is a freelance writer who has a weekly newsletter full of not only awesome freelancing gigs, but tips, advice, and other content to help you expand your freelance business. Subscribe to her newsletter today to get job leads sent directly to your inbox every week.

Peak Freelance

Peak Freelance is another ripe community for freelance writers to find jobs, connect with other writers, and bolster their skills by learning from showcased experts. You can browse their job board or sign up for their newsletter for free access to top job leads, contribution opportunities, and writing tips. And if you want more, you can become a member or join their Slack to connect and grow with other writers.

ProBlogger

For content writers on the hunt for gigs, ProBlogger is a great place to start your search. They feature all sorts of freelance writing projects (not just blog posts) so you can pick and choose and apply based on your preferences. Plus, ProBlogger offers a cool hub of resources for bloggers looking to grow, so if you’re into that, sign up for their free newsletter to get the latest and greatest.

SuperPath

SuperPath offers a much-needed community to freelance writers who are looking to network, connect, and find job leads. Their Slack channel is the place to find like-minded writers who are navigating the same ups and downs as you, and their job board is an awesome spot to nab new writing gigs fast. You can create a job seeker profile to seamlessly apply to jobs on their site.

The Writer’s Job Newsletter

The Writer’s Job Newsletter is a newsletter that delivers some of the best paid writing jobs directly to your inbox every week. Oh, and did we mention that it’s free? If you’re a writer looking for your next gig, we highly recommend subscribing – while you’re at it, give them a follow on Twitter, too!

 

 

Freelance Writing Marketplaces

For freelance writers in all regions

Draft

Want a steady stream of freelance content writing work? Draft is the spot. If you’re accepted to the platform, you can browse and claim writing jobs—no proposals, no hassles. You just need to deliver the work by the deadline, and you’ll get paid out by Draft at the end of the week. It’s a great way to get consistent income without the pressure of searching for work and managing operations. To join, you’ll need a strong portfolio.

Membership Fee: $0
Pricing Options: $0.05-$0.30 per word for writing; $0.03-$0.10 per word for editing
Transaction Fees: 0%

 

Freelance HR Marketplaces

For freelance HR specialists in all regions

HR Lancers

HR Lancers is a freelance marketplace dedicated to connecting HR professionals with great work. If you’re in the US or Canada, you can become a member for free to search their marketplace or pay a fee to feature your profile.

Membership Fee: $0 to join, $7/month to feature your profile
Pricing Options: N/A
Transaction Fees: N/A

 

 

International Freelance Job Boards

For freelancers in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe & the UK, and Latin America

The freelance job sites below are focused on specific regions of the world. If you’re an international freelancer looking for gigs in your field, you can start your search below. We’ve included a combination of international job boards and marketplaces serving Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe & the UK, and Latin America. For some sites, you may need to add specific search criteria (e.g. “freelance” or “contract”) in order to filter out full-time and part-time work. Happy hunting!

 

 

Africa – Freelance Job Boards & Marketplaces

AfriBlocks

A growing marketplace for Pan-African freelancers in design and tech, AfriBlocks offers an abundance of resources in addition to their job board. Become a member of their community to create a freelance profile and begin browsing their job listings.

Elharefa

Elharefa is a freelance marketplace serving Egypt exclusively. They have jobs in design, media, writing, translation, marketing, sales, and more. Check out their current opportunities and register to create a profile.

JobVine

JobVine is freelance marketplace based in South Africa. They connect freelancers with businesses seeking quality support across an array of functions, from design and development to marketing and project management. Create a profile to get registered and listed, and begin receiving client leads. It’s worth noting — on their free plan, you do have to pay per lead. You can upgrade to a paid plan for access to unlimited leads and more.

RemoteAfrica

Want to work from anywhere in Africa? Explore the RemoteAfrica job board for a wide variety of roles across verticals and industries. Though their job board primarily caters to full-time, part-time, and contract work, you can find freelance roles by adding “freelance” to your search query. RemoteAfrica also has an active freelance Slack community if you’re interested in networking.

 

 

Asia – Freelance Job Boards & Marketplaces

Glints

Looking for freelance work in Singapore? Glints is one of the top job boards in the country and they feature a selection of freelance roles across an array of industries. Filter by “Job Type > Freelance” to see their latest additions. You can scope pay, required experience, and more, and apply for roles that fit the bill.

Tech in Asia

If you’re seeking remote freelance work in Asia, check out the Tech in Asia job board for the latest opportunities. At the time of publishing, they have a dozen listed freelance gigs in Indonesia, ranging from admin work to content creation to sales.

World in Freelance (Japan)

Find new clients, land exciting projects, and bolster your portfolio. World in Freelance (Japan) features remote freelance opportunities with funded Japanese startups and larger, established companies. Explore their job listings today to see if there’s a match.

 

 

Australia – Freelance Job Boards & Marketplaces

Rachel’s List

Rachel’s List is one of the top freelance marketplaces in Australia. It’s a hot spot for businesses to find reputable freelance journalists, copywriters, and content specialists. You can register to get listed and upgrade to a paid plan for full access to their job board. Or, stick with their free plan and purchase a 24-hour pass to apply to any gigs that catch your eye.

SEEK

Land your next freelance gig via the SEEK job board. They break down pay, experience requirements, and more. You can search for freelance roles to find the latest and greatest. You’ll just need an account to apply.

 

 

Europe & UK – Freelance Job Boards & Marketplaces

EU Remote

Seeking freelance work in a European time zone? The EU Remote job board features 100% remote opportunities from companies around the globe, with working hours that suit European & UK applicants. They also offer special access to their freelance community — the largest in the region.

Faruse

Find an English-speaking gig in Europe on Faruse — a job board with hundreds of open freelance roles across every imaginable vertical. Type “freelance” into the search bar to whittle it down to roles that meet your needs.

Freelance UK

Get listed on the Freelance UK marketplace to match with credible businesses seeking expert support in your industry. You do need a premium membership to access their job listings, but they don’t take a cut from your pay, and they don’t charge hidden fees.

Major Players

Major Players is an international talent agency with offices in London, Amsterdam, and Berlin. They feature hot, vetted, high-paying roles with established companies, primarily in Europe and the UK. As of posting, they have 16 open freelance opportunities in engineering, marketing, project management, and sales. Scope them today.

 

 

Latin America – Freelance Job Boards & Marketplaces

SoyFreelancer

If you’re looking for Spanish-speaking freelance roles in Latin America, check out the SoyFreelancer job board. They offer a huge range of roles across an array of functions and industries.

Workana

Workana is the largest freelance and remote work site in Latin America. They connect freelancers with startups, entrepreneurs, and established companies looking for seasoned virtual support. Register for an account to explore their open roles.

 

2024 Goals: Half-Year Reflection

2024 Goals: Half-Year Reflection

In January, I published my annual list of goals. It’s a process I like to go through at the start of each calendar year to help me ground and root in my vision for the months to come. Although the halfway mark of 2024 is behind us, I decided to do a little check-in with myself to track my progress and reorient to that vision. I’m sharing it with you as encouragement to reflect on and celebrate your own wins. When you spend a bit more time looking inward, you discover what you truly want — and you can design a life of fulfillment and alignment.

Without further ado, here’s where I sit ~halfway through the year.

2024 Goals

High-Level Guiding Word: Intention

High-Level Guiding Phrase: The next year of my life will be filled with joy, physical and mental health, financial success, generosity and beautiful experiences with people I care deeply about.

Personal Wellness

Guiding Phrase: I will prioritize my mental and physical wellness to help me show up as my best self in other areas of my life.

3-5 Goals:

  1. Go to workout classes (cycle, yoga, barre) 3-5x/week.
  2. Build movement (stretching, walking) and/or getting outside into each day.
  3. Book one big wellness item/month (massage, facial, body wrap, sound bath, etc.)
  4. Go to one extended wellness retreat.
  5. Go to therapy/life coaching 2-3x/month.

Half-Year Update:

  1. In the weeks that I haven’t been traveling or sick, I’ve been hitting at least 3-5 workout classes pretty consistently. During the summer months, I sometimes swap out classes for long walks or runs outside (delightful).
  2. I’ve been stretching or taking a short dog walk every day. GO ME! Although my body could definitely use longer stretching sessions, I’m meeting myself where I’m at right now. There’s always room for more movement — especially flexibility and balance work.
  3. I’ve definitely booked and participated in my fair share of self-care. I’ve gotten lots of massages and facials. And I’d like to commit even more to my mental and spiritual health through the end of the year, with soundbaths, guided meditations, and other intuitive practices that call to me.
  4. I haven’t been on my wellness retreat yet, but this is a good reminder to make it a priority in the second half of the year!
  5. I’ve been consistently going to therapy twice a month, which feels like the right cadence for me. It’s easy to fit it into my schedule and monumentally important, as I’ve navigated a lot of big life changes this year.

Overall, I’m happy with my commitment to my wellness goals, and I’m proud of myself for prioritizing this area of my life. It’s the foundation for every other facet of life, and each time I invest in myself, I learn to love myself even more.

Relationships

Guiding Phrase: I will prioritize showing up authentically with people who energize me.

3-5 Goals:

  1. Spend time with friends and family who make me feel loved and accepted.
  2. Pay attention to the people who drain my energy or make me feel judged and de-prioritize those relationships.
  3. Share more vulnerably with the people around me who provide a safe space.
  4. Express my feelings and opinions openly and without reservation.

Half-Year Update:

  1. I’ve had lots of quality time with people who make me feel loved and accepted.
  2. I’ve actively deprioritized connections with people who leave me feeling drained or unhappy. There’s still room to improve here, though. I tend to feel guilty for setting that boundary.
  3. I could make more of an effort to share vulnerably. I have a tendency to turn down opportunities to share about my past and the trauma I’ve experienced. I’m staying curious about why that is.
  4. It’s getting much easier to express how I’m feeling and share my opinions before they feel “perfect.”. No one is perfect. Our thoughts and feelings are fallible, just like us. I’m letting that messiness be, even when it feels icky. And guess what? Many people have made space for my messy sharing, and even appreciated it.

This category is an ongoing journey, but I’m happy with my progress. It’s a good reminder to practice vulnerability,prioritize myself, and invest in people who energize me even more!

Money

Guiding Phrase: I will build wealth and businesses that support my lifestyle and allow me to be generous to others.

3-5 Goals:

  1. Hit annual revenue goal from all income streams.
  2. Make one big investment (real estate or tech).
  3. Grow my personal and Harlow online community (grow to 50k+ followers, 10k+ newsletter subscribers).
  4. Partner with 8-10 consulting clients who align with my work values.
  5. Donate at least $10k to charities (cancer, supporting children/youth).

Half-Year Update:

  1. As of July 1, I was 43% to my income goal for 2024. Not bad! We also ramped up our consulting business at the beginning of the summer, so I have full faith that I’ll hit or exceed this goal.
  2. It feels wild returning to this one. Surprise! I’m currently in the process of buying a house. Big investment — check. I’ve also invested in a company called the QwikFix, a marketplace connecting real estate agents to contractors during the home inspection process. I guess I’m deep in real estate and real estate tech investments this year!
  3. Right now we’re at ~30k followers across all of Harlow’s social accounts, although it feels like cheating to count the platforms we don’t use on a regular basis. And we just hit 4k newsletter subscribers. Newsletter subscribers are growing quickly at ~700 subs per month, but even at current pace, we’re on track to miss both of these goals. I just added “ideate on growing social and newsletter subs FASTER” to my list for next week.
  4. I’ve worked with three clients this year, but we’ve raised our rates, so it sort of evens out! I have a feeling I’ll end up working with ~6-7 by EOY. And, good news — *most* client work has felt aligned, and like I’m collaborating with people who respect my expertise.
  5. I’m at ~$7k in donations to charity YTD and that feels good. All of this money has gone to charities that work to make children’s lives better, which is typically my main donation priority. I’m sure I’ll find some other events to sponsor or participate in as the year rounds out.

Overall, I’m behind pace here on a few of these goals. BUT things have been shifting. Our clients have gotten bigger, our revenue has ramped up, and we’re building momentum with our newsletter. I’m eager to see where I land by year-end.

Fun

Guiding Phrase: I will spend ample time enjoying the things that feel good to me.

3-5 Goals:

  1. Take 10+ trips with people I care deeply about.
  2. Visit at least five new places.
  3. Live in accordance with *my* wants and needs.
  4. See at least two new artists in concert.
  5. Try one activity that I’ve never done before (skydiving, bungee jumping, new sport, etc.).

Half-Year Update:

  1. YTD I’ve already taken 12 trips, which is hilarious to me. I’m averaging ~2/month. I’m happy to report that *most* (like, 90%) of them were meaningful and fun. Lots of memories have been made.
  2. Of the 12 trips, only ~2.5 (.5 because of a half-day stopover) have been to new places. BUT, spoiler alert, I have three trips coming up in the next couple of months that are to new places. So fun. I’ll hit this goal.
  3. I have very much been prioritizing the lifestyle I want over what others think is normal and acceptable, and that feels great. I’ll admit, my pace gets a *bit* fast sometimes, so I’m also spending time investigating what I truly want and need.
  4. I hit this concert goal! I saw Yellowcard, Third Eye Blind, Billy Joel & Maren Morris. This was my first time seeing all of them live.
  5. I don’t think I’ve hit this goal yet. No truly new activities are coming to mind. To the drawing board on this one!

Overall, I’m having plenty of fun. I’m pacing way beyond most of these goals. If you know me, that’s not a surprise.

Half-Year Reflection

It really does feel like I’m living the intentional life that I envisioned for myself back in January. I’m doing the things that I want to do, and it feels great. I’m prioritizing the people who fill my cup, taking care of my body and mind, having fun, growing our business, and cultivating my personal finances at a steady pace.

I’m looking forward to my end-of-year reflection, but not just because I enjoy charting my progress against tangible goals. It’s an opportunity to see how my mindset has shifted over the course of a year, and identify what’s most important to me heading into 2025.

I hope this offers you some inspiration as you chart your own goals and plan the rest of your year. Everyone’s process looks different. Whether you draw up a clear list of intentions, like me, or periodically check in with your heart more organically, the ultimate benefit is self-awareness. Intentions and self-inventories help remind us of what matters. They help us live in alignment. And when we live in alignment, we’re living our truth.

 

My 2023 Reflections & 2024 Goals

My 2023 Reflections & 2024 Goals

In the closing weeks of 2023, I immersed myself in introspection, reflecting on the year I had just lived and all of the experiences that fueled my growth. I contemplated which pieces of 2023 I wished to carry forward into 2024 and what I needed to release or shift.

With these reflections as a backdrop, I dove into planning for 2024, crafting a vision of what I desired it to be. I created four different categories to anchor my goals: personal wellness, relationships, money & fun. I spent hours shaping and refining my goals, plans, and priorities for the approaching year.

What you’ll find below are my 2023 reflections, alongside my aspirations for the year to come. I know my journey is different from yours, and that’s a beautiful thing. But if I can provide one ounce of inspiration as you look forward to your upcoming year, then my work here is done.

PS: if you want to go through this process on your own, you can start with the clean template here.

 

2023 Reflections

(1-2 sentences)

1. What did you love about 2023?

I loved the freedom, fun and personal growth I experienced. A lot of core memories were made.

2. What made you feel good in 2023?

I felt a ton of love from my personal and professional community and felt well supported.

3. What did you struggle with in 2023?

I struggled to figure out who I was; what qualified as rebellion vs. who I truly was at my core.

4. Which decisions had positive impacts?

Spending time alone out of a relationship to get to know myself, spending time traveling and having experiences.

5. Which decisions steered me off course?

Spending time and energy on people who were judgmental, drained my energy or unapproving of my lifestyle and choices.

6.  What do I want to take with me from this year?

The prioritization of fun and what feels good.

7. What am I ready to let go of?

Any and all insecurities and judgments of myself.

 

2024 High Level

(1-2 sentences)

What do I want the next year of my life to look like?

The next year of my life will be filled with joy, physical and mental health, financial success, generosity and beautiful experiences with people I care deeply about.

2024 Goals

High-Level Guiding Word: Intention

High-Level Guiding Phrase:

The next year of my life will be filled with joy, physical and mental health, financial success, generosity and beautiful experiences with people I care deeply about.

 

Personal Wellness

Guiding Phrase

I will prioritize my mental and physical wellness to help me show up as my best self in other areas of my life.

3-5 Goals:

  1. Go to workout classes (cycle, yoga, barre) 3-5x/week.
  2. Build movement (stretching, walking) and/or getting outside into each day.
  3. Book 1 big wellness item/month (massage, facial, body wrap, sound bath, etc.)
  4. Go to one extended wellness retreat.
  5. Go to therapy/life coaching 2-3x/month.

 

Relationships

Guiding Phrase

I will prioritize showing up authentically with people who energize me.

3-5 Goals:

  1. Spend time with friends and family who make me feel loved and accepted.
  2. Pay attention to the people who drain my energy or make me feel judged and de-prioritize those relationships.
  3. Share more vulnerably with the people around me who provide a safe space.
  4. Express my feelings and opinions openly and without reservation.

 

Money

Guiding Phrase

I will build wealth and businesses that support my lifestyle and allow me to be generous to others.

3-5 Goals:

  1. Hit annual revenue goal from all income streams.
  2. Make one big investment (real estate or tech).
  3. Grow my personal and Harlow online community (grow to 50k+ followers, 10k+ newsletter subscribers).
  4. Partner with 8-10 consulting clients who align with my work values.
  5. Donate at least $10k to charities (cancer, supporting children/youth).

 

Fun

Guiding Phrase

I will spend ample time enjoying the things that feel good to me.

3-5 Goals:

  1. Take 10+ trips with people I care deeply about.
  2. Visit at least 5 new places.
  3. Live in accordance with *my* wants and needs.
  4. See at least 2 new artists in concert.
  5. Try one activity that I’ve never done before (skydiving, bungee jumping, new sport, etc.).

 

Accountability

Print this out and put in office.

Reflect back bi-weekly or monthly to assess progress.

 

My 2024 Reflection & Goal Planning Template

My 2024 Reflection & Goal Planning Template

Embracing the transition from one year to the next fills me with a sense of joy and anticipation. For me, it offers a golden opportunity for introspection. While I recognize that time is ever-flowing and a mere calendar shift doesn’t encapsulate our essence, it serves as a valuable juncture to delve deep and reflect.

It gives us a moment to discern what brought us fulfillment, what left us wanting, and be really thoughtful about what we want in the next year of our lives.

This year, I spent a lot of time crafting a personalized reflection and goal-setting template, experimenting with various iterations until I discovered the process, outline, and structure that resonated most with my journey.

While sharing my process, a number of you expressed your desire to use the same document, so here I am extending an open invitation for you to use this same framework.

Follow the guidelines below, or tailor it to reflect your unique aspirations. Whatever you choose, I’m wishing you success in 2024, whatever that looks like for you.

Notes on how to use this document

  1. Start with reflections
  2. Let those guide you into what you want 2024 to look like at a high level
  3. Outline your 4-5 categories of goals (personal wellness, money, etc.)
  4. Write down your high-level guiding phrase(s) and word
  5. Fill in goals beneath each

*You may need one additional layer to further map out how you’re going to meet those goals.

Examples:

Guide words: abundance, intention, contentment, growth

Guiding phrases: I will build deep, meaningful relationships. I will be more aware of my spending habits in order to grow wealth. I will prioritize my own physical and mental well being above all else.

Follow along with me on social for more goal-setting, business, and wellness tips:

If you’re a google docs user, here’s the link so you can easily copy & start working.

And if you want to see my filled-out version of this doc, my vulnerable reflections and aspirations, they’re all finalized here.

2023 Reflections

(1-2 sentences)

  1. What did you love about 2023?
  2. What made you feel good in 2023?
  3. What did you struggle with in 2023?
  4. Which decisions had positive impacts?
  5. Which decisions steered me off course?
  6. What do I want to take with me from this year?
  7. What am I ready to let go of?

 

2024 High Level

(1-2 sentences)

What do I want the next year of my life to look like?

 

2024 Goals

High-Level Guide Word:

High-Level Guiding Phrase: 

 

Category Example 1: Personal Wellness

Guiding Phrase:

3-5 Goals:

1.

2.

3.

Category Example 2: Relationships

Guiding Phrase:

3-5 Goals:

1.

2.

3.

 

Category Example 3: Money

Guiding Phrase:

3-5 Goals:

1.

2.

3.

Category Example 4: Fun

Guiding Phrase:

3-5 Goals:

1.

2.

3.

 

Accountability

Fill this out, print it and put in your office.

Reflect back bi-weekly or monthly to assess progress.

 

Office Hours: Marketplaces 101: Navigating Online Job Platforms as a Freelancer

Office Hours: Marketplaces 101: Navigating Online Job Platforms as a Freelancer

Jai Dolwani, founder of The Starters, joined us for an Office Hours session about navigating the confusing world of freelance marketplaces.

We dove deep into how freelancers can leverage marketplaces at different stages in their careers, how to position yourself on a marketplace, making your profile stand out, and more!

Catch up on the session here:

 

Stay in touch with Jai on Twitter and LinkedIn!