freelance

Cross-Training: How Learning New Skills Strengthens Your Freelance Game

November 12, 2025 by AlisonP Leave a Comment

Cross-training for creatives

Even pro athletes don’t just practice one move over and over.
A swimmer doesn’t only swim laps. A hockey player doesn’t just shoot pucks. They run, lift, and stretch — building the muscles that support their specialty.

It’s the same for creative freelancers.

You might specialize in one craft — voice acting, video editing, design, or copywriting — but if you want to perform at a high level, you can’t just train one muscle.

When I started working as a professional voice over artist in Montreal, I thought my time was best spent reading copy and refining my delivery. But I quickly learned: the performance is only one part of the job.

If I couldn’t record clean audio, edit it properly, or label files the way the client expected, my “great read” didn’t matter.

So I started learning audio editing, mic technique, and post-production. It wasn’t my main passion — but it gave me control, confidence, and better communication with clients. I could troubleshoot problems myself, deliver faster, and speak their technical language.

That’s cross-training in action.

Why it matters for your business

When you cross-train your creative skills, you become a more valuable collaborator.
You’re not just delivering your part of a project — you understand how your work fits into the client’s bigger picture.

That means you can anticipate their needs, solve small issues before they become big ones, and deliver projects that feel seamless.
And that’s what clients remember — not just talent, but reliability, adaptability, and understanding.

But, like in fitness, there are pitfalls to watch for:

Diluting your core skill: Don’t let side skills overshadow your main expertise. Keep your primary craft sharp.
Time management overload: Learning new things takes time — schedule it intentionally, like a workout.
Financial overcommitment: Test before you invest in new tools or training.
Brand confusion: Frame your new skills under one clear, client-centred story.
Losing sight of your “why”: Learn strategically — to serve your clients better, not just because it’s trendy.

When you cross-train with purpose, you build long-term value — for yourself and for the people who hire you.

How to put it into practice

So how can you start cross-training without burning out or losing focus?

✅ Pick one supporting skill that complements your main service.
If you’re a voice actor, learn audio editing or marketing for creative professionals.
If you’re a videographer, try motion graphics or scriptwriting.

✅ Get guidance.
Join a professional community, find a mentor who challenges you, and seek constructive feedback that helps you grow.

✅ Use what you learn.
Don’t get stuck in endless learning mode. Apply your new skills on real projects, even if they’re not perfect yet. Every project is a rep — a way to build creative strength.

Each new skill gives you flexibility, confidence, and creative resilience.
When clients see that you understand their world — that you can speak marketing, tech, and storytelling — you’re no longer just a freelancer. You’re a trusted creative partner.

Because in the end, cross-training isn’t about doing everything.
It’s about doing what makes you stronger, smarter, and more adaptable — one skill, one rep, one project at a time.

This article is based on an episode of my podcast Freelance Fitness, the weekly 10-minute workout-slash-break for creative freelancers who want to strengthen both body and business.

Get motivated, build better habits, and stay connected with other creative professionals — all while moving to great music.

Listen on your favourite platform: Freelance Fitness

Breaking It Down: Freelance Productivity, One Task at a Time

November 5, 2025 by AlisonP Leave a Comment

It’s tough sometimes to fit everything we want to do in a day, isn’t it?

That’s something I’ve been struggling with lately, which is why I’ve been experimenting with a new calendar app and restructuring my day into new time blocks.

As freelancers, our to-do lists can feel endless — projects with multiple components, client requests, admin tasks, emails — all piling up. When you look at it all at once, it can feel overwhelming.

But like the proverb says: the best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time.
That’s how I think about productivity too. Break it down. One clear task at a time.

Time management isn’t about doing more.

It’s about doing what matters most — the things that move you toward your project’s completion and your overall business goals, when you have the energy to do them best.

For me, that meant completely reorganizing my schedule. I realized I was working late into the evening when my brain just wasn’t at its best. My real focus time is 9 to 5. So I started blocking out my day — assigning specific times for specific tasks.

Each small, completed task is a win. And when you can see your progress, it’s motivating.
Those checked boxes don’t just look good — they’re real data for planning your next project and rethinking your workflow.

And sometimes, “productivity” looks different.
Maybe you spent the day cuddling a sick child, going to the dentist, visiting a friend in the hospital, or taking a long weekend to rest. Guess what? That is productivity. You were doing something essential — living your life.

We work to live, not live to work.

It’s important to recognize that personal priorities also belong on the calendar. Ignoring our needs — or those of our loved ones — doesn’t make us better freelancers. It just distracts us from our creative work later.

Productivity is a moving target

Sometimes the struggle is just in buckling down when we need to. So how do we make the most of our time in business and in life?

Get the right tools — maybe a new CRM or a better calendar. But take time to learn how to use it properly. The best tool out there is worth nothing if it’s badly configured.
Build in review time — once a week, check in on your schedule and notifications. Adjust what isn’t working. Productivity is trial and error — bake that into the process.
Manage distractions — if you tend to drift off mid-task, plan for breaks and focus intervals. A timer can help. You’re the boss, so design your day with intention.
Revisit your mindset — not every piece of advice out there is for you. For every new “hack” or “method,” ask: does this align with my values and my goals? If not, let it go.
Protect your focus — especially around the holidays, when everyone’s fighting for your attention, time, and money. Write your priorities down. Keep them visible.

You have options. You have agency.

You decide how your day flows, what gets your attention, and what gets postponed.

So take the time — even if it means a bit of short-term chaos — to make time for time management. The rewards are worth it: fewer late nights, less guilt, and greater satisfaction in your personal and professional life.

Chunks of focus. Periods of rest.
Doesn’t need to be a long break. Just the right one.

Between client calls, coffee refills, and a mountain of admin work… when exactly are we supposed to manage our time?

This week, I’m tackling that question head-on in Freelance Fitness — with real talk about time, focus, and finding balance without burning out.

What’s one thing you’ve done recently to make your freelance schedule more manageable?
Has breaking your day into smaller blocks helped your focus — or made things feel too rigid?

Comment and let me know!

Apaiser la tempête mentale : retrouver ton focus quand tout s’emballe

October 29, 2025 by AlisonP Leave a Comment

Où est ta tête, en ce moment ?

Stressé·e par ce qui s’en vient ?
En train de ruminer quelque chose qui est déjà arrivé ?

Tu sais que tu ne peux pas le changer, hein ?

Il faut apprendre à lâcher prise.

La vraie sérénité sous pression, ce n’est pas d’ignorer le chaos. C’est d’apprendre à bouger avec lui.

Il y a des jours où on a l’impression que notre cerveau tourne avec 47 onglets ouverts, et qu’au lieu d’en fermer un seul, on passe d’une fenêtre à l’autre en espérant que le fouillis mental va se ranger tout seul. Mais non. Il s’accumule… jusqu’à ce qu’on ne sache plus ce qui est urgent, ou ce qui peut attendre.

C’est ça, la surcharge mentale. Et quand elle s’installe, la concentration s’envole.

Tu te retrouves à fixer ton écran pendant quinze, vingt minutes sans rien faire. Juste fixer le vide et à penser à ta liste d’épicerie, à la série que tu regardes, ou au bol du chat.

Je connais ça. Plus souvent que je veux bien l’admettre. Cette semaine incluse.

Et c’est là que je sais qu’il est temps de prendre une vraie pause.
Pas une pause scrolling sur mon téléphone, ni un petit jeu pour procrastiner. Une vraie pause. Celle qui fait bouger le corps et le mental. Une courte marche. Quelques roulements d’épaules. Trois grandes respirations.

Parce que le corps et l’esprit travaillent ensemble. Quand l’un se fige, l’autre peut aider à le remettre en mouvement.

Le prix de tourner en rond

Quand on ignore le besoin de s’arrêter, de s’hydrater, de se recentrer, notre corps, et notre tête, finissent par se rebeller.

Le cycle stress → distraction → autocritique → encore plus de stress gruge notre attention et bloque notre créativité.

Trop réfléchir avant une séance de voix peut littéralement me serrer la gorge. Et la tension chronique ? Elle mène tout droit à l’épuisement et à la paralysie créative.

Comme pigistes ou créatifs, on confond souvent activité et productivité.
On saute d’une tâche à l’autre, d’une notification à la suivante, en pensant qu’être occupé, c’est avancer. Mais la surstimulation épuise la concentration et la motivation.

Alors, pose-toi la question :

Est-ce que je suis vraiment productif·ve… ou juste occupé·e ?

Parfois, ce dont tu as le plus besoin, ce n’est pas d’une heure de plus à ton bureau — mais de trois minutes de respiration carrée, d’un grand verre d’eau, ou d’un moment en posture de l’enfant.

Retrouver le calme au milieu du chaos

Tu ne peux pas contrôler ce qui se passe autour de toi (les échéances, les algorithmes, la vie de famille) mais tu peux choisir comment tu réagis. Et c’est ça, la vraie sérénité sous pression.

Commence petit. Crée de l’espace pour penser. Et respire.

Voici quelques idées pour passer du chaos à la clarté :

Associe respiration consciente et mouvement doux. Roulements d’épaules, étirements du cou ou des bras, ou une flexion avant rapide, juste assez pour te ramener au moment présent.
Crée tes “circuits antistress”. Une courte marche, une mini-séquence d’étirements répétée plusieurs fois. Tout ce qui aide à briser le cycle du stress et à retrouver le focus.
Fais un “entraînement de la culpabilité”. Un entraînement pour ceux et celles qui se sentent coupables de se reposer. Une sieste réparatrice, un moment de relaxation ou de mobilité douce — du “rétablissement actif” pour le corps et l’esprit.
Désencombre ton espace mental et numérique. Écris dans un journal, range ton bureau ou ferme les notifications pendant trente minutes. Récupère ton attention.
Bouge en pleine conscience. Une marche méditative, un mantra en mouvement — pour trouver le calme dans le mouvement, et non à l’extérieur de lui.

Soyons honnêtes : le chaos ne s’arrête jamais complètement. Si tu attends que tout soit calme avant d’agir, tu n’agiras jamais.

Alors quand la panique monte, continue de respirer. Continue de bouger.
Les morceaux vont finir par se remettre en place. Et petit à petit, tu vas te sentir mieux, plus clair·e, plus aligné·e — prêt·e à avancer.

Écoute l’épisode complet du balado Pigiste pas Figiste,

« Apaiser la tempête mentale : retrouver ton focus quand tout s’emballe ».

Dix minutes pour bouger, respirer, et retrouver ton calme — même au beau milieu d’une journée bien remplie.

Quieting the Noise: Finding Focus When Your Brain Won’t

October 29, 2025 by AlisonP Leave a Comment

Can I ask you a question?

Where’s your head right now?
Anxious about what’s coming up?
Worrying about something that already happened?

You know you can’t change it, right?

You have to let it go.

Calm under pressure doesn’t come from ignoring the chaos; it comes from learning to move with it.

There are days when it feels like your brain is running on 47 open tabs, and instead of closing any of them, you just keep switching between windows, hoping the mental clutter will sort itself out. But it doesn’t. It piles up…until you can’t tell what’s urgent, or what can actually wait.

That’s mental overwhelm. And when it happens, your focus drifts.
You find yourself staring at your screen for fifteen, twenty minutes, not working, just staring off into space. Grocery lists. The show you’re watching. The cat’s food bowl.

I’ve been there. More times than I’d like to admit. In a week.

That’s when I know it’s time for a real break. Not a scroll-break or a match-3 game on my phone, but something that resets both my body and my mind. A short walk. Some shoulder rolls. A few deep breaths.

Because mind and body work together. When one gets stuck, the other can help it move again

The Cost of Staying in the Loop

When we ignore the need to pause, hydrate, and reset, our muscles, and our minds, rebel.

The stress → distraction → self-criticism → more stress loop hijacks attention and creative flow.
Overthinking tightens the throat before a voiceover session. Chronic tension leads to burnout and creative paralysis.

As freelancers and creatives, we often confuse busyness with productivity. We chase the next task, the next notification, the next idea, hoping that motion will feel like progress. But overstimulation fractures focus and motivation.

So ask yourself: Am I really being productive… or just busy?

Sometimes what you need most isn’t another hour at your desk — it’s three minutes of box breathing, a glass of water, or spending time in Child’s pose.

Finding Calm Within the Chaos

You can’t control what’s happening around you (deadlines, algorithms, family life, etc.), but you can control how you react to it. That’s real calm under pressure.

Start small. Create space to think. And breathe.

Here are a few ways to move from chaos to clarity:

Pair mindful breathing with gentle movement. Shoulder rolls, neck or arm stretches, or a quick forward fold can bring you back to the present.
Create “stress circuits.” Physical loops of motion. It could be a short walk or a repeated series of mini stretches to break the stress loop and reset focus.
Do a “Guilt Workout.” A workout for people who feel guilty about taking time for self-care. Take a restorative nap. Or something more active. Active recovery for the mind and body helps you recharge.
Declutter your digital space. Journal, tidy your desk, or turn off notifications for thirty minutes. Reclaim your attention.
Practice mindful motion. A walking meditation or mantra-based movement helps you find stillness within motion, not apart from it.

Let’s be honest: the chaos never really stops. If you wait for calm before you start, you’ll never start.

When panic hits, keep breathing. Keep moving. The pieces will fall back into place. And you’ll feel better, and clearer, as you get unstuck and begin moving forward again.

If this resonated, listen to the full Freelance Fitness episode, “Quieting the Noise: Finding Focus When Your Brain Won’t.”
It’s ten minutes of movement, mindset, and calm in the middle of your workday.

Back in the Game: Finding Your Rhythm After a Freelance Break

October 22, 2025 by AlisonP Leave a Comment

Sometimes Life Forces Us to Pause

I’ll be honest — I’ve had to step away before.
From the gym. From my creative business. From the momentum I’d worked so hard to build.

And if you’re a freelancer, you probably have too.

Maybe it was burnout. Maybe a family emergency. Maybe financial pressure.
Or maybe you just needed a break…and that’s okay.

Because Life Happens.

There’s no shame in pausing. None.

The list of now-successful freelancers who had to take a salaried job at some point is long. Really long.

Here are just a few. Maybe you can relate.

You didn’t fail…you just paused.
And that pause might have been exactly what you needed to rebuild with intention.

You Can’t Rush a Comeback

When I was recording a slow core strength workout for my podcast, it struck me how perfectly it mirrors what it feels like to re-enter the freelance world after a break.
The movements are deliberate. Controlled. Grounded in presence, not speed.

You can’t force your way into flow. You ease into it.

And that’s the mindset freelancers need, too.

Because let’s face it: we tend to beat ourselves up when we lose momentum.
We compare ourselves to others who “kept going.”
We imagine the soreness before we even start.
We anticipate the struggle before we take the first step.

But that’s wasted energy.

Acceptance — real acceptance — doesn’t mean giving up.
It means acknowledging what you can’t control: the market, the algorithm, your health, the unpredictable timing of life stuff.

I once worked in research, and we used to say:

“Your constants aren’t, and your variables won’t.”

In other words: the only constant is change.

Sometimes that means pivoting, adjusting, or even taking a job that isn’t your dream gig, but helps you stabilize for your next chapter.

And that’s not weakness. That’s wisdom.

Start Small, Stay Consistent, Be Kind

So how do you get back into the game?

Start small.
In fitness: one slow, controlled rep.
In freelancing: one updated demo. One email. One message to reconnect with a past client.

Momentum begins with a single action.

Choose consistency over intensity.
You don’t need one massive burst of motivation.
You need small, repeatable habits that stack up, like stretching after every workout instead of waiting until you’re injured.

Stay adaptable.
Maybe your old clients moved on. Maybe your niche evolved.
That’s okay. You’re not starting from zero. You’re starting from experience.

And finally, celebrate your return.
You showed up. That’s huge.

Whether it’s your first cold email in months, or your first creative project after a burnout.

That’s courage.

Acceptance and support don’t make you weaker.
They make your comeback sustainable.

Because you’ve done this before.
And you can do it again.

Over to you:

Have you ever stepped away from freelancing and had to find your rhythm again?
What helped you get back into the game?

Let’s share what real resilience looks like — slow, steady, and sustainable.

For the audio version of this blog with music, fitness and fun, listen to the Freelance Fitness podcast.

De retour dans le game : retrouver ton rythme après une pause de pigiste

October 22, 2025 by AlisonP Leave a Comment

Tu sais ce feeling quand t’as été off un bout de temps — par choix ou par nécessité — et que tu décides de te remettre dans le bain ?
Pas toujours évident. Surtout en freelance, où le rythme, les clients et la confiance sont souvent liés.

Peut-être que t’as pris un poste salarié pendant un moment, pour la stabilité. Ou que t’as dû t’arrêter parce que la vie l’exigeait : un projet, un bébé, un déménagement, un trop-plein. Peu importe la raison, revenir dans le game demande un peu d’humilité… et beaucoup de stratégie.

Comment reprendre là où on a laissé ?

Ce que t’as appris ailleurs compte, même si ça semble “hors sujet”

Travailler dans un emploi salarié ou changer de domaine peut sembler une pause forcée, mais c’est souvent une mine d’or cachée.

T’as gagné en structure, en collaboration, en gestion de temps. T’as vu comment les entreprises pensent, comment les budgets se décident, comment les priorités changent.
Tout ça, c’est du vécu que tu peux ramener dans ta pratique freelance.

Ce bagage te rend plus solide et plus adaptable. Les clients adorent travailler avec quelqu’un qui comprend leur réalité.

Tu ne peux pas précipiter ton retour

Pendant que j’enregistrais un entraînement lent de renforcement du tronc pour mon balado, j’ai réalisé à quel point ça reflétait parfaitement ce que l’on ressent quand on revient dans le monde du travail autonome après une pause.

Les mouvements sont délibérés. Contrôlés. Ancrés dans le moment présent, pas dans la vitesse.
Tu ne peux pas forcer le retour du “flow”. Tu dois y entrer doucement.

Et c’est exactement le même état d’esprit dont les pigistes ont besoin.

Parce qu’on va se le dire : on a tendance à se taper dessus quand on perd notre élan.
On se compare à ceux et celles qui “n’ont jamais arrêté”.
On imagine déjà la douleur avant même de recommencer.
On anticipe la difficulté avant d’avoir fait le premier pas.

Mais tout ça, c’est de l’énergie gaspillée.

Accepter — vraiment accepter — ne veut pas dire abandonner.
Ça veut dire reconnaître ce qu’on ne contrôle pas :
le marché, l’algorithme, la santé, ou encore le timing imprévisible de la vie.

Quand je travaillais en recherche, on disait souvent :

“Tes constantes ne le sont pas, et tes variables ne le seront pas.”

Autrement dit : la seule constante, c’est le changement.

Et parfois, ça veut dire pivoter, s’ajuster, ou même accepter un emploi qui n’est pas ton rêve absolu — mais qui t’aide à te stabiliser pour la suite.
Et ça, ce n’est pas de la faiblesse.
C’est de la sagesse.

Commence petit, reste constant, sois bienveillant·e envers toi-même

Alors, comment on revient dans le jeu?

Commence petit.
En entraînement : un seul mouvement lent et contrôlé.
En pigisme : une démo mise à jour. Un courriel. Un message pour reprendre contact avec un ancien client.

L’élan commence toujours par une seule action.

Choisis la constance plutôt que l’intensité.
Tu n’as pas besoin d’un grand élan de motivation une fois par année.
Tu as besoin de petites habitudes répétées qui s’accumulent — comme t’étirer après chaque entraînement, au lieu d’attendre d’être blessé·e.

Reste adaptable.
Peut-être que tes anciens clients sont passés à autre chose. Peut-être que ton domaine a évolué.
C’est correct.
Tu ne repars pas de zéro.
Tu repars avec de l’expérience.

Et enfin, célèbre ton retour.
Tu t’es présenté·e. Et ça, c’est énorme.

Que ce soit ton premier courriel d’approche après des mois d’absence, ou ton premier projet créatif après un burn-out —
c’est du courage.

L’acceptation et le soutien ne te rendent pas plus faible.
Ils rendent ton retour durable.

Parce que tu l’as déjà fait.
Et tu peux le refaire.

Et surtout, sois doux/douce avec toi-même

Tu n’as pas perdu ton talent.
Tu n’as pas à “rattraper” les autres.
Tu reprends ton chemin, à ton rythme.

Revenir, c’est aussi l’occasion de faire les choses autrement — avec plus de clarté, de calme, et de confiance.

Écoute l’épisode complet de “Pigiste pas Figiste” pour un petit boost de motivation, des conseils concrets et quelques respirations entre deux crunchs.

ALISON PENTECOST