I just lost my job. Here's what I'm doing about it.

Who’s this? Let me introduce myself.

Hi, I’m Laura. I’m 31, lost my job six days into 2025, and I’ve got $3000 to my name with no paycheques on the horizon. It’s goddamn terrifying… but somewhat surprisingly, it’s also relieving.

The day I found out I had two weeks’ notice was terrible. But it wasn’t the loss of income that caused a lump of dread to form at the back of my throat. Nope, it was the thought of having to do this all over again.

I couldn’t stomach going back out into the market and panic-applying for every job I could find. I still shiver at just the mere thought of jumping back into another job at another company that asks for every single part of my creative soul, leaving me little time for, well, me…

I went on Seek and LinkedIn, trying to push through the resistance. Yet, that ball of dread grew with every ad I looked at (and I looked through a shit ton of ads).

Looking back on it now, I’ve been feeling professionally restless for a long time, daydreaming about going out on my own and having the freedom to control my work life.

Usually, that dream is quietly smothered by my financial anxiety, put in a box, and hidden away in the recesses of my brain.

But this time, the dream was louder. It refused to be silenced.

To sum it up, I think I’m just well and truly out of fucks.

I seriously think I just woke up the week before last and said to myself, “fuck it, what have I got to lose”.

So here we are, I’m finally starting my own freelance business (check out more info on my business and my career background here) from scratch alongside this newsletter – praying to whatever greater power there is that this will work.

Now that the intros are done, let me welcome you to the very first Freelance At Last

Every week I’ll take you along for the ride as I trade in the safety net for freedom. No filters, no BS. Just the honest, messy, and inspiring (I’m aiming high) story of figuring it all out.

’ll share the highs, the lows, and everything in between including a quick curated list of lessons I’ve had the trouble of learning so you don’t have to.  

Hopefully, along the way, we’ll build a community of awesome people thinking about taking the leap into freelance alongside me. Or maybe some of you are already in the freelance trenches and are looking for camaraderie. Better yet, perhaps some of you are just hoping to have a good laugh at my expense (which I fully support).

Whatever the reason, I can’t bloody wait to meet you all.

Onto this week’s lessons, as promised.

This isn’t a holiday, despite what some may think.

Since leaving permanent employment, I’ve built a website, business plan, newsletter, and content plan from scratch. Yet, I’ve discovered that some people (granted, without ill intent) seem to think my new-found freedom is a cute little unexpected holiday.

In their minds, I’m now free to gallivant around the city, cocktail in hand, zero responsibilities, a never-ending supply of money in tow… okay, it’s so damn appealing it’s hard not to get sucked into it. There are no clients with set deadlines yet after all, right?

This is where I’ve learned to prioritise two words: discipline and boundaries.

From what I’ve experienced, starting a freelance business is, at least in this set-up phase, as time-consuming and all-encompassing as other busy full-time jobs. So, I’ve needed to have the discipline to stay on task each day and the willpower to set boundaries on my play time – especially with loved ones who don’t fully get the self-employed life.

I don’t care what anyone else says, AI is here and by god, I’m using it.

Yep. I use AI and I’ll shout it from the rooftops. No, not for my writing (this is all me, baby) and not for my creating (that’s the part I love, why would I give that up), but for the admin and organising… and maybe for the occasional headline brainstorming session. 

AI is a tool, just like a calculator, and it’s here to be used. Let it help you with the small stuff so you can focus on what your true services are. 

I’m an imposter, I fear.

Call me cliche, but the imposter syndrome is real ya’ll and I want to make sure I’m honest with you about it. Why? Because it’s normal and it’s okay.

At the end of the day, going out on your own is bloody hard, but I (and all of you) must remember that not knowing everything is human, and figuring it out is actually quite fun if you allow it to be. 

Alright, folks, that’s all for today. From next week onwards these newsletters will be less about what got me here and all about that freelance business life. Make sure to subscribe if you haven’t already!

See you next Tuesday.

Laura