The COVID-19 outbreak has effectively shut down a large portion of the economy, as people are asked to shelter in place and wait for instruction. The current uncertainty hasn’t boded well for the economy. More than six million Americans filed for unemployment in March, for an unprecedented rise of 3,000% in unemployment.

Freelancers are also suffering from the slowdown. Many web designers, writers, photographers and other gig workers are on hold, as companies wait and see where things are leading. If projects you’ve been relying on have been postponed or cut back, you need a Plan B to hold you over until the economic wheel starts turning again.

The daily news may be discouraging, but there is still work out there and a need for freelancers. Here’s how you can adapt to the current conditions and better position yourself for when the current pandemic is over.

Resiliency is key
As a freelancer, you’re probably already used to uncertainty. After all, most projects have a beginning and an end. Successful freelancers have experienced the feast or famine reality of the gig worker lifestyle and have adapted to it. You hopefully have some funds set aside to cover your expenses while you search for new clients. Take this downtime to start personal projects you’ve had on the back burner or expand your skill level.

Keeping busy and working towards a goal is essential to your mental health at this time. If you’re a freelance writer, you may want to write some blog posts or articles you can use for your writing portfolio in a field you’d like to expand in such as technology, fashion or health. If you’re a web designer, you could use some of the downtime to update your portfolio or try out and test some new techniques to apply to future clients’ web sites.

Freshen up your professional presence
If you’re fortunate enough to have some money saved, the slowdown can be a blessing in disguise. Take advantage of the downtime to refresh and reposition your professional presence for when things get moving again. Considering the significant role social media and web sites play in finding freelance work, freshening up your online presence on your personal blog, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and others is worth the effort.

Check out what your competitors’ online presence looks like and think about how you can improve yours. Reach out to past clients and ask if they would write a small testimonial or recommendation. It’s a good time to ask — past clients are just as likely to have more free time right now and may even have some work coming up that they’d like you to bid on.

Pick up a temporary side hustle
If your current freelancing work has dried up, perhaps you can take your skills to pick up some work to make ends meet. There are lots of ways to make some extra cash if you’re willing to get creative. Consider some of the following ideas:

  • Photographers can offer photo retouching on Fiverr ®, which connects businesses of all sizes with skilled freelancers offering digital services in more than 300 categories.
  • Graphic designers can reach out to Instagram fashion influencers to create their “Shop the Look” collages.
  • Translators or writers can teach English or other languages online.
  • Writers can apply for data entry or transcription work if they have fast typing skills.
  • Web site designers can target clients in need of seasonal updates to their web sites for the 4th of July or back-to-school season, for example.

You may not be able to pick up the level of work you’re used to at this time, but you can monetize many of your skills to keep you busy and earn some extra cash.

Sharpen your finances
Freelancing is a one-person show. Besides your work, you need to know how to market yourself, maintain your professional presence, handle your own customer service and stay on top of your finances. Creating an accounting system could be quite helpful to save you time when it comes to billing and tax preparation.

Consider implementing accounting software designed for freelancers. Update your invoicing to save you time by creating a billing template. Review how you can track your expenses better to simplify your annual tax filing by adding a receipt and expense tracking app as well.

Besides tax preparation and invoicing, create a contingency plan for the future. Review your budget and find ways to set money aside for tax prepayments and an emergency fund. Learn from the current situation and make sure that when work starts picking up again, you set aside at least three months’ worth of expenses to cover any unforeseen downtime in the future.

Grow your network
Freelancers tend to live a solitary lifestyle. With the current situation, having a network of friends or colleagues can get you through this complicated time. Joining Facebook groups of freelancers in your field can be a fun way to meet others and share thoughts and ideas. You may find a supportive group of people that understands what you’re going through and can provide valuable support to navigate the current COVID-19 situation.

Beau Peters is a freelance writer from the Pacific Northwest with a passion for purpose-driven business content.