Hello everyone, I'm xiaoz. Currently, I have been engaged in freelancing for over 2 years. As we step into the latter half of 2024, it is necessary to begin a simple summary and review of the first half of the year. Recently, whether hearing about continuous news of layoffs and salary cuts around me, experiencing the continuous rise in prices firsthand, or facing the increasingly fierce competition, stabilizing and increasing income has become more difficult. These objective factors make me deeply feel that every step of 2024 is full of challenges and difficulties. In the following article, I will share with you some of my statuses regarding work, study, and life in the first half of this year, including:

• Personal Projects
• Work Status and Issues
• Learning and Reading

Summary of 2023: The 2nd Year of Freelancing, Sharing Personal Project Experiences in 2023

Personal Projects

AsBot Intelligent Assistant (To Be Discontinued)

With the craze of ChatGPT last year, I spent a lot of effort developing AsBot Intelligent Assistant to allow ordinary users to benefit from ChatGPT. However, as the AI hype has dwindled and with intense competition from similar products, it has become difficult to make a mark in this field. I have decided not to continue its development and maintenance, and this product will be discontinued in the next six months.

Zdir File Sharing Program

This project started in 2018 and is a multi-functional private storage program that integrates file indexing, online preview, and sharing. In May of this year, Mr. W and I planned to develop Zdir 4. We aim to launch it in mid-June and plan to enter the overseas market in early August. Perhaps the most anticipated project of the year is my Zdir 4.

Zdir Official Website: https://www.zdir.pro/zh/

OneNav Bookmark Management Program

Developed in 2020 as a browser bookmark management program for personal use. After resigning in February 2022, I began commercializing OneNav. Although only a few licenses are sold each month, I still believe OneNav is a valuable project that will continue to iterate in the days ahead.

OneNav Official Website: https://www.onenav.top/

ImgURL Image Hosting Service

Developed in the cold winter of December 2017, ImgURL is a project that quickly converts images into shareable links. While the project has been lukewarm and there are hardly any license purchases now, the program will continue to be updated and the online version will be operational. However, I may not invest too much time and effort into this project in the future.

ImgURL Official Website: https://www.imgurl.org/

Work Status

After sharing an office with friends last year, I now work in a fixed office, which has improved my work environment significantly. Coupled with some self-adjustment, my daily routine has become more regular, and my overall state has improved. Freelancers may face similar issues like me:

Lack of Work Focus

In such situations, trying to change the environment, such as working in a friend's office, library, coffee shop, or study room, and gradually trying to regain focus can be helpful.

Irregular Sleep Patterns

Planning ahead for the next day's tasks or future plans can help regulate sleep patterns. If you find yourself using your phone in bed, create some difficulty for yourself, such as placing your phone in the living room or locking it away. Adjusting your sleep patterns should be gradual and not rushed.

Anxiety

When feeling anxious about finances, try to shift your focus by reading books or engaging in physical activities you enjoy. Finding a new hobby, like cycling, has helped me relieve stress and benefit my physical and mental well-being.

Creative Block

If you encounter a creative block in product development or face difficulties in problem-solving, seeking advice from friends or meeting offline with fellow freelancers can provide new perspectives and ideas.

Lack of Energy

Our energy is limited, so it's essential to avoid activities that drain your energy, such as online conflicts or caring too much about others' opinions. Optimize your project and work methods, prioritize tasks, set short-term and long-term plans, and take step-by-step actions. While I am still exploring and continuously trying to improve in this aspect.

Learning and Reading

Although I have not significantly improved my technical skills this year, I am pleased to have maintained a habit of reading. Setting aside 30 minutes each day for reading, a practice I developed through a combination of the Pomodoro Technique and habit control methods, has been beneficial. I may not have clear benefits from short-term reading, but reading maintains inner peace, stimulates self-reflection, and is a worthwhile long-term endeavor. I will continue to read without a specific goal or plan, choosing books that interest me, whether they are novels, psychology, or essays.

Conclusion

In the first half of 2024, I have keenly felt that it is more challenging than the same period in 2023. The challenges lie in insufficient personal strength, unfavorable external conditions (price increases, complex economic environment), and uncertainties about the future. Despite facing headwinds, I believe that as long as we find and discover patterns, we can continue to move forward. Every rise and fall can bring new opportunities, and we are diligently seeking and discovering such opportunities, provided that our own capabilities are sufficient.

If you are interested in freelancing, you can add me on WeChat xiaozme for group discussions and learning.

—Summer 2024, written in the office