Working as a Freelance During Wartime or Blackouts: A Guide for Creatives
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Working as a freelance is already complicated under normal conditions. But during wartime, blackouts, political instability, or energy crises, everything becomes far more fragile. Yet a freelancer cannot stop: clients, deadlines, deliveries, and projects do not wait. The only way forward is to become resilient, building a workstation capable of functioning even when “out there” everything seems to be falling apart.
In this guide, I want to show you how to truly prepare—not with theory, but with practical solutions, concrete tools, and a professional mindset. Think of this page as a small survival guide for modern creatives.
And there is another reason to take this seriously: considering how things have been going in recent years, with sudden conflicts, international tensions, and increasingly fragile energy infrastructure, it is better to prevent than to fix later.
Knowing how to keep working, and therefore generate a stable income, even in situations of extreme difficulty is not paranoia; it is a true life-saver for you and your family. It is the difference between being stuck and maintaining your independence, your freedom, and your financial stability even when everything seems to collapse.
Building the Ideal Workstation During Wartime
When working in an environment where the power might go out or mobility is required, your workstation must be compact, reliable, and immediately operational. A desk does not need to be huge: a solid but minimal setup works best, and is easy to move if necessary. A Flexispot or a simple IKEA Lagkapten + Alex desk works perfectly.
The chair should be ergonomic and long-lasting, because if you spend many hours sitting, you cannot compromise your back or focus. A Sihoo, an IKEA Markus, or a DXRacer for a gaming style are excellent choices.
The most important decision is whether to use a laptop or desktop. In unstable conditions, laptops almost always win. A MacBook Pro allows you to work for hours without electricity, consumes very little, stays cool, and can handle heavy projects without an external GPU. For lighter editing and offline work, the MacBook Air is surprisingly capable. If you prefer a fixed setup, the Mac mini offers the best balance of power and energy consumption and can be run using a power station, making it ideal for critical situations without sacrificing performance.
Independent Power: Never Run Out of Electricity
When electricity is unpredictable, a power station becomes your anchor. It’s like having a small, silent generator on your desk, ready to save you at any moment. Reliable options such as EcoFlow, Jackery, or Bluetti can power laptops, monitors, hard drives, and modems for hours. Pairing them with a foldable 120–200W solar panel creates complete self-sufficiency. Using GaN chargers and compact USB-C power strips further reduces consumption and protects your equipment, making a huge difference in critical situations.
Resilient Internet: Staying Connected in Extreme Conditions
During unstable times, internet connection often fails first, and losing access directly affects your income. A portable 4G/5G router, such as TP-Link or Huawei models, allows you to be operational immediately using a data SIM. Always keep a spare SIM from a different provider for redundancy. For ultimate reliability, Starlink satellite internet provides the most stable connection during extreme conditions, ensuring your freelance business can continue running even when everything else is unstable.
Data Backup and Protection: Your Real Lifesaver
In sudden blackouts, your data is often more valuable than hardware. Portable SSDs from Samsung, Sandisk, or Crucial are fast, robust, and shock-resistant, while Lacie Rugged drives offer extreme durability. A small UPS (such as APC Back-UPS 650VA or Eaton Ellipse ECO) allows you to save your work if power fails suddenly. Protecting your data is essential to survive as a professional during wartime.
Mental Resilience: Staying Calm When Everything Is Against You
Stress and anxiety are the greatest threats during wartime. For creatives, anxiety silently kills productivity. Building a simple offline routine: writing scripts, organizing projects, updating ideas, or reviewing contracts, restores a sense of control. Keeping a daily diary, even just a page a day, helps release tension and maintain clarity. Creativity thrives in calm; a stressed mind works slower and produces worse results. Becoming resilient means protecting both your mental energy and your electrical power.
Conclusion
Being a freelance during wartime means being ready for anything. It does not mean living in panic, but recognizing that your freedom—the one you chose—deserves protection. With the right tools, mindset, and preparation, you can continue working, creating, and earning even when the world around you seems unstable.
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