Confidence, Capacity & Clarity

It can be hard to think about earning more when your confidence is on the floor and your energy’s spread thin.

Maybe you’ve been out of work for a while.

Maybe you’re a full-time mum doing the most with no village.

Maybe you’ve started and stopped things so many times, you don’t even trust yourself anymore.

Start anyway.

Not from pressure.

From possibility.

What You Bring to the Table

Even if your CV’s patchy, your schedule’s chaotic or you’ve been in survival mode for years .

You have value.

You might not have a title for it yet but here’s what you may be sitting on:

• You’re great at keeping calm when everyone else is flapping.

• You know how to stretch £30 over five dinners and two birthdays.

• You’ve helped friends write CVs, plan parties, fix hair, make logos or coach them through chaos.

  
  

That’s value.

That’s currency.

It’s just been unpaid — for now.

Your Capacity Matters Too

Not everyone can jump into a 40-hour workweek — or even a 10-hour one.

Start by asking yourself:

• How much time do I actually have each week?

• When do I feel mentally sharper — morning, night, school hours?

• Do I need something I can do from my phone or laptop?

• Can I work in short bursts (e.g. 15 mins at a time)?

• What support (if any) do I have — childcare, tech, transport?

  
  

Example: “I can only work from 10–11am on weekdays while my toddler’s napping.

I need something quiet, online and low-pressure.”

That’s your starting point — not your limitation.

Benefits, Earning and Easing Back In

If you’re on Universal Credit, the idea of starting work again especially after illness, parenting or burnout — can feel like too much.

Like the second you try, the support disappears.

But here’s the truth: UC doesn’t drop off a cliff.

For most people, it tapers — meaning for every £1 you earn, your payment usually goes down by 55p 

(after any work allowance you’re eligible for, like if you have kids or a health condition).

You’re allowed to take work gradually and keep part of what you earn.

If you’re self-employed, you’ll be asked to report your income and expenses monthly.

You can work part-time, build slowly and you may even qualify for the Minimum Income Floor exemption during your start-up period.

Just be honest with your work coach and use simple tools (like a notebook or app) to track what you make and spend.

And if you’ve been on long-term sickness or disability, there's now more space to trial working without instantly losing your benefits.

This gives you a chance to test your capacity without fear.

Tip: Speak to your work coach or check your UC journal to see what support and flexibility you’re entitled to.

You might be surprised.

Strength Mapping (Quick Check-In)

Answer these honestly — no overthinking.

1. What do people ask you for help with?

(e.g. “Can you look over this letter?” “How do I post this online?”)

2. What do you enjoy more than most people seem to?

(e.g. organising cupboards, making posters, writing kind messages)

3. When have you felt useful or proud — even if it wasn’t paid?

(e.g. helping someone find a home, throwing a great kids' party)

These answers point to your earning potential.

You don’t have to monetise everything — just notice the power you already hold.

Aligning With Your Bigger Picture

Money is part of it but this isn’t just about making £20 here or there.

It’s about building something sustainable — on your terms.

You get to ask:

• Does this path work for me long-term?

• Will it feed my peace, or drain it?

• Is this leading me closer to freedom or just another form of stress?

  
  

You don’t need a full plan right now.

You just need a clear starting point — one rooted in who you are, what you can give and what life looks like right now.

Chapter 2 will walk you through side hustles that flex around you, not the other way around.

But first — own the fact that you’re showing up.

That alone?

Is massive.

Income Opportunities