The Best Strategies for Battling Burnout as a Freelancer (Guest Post)
Being your own boss, enjoying control over your schedule and gaining the flexibility to work from anywhere may sound like a dream to many. Freelancing allows you to choose how you earn a living, but this dream isn’t devoid of challenges — many self-employed individuals quietly grapple with burnout. If you feel like you work yourself too hard, try these strategies for battling burnout as a freelancer.
What Causes Freelancer Burnout?
More than a quarter of workers in the world do freelance work. The gig economy offers the convenience of working from home, which attracts many people.
Freelancers face several challenges despite working from the comforts of their home. Just like corporate workers, they’re susceptible to factors leading to burnout. Here are some daily challenges that contribute to feelings of stress:
Long working hours: Freelancers have the liberty to choose their own schedules. However, many work longer hours because they also have to deal with administrative tasks.
Too much screen time: Self-employed individuals work remotely, meaning they spend most of their time in front of their screens. Long periods in front of the computer can lead to eye strain, dry eyes, headaches and neck pain.
No vacation time: Without paid leaves, freelancers find it challenging to make time for vacation because they have to manage the day-to-day demands of their businesses.
Heavy workload: The mental bandwidth necessary to manage the brand, meet with clients and do actual work can be demanding. Juggling all these responsibilities can lead to burnout.
Strategies to Overcome Burnout as a Freelancer
If you’re ready to take the following steps to combat burnout, here are some strategies you can implement to keep things manageable.
Take a Break
Work can feel like a relentless race to the finish line. You have to look for prospects, talk to clients and meet deadlines. It’s so easy to get caught up in the hustle and forget you’re human.
The hustle culture might have taught you that breaks are a luxury, but the truth is, your body needs it. Whether a two-hour break or a day out with your kids, getting away from your desk can do wonders for your mental health. Aside from preventing burnout, giving your brain and body time to recharge can boost your productivity, creativity and learning ability.
Choose Freelance Jobs Carefully
Cut back on the amount of work you do. Sometimes, the volume of clients and work causes feelings of restlessness. When you have a customer who doesn’t respect your boundaries, it can lead to severe burnout.
Be selective about which jobs you take on and who you collaborate with, focusing on those you are more likely to enjoy. That way, you’ll lessen the risk of burnout. As a freelancer, doing exciting projects with great clients makes it easier to get things done.
Treat Yourself to a Vacation
It can feel dangerous to take a break when your livelihood depends on your business. Without paid days off, plotting a trip to your dream destination can feel impossible. Vacations are not a priority — at least to the two-thirds of full-time working Americans who agreed to have no work-life balance. Many don’t take time off and those that do often still work.
To make your trip an obligation-free escapade, plan and inform your clients early. Ensure you tie up your projects before you leave and decline any assignments that will land during your time away. While traveling might seem frivolous, it offers such advantages as improving pessimism, energy levels, stress, sleep and creativity.
Manage Your Schedule
Effective time management is crucial so you won’t get overwhelmed. Given this, write down some rules you have to follow strictly during your workdays, which may include the following:
Strict eight-hour work schedule from Monday to Friday
No checking of e-mails and work-related messages outside of working hours
Limit the number of projects to work on per month
Update your rates
Time management techniques like the Pomodoro or time blocking can help you focus. Identify your most creative times — for example, some people work better in the morning, while others thrive at night — and utilize them to your advantage.
Make Time for Self-Care
Eventually, you’ll feel less motivated and enthusiastic about your job. It’s completely normal, but you must act when it affects your personal life.
Working late, skipping meals, and not standing up from your chair for hours can damage your mental and physical wellness. To avoid stress on and off the clock, make time for self-care — take a leisurely walk outside, treat yourself to a spa or attend a yoga class.
Always make time for eating and exercise despite your busy schedule. These habits are the cornerstones of a healthy, happy life, which will help banish burnout.
Reconnect With People
Working alone for long periods can lead to social isolation, impacting your psychological and overall wellness. This is why socialization is an essential part of your routine.
Many health concerns might stem from loneliness, including stress, higher blood pressure and obesity. It can also negatively impact job performance, making it harder to focus. To reduce loneliness, join networking events to expand your professional network and meet potential clients. Attending fitness classes every weekend can also help you relax and meet people simultaneously.
Make it a goal to spend time with family and friends during weekends. Talk about something with your loved ones other than work to help boost your mood
Get Paid What You Deserve
A busy schedule doesn’t translate to financial success. Many people sell themselves short in your line of work, so ensure you’re not underselling your skills. Get a clear idea of your services, hourly rate, target audience and competitors' charges.
Above all, don’t overthink it. You perform best when you’re motivated, so charge a reasonable amount that will make work enjoyable for you.
Get Professional Support
When you’ve tried burnout-prevention tips and nothing’s worked out, consider getting support from a professional. It’s not easy at first, but once you release all your emotions, they can help you develop a tailored solution to make your work more manageable.
Ready to Beat Burnout?
Identifying that you’re struggling with burnout is the first step to recovery. Try the following tips to ease your stress and see which ones work best. Remember — you’re not alone in this journey and there are many ways to get the support you need.
