Becoming a freelancer has its ups and downs. There’s the advantage of having complete independence and autonomy over your career, the satisfaction of running your own business and the chance to choose exactly who you work with.
These are all amazing benefits, especially if you’re getting tired of the corporate rat race and feel like stepping out on your own as a solopreneur.
But freelancing does place a lot of pressure on you, as an individual. You ARE the business and if there’s a problem or hitch then the buck well and trully stops with you.
It can be a pressurised and stressful environment. And with no-one to share the burden, this pressure can start to have a detrimental impact on your wellbeing.
Here are six hacks for prioritising your health and wellbeing as a freelancer.
1. Define your work schedule and set clear boundaries
This may sound obvious, but try to set clear working hours for yourself. Yes, the reason you left the corporate world was to get away from the rigid structure of a 9-5 existence. But having a defined structure to your day is actually very important.
If you work without a schedule, your work life starts to bleed into your home, family and leisure time. It can get to a point where you’re working at 9pm at night, when you should actually be spending time with your friends, pets, loved ones and family.
I tend to start work around 9.30 am and finish around 5.30pm, with plenty of breaks along the way. Knowing that 9.30am to 5.30pm is ‘work time’ doesn’t mean I HAVE to work during those times, though. I might take a day off, or I may have no work to complete on a particular day. The key is that I have a structure to use when I do have work – and that’s important!
2. Have a proper work space and learn to disconnect
I have three main places where I generally work – my dining room table, a desk in my home office and a hot-desking space at the local library. None of those spaces is intrinsically better than any other and I’ll mix up where I work depending on my mood, where I need to be and what’s most practical for the type of work I’m doing that day.
Having these designated ‘work spaces’ makes it easier to tell my brain (and it’s very short attention span) that I’m in work mode now and need to concentrate. If I’m sitting in the library (which I am at the moment, as I write this blog post), I know that this is a time to focus, be productive and get some work done. This is important.
When I walk away from these spaces, I am no longer ‘at work’. It’s the equivalent of leaving the corporate office to go home. You’ve clocked out, hung up your (real or metaphorical) tools and started your leisure time.
3. Make sure you exercise and leave your desk
When you’ve got deadlines looming and piles of work to do, it’s tempting to spend the entire working day sitting down at your desk. But the reality is that failing to take a break is actually bad for your concentration, productivity and overal health.
Human brains work best in focused periods of 90 minutes. Try to walk away from your desk every few hours, to give yourself a breather and to refresh your mind. Go for a walk, cycle to the shops or head out for a run. Anything to take you away from your screen and clear your mind for the next period of hard work and full concentration.
4. Eat healthily and don’t overdo the caffeine
I love sweet treats (and I’m sure I’m not alone in this). But when you’re working from home and the kitchen cupboards are tantalisingly close by, it’s not a good idea to stuff your face with cookies, chocolate and cake at every single opportunity.
Likewise, if you’re working from a local coffee shop, try not to drink so much coffee that you end up as wired as Fry in the episode of Futurama where he drinks 100 cups of java one after the other. NOTE: Please don’t try this!!
Caffeine may act as a short-term pick-me up, but habitually drinking lots of coffee is not going to help you work longer or stay healthy. Try to drink plenty of water and save that delicious flat white/cappucino/mocha for a treat once you’ve finished today’s workload.
5. Don’t forget to socialise and build your network
When your home is also your workplace, there’s no tediously long commute to deal with. You can be ‘at work’ just by trudging through to the next room, while still wearing your pyjamas. However, this convenience of having a workplace and a home that are one and the same place does NOT mean you should never go out!
It’s important to leave your home and to actually be part of society, however scary that might be. Go and work at a client’s office. Have a meeting with a prospect at your local coffee shop. Meet your partner for lunch, or pick your kids up from school. In short, make sure you don’t become a recluse and turn into a freelance hermit!
6. Focus on your mental health and minimise stress
Working for yourself can be stressful. That’s not to say that it’s a constant deluge of pressure and stress, but there can be moments where it all gets on top of you.
You might be losing clients and wondering where the next project will come from. You might be drowning in work and be unsure if you can manage the workload. You may be suffering from imposter syndrome and feeling like you’re utterly useless and not cut out for the solopreneur life (yes, we ALL have days like this, don’t worry!)
There’s no singular solution to the issue of wellbeing and stress. But you can be proactive in finding a lifestyle that minimises anxiety and promotes a good mindset.
For example:
- Stick to your work schedule and don’t work too hard – burnout, fatigue and stress are definitely worse if you try to burn the candle at both ends.
- Make time for non-work activities – you can’t focus 100% on work the whole time. Set time aside for exercise, socialising and hobbies.
- Prioritise your mental health – don’t take on more work than you can handle and take time out to relax, meditate or just do nothing at all. Rest is important!
- Talk to people about your worries – the absolute worst thing you can do is to bottle up your fears, worries and emotions. Talking really is one of the best remedies.
Going Freelance: Your 101 Guide To Becoming A Freelancer
Coping with the ups and downs of the freelance life gets easier with time. And it’s certainly not something that should put you off freelancing.
Every job and career has its stressful moments and, as a freelancer, you have way more control over your destiny than some people.
If you’re starting out as a freelancer, or you’re an established solopreneur looking for some tips, ‘Going Freelance: Building Work Around Your Life’ is the book for you.
‘Going Freelance’ guides you through the basics of setting up your freelance business, finding clients, managing the workload and making a good living from your skills.
The book is available in paperback, Kindle and audiobook formats on Amazon now.
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