[ad_1]
How you can navigate the balancing act of freelance work to avoid burnout.
You often hear about burnout in a physical place of work. Worker bees who spend hours of their day typing away inside a cubicle often find themselves daydreaming of the freedom to work from home and be their own boss, but did you know freelancers feel burnout too?
The freelance life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Sure, you can work from home in your pajamas or Walmart-bought graphic tees, and take a three-hour lunch if you feel like it, but the freedom that comes with being your own boss also comes with a lot of responsibility. For one thing, you have to be self-motivated enough to actually get work done (no one is going to tell you when to start working or when to take a break).
You also have to be great at time management since you’ll likely have several projects going on at once. And don’t even get me started on the constant hustle required to find new clients. It’s no wonder that so many freelancers end up feeling burned out.
When there’s no clear dividing line between work and home, it’s all too easy to find yourself working around the clock. And without the structure of a traditional workplace, it can be tough to stay motivated. Freelancers often have to hustle just to keep their businesses afloat, leading to feelings of overwhelm and isolation.
As any freelancer knows, working from home has its perks. No commute. Snacks whenever you want them. But there’s a downside to all that freedom, and it’s called CLUTTER. Suddenly, your living room becomes your office, and your bedroom turns into a storage space for all the things you don’t have room for elsewhere. Before you know it, you’re practically living in a hoarder’s den, and your productivity has gone out the window.
But it doesn’t have to be that way! A little bit of organization can go a long way towards keeping your space clean and your mind clear. Start by setting up a dedicated work area, and make sure to put away any work-related items when you’re done for the day.
Get rid of anything you don’t need, and find creative ways to store the things you do need. And most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask for help if you start to feel overwhelmed. Clutter may seem like a minor issue, but it can have a major impact on our lives.
If the mere thought of cleaning up your workspace makes you break out into a cold sweat, you’re not alone. For many of us, the idea of decluttering our desks, files, and inboxes can seem like an insurmountable task. But there’s no denying that clutter can have a major impact on our lives.
Not only can it affect our anxiety levels and ability to focus, but it can also make us less productive and trigger unhealthy coping strategies. In other words, clutter can quickly spiral us into freelancer burnout. So, if you’re looking to boost your productivity and improve your mental health, it’s time to get organized. Here are a few tips to help you get started:
1. Set aside some time each day to tidy up your workspace. Even just 15 minutes can make a big difference.
2. Develop a system for organizing your files, both digital and physical. Whether you prefer to use labels, folders, or even colored Post-it notes, the key is to find a system that works for you and stick with it.
3. Get into the habit of decluttering your inbox on a regular basis. Unsubscribe from any newsletters or emails that you no longer read, and delete any old messages that you don’t need anymore.
4. Take some time to think about what you actually need in your workspace. Do you really need that stack of papers? Are all of those pens and pencils necessary? If not, get rid of them!
I know what you’re thinking, “oh no, another blog post talking about the benefits of exercise.”
Well, as a healthcare professional, I can tell you that there’s a reason Why everyone, including your family doctor, tells you about the benefits of exercise. As a freelance writer, you’re often isolated and sitting all day. You might feel so burned out at the end of your “freelance shift” that you just want to plop down on the couch and eat some chips, especially if you’re at your wit’s end with client rejections and revisions.
But taking just 10–15 minutes out of your day to move your body can help avoid burnout. Exercise releases endorphins, which have mood-boosting effects. It also increases energy levels and helps to improve focus and concentration.
So next time you’re feeling overwhelmed with work, take a break and go for a walk around the block. You’ll be surprised at how much better you’ll feel afterward.
As a freelancer, one of the most important things you can do is to set boundaries- both with yourself and with your clients. This will mean the difference between spiraling burnout and steady income. I often find myself with clients who think I’m a content-pumping machine.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad to have consistent work, but when they don’t see you as a person, their requirements and deadlines will seem like they think you have unlimited time and energy.
If you establish, with both yourself and your clients, early on that you’re not a superhuman and that you need reasonable timeframes to produce quality work, they’re more likely to respect your time and give you space to do your best.
If you don’t, you’re likely to find yourself feeling burned out and overwhelmed. When it comes to setting boundaries with clients, it’s important to be clear about what you are and are not willing to do. If a client is making demands that are outside of your scope of work, be firm in saying no.
It’s also important to set expectations about turnaround time and availability. If a client expects you to be available 24/7, they’re likely to be disappointed- and you’re likely to end up feeling resentment towards them. By setting clear boundaries from the outset, you can help to ensure that both you and your client are happy with the working arrangement.
So next time a client tries to overwork you (sometimes unintentionally), set some boundaries and watch your business (and sanity) thank you for it in the long run.
Whether you’re toiling away in a cubicle or working from the comfort of your own home, burnout is always a risk. For freelancers, the freedom to set your own hours and work from anywhere can quickly turn into a curse.
[ad_2]
Source link
