Freelancing Burnout
It's exciting to work for yourself. You do what you love and have the freedom to work from any location. You’re basically your own boss. You also have the option to choose the level of work you wish to accomplish. Easy, no muss. Some of us choose to be freelancers in hopes of a better work-life balance. This makes sense in theory as having greater control over where and when you work might free up time to fit in personal duties throughout the day.?
But there’s a catch!
While all of these advantages are wonderful and fulfilling, you can't count on them to reduce the stress that comes. The majority of those who have relied on freelancing as their primary source of income can attest that it's not easy. Burnout among freelancers is a common issue.
Now burnout is typically associated with the corporate world, although it can also afflict freelancers. In fact, many freelancers find themselves putting in even more effort and longer hours than they did while working for a company. Due to this, independent contractors, freelancers, and other self-employed individuals, even those who genuinely enjoy their work, are at a high risk of burning out.
One of the main reasons freelancers feel burned out is because they are overworked and overbooked. And by setting unrealistic deadlines for yourself, you’re just adding on to your existing workload. And thus begins your journey into a downward spiral of self-doubt, contemplating if this is really the life you wanted. Is there anything you can do to deal with your burnout? Why, yes! You can.
If you have a lot on your plate, consider whether you have time for a new endeavour. Ask yourself: “Am I mentally equipped to take on that much more?” And if you're unsure, walk away from the project. You could also raise your charges thereby getting rid of poor-paying clients so you can focus on clients who will pay you more. Additionally, practise saying "no" to the tasks you don't want to accept.?
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Instead of sitting at your desk day after day, figure out—and then adhere to—at least somewhat normal working hours. However, maintaining a work schedule that is at least somewhat predictable and not overly long will help you stay more rested throughout the week. You can always be flexible when you need it.
Think about taking a break from your work. You might plan regular breaks to lighten your workload, or you can even encourage your creativity by taking a trip. Exercise, eat well, and practise meditation. Take care of your body and mind to avoid burnout. Pick a week and alternate days for working with clients with days to socialise with friends and family to prevent feeling lifeless.
The basic message is that having too much work and repetition in your everyday life can cause stress and burnout. Change things up to improve your well-being and get better results. You can always take on more clients to increase your revenue but bear in mind that if you enjoy what you do, it will be a lot more worthwhile. Ultimately, it is all about maintaining a healthy balance with your work and preventing your passion as a freelancer from becoming a tiresome, tiresome job.