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Dealing With Burnout: How to Manage Stress as a Freelancer
Freelancing full time comes with a lot of responsibilities. It is quite understandable that many people have taken up freelance work online as a way of earning money from the comfort of their homes. A lot of regular workers envy freelancers. Many believe that the freelance lifestyle provides the flexibility needed to create a good work-life balance. The freedom and independence which freelancers enjoy tells more of this story. However, is this always the case? The answer is NO. Burnout and stress are real. They are the major {realities that freelancers have to deal with daily}. As a freelancer, sometimes you get to work so hard to meet deadlines for clients whom you definitely don’t want to fail. Other times, you feel that work is scarce because you have minor work to do.
As a freelance writer, I have also had a fair share of burnout. I quit my regular 9-5 job to take up freelancing as a full-time business. Of course, being in control of how much you earn puts a hilarious reality in front of you: work hard or stay without pay. Midway, you realize that freelancing is an effort-based economic lifestyle. This mindset pushes you to break boundaries just so that you can earn more money. You accept more work than you could handle and find yourself caught in the web of multi-tasking while trying so hard to meet deadlines. Sometimes the whole scenario escalates, with many clients relying on you for a bunch of deliverables. The result? Excessive stress and burnout levels.
The fact is that burnout is an inevitable experience. At one point or the other in your life as a freelancer or regular worker, you will face this weird feeling that is usually accompanied by an urge to do nothing else but rest and sleep. This is a very natural occurrence. Your exhausted body is trying to tell you how tired and worn out it is. Good health is wealth. Therefore, a good understanding of stress management will go a long way to ensure that you enjoy a successful freelancing career. In this article, we will focus on how you can manage stress as a freelancer, deal with burnout, and stay on the top of your game. This will help you keep your sanity in check while working to meet client deadlines. Here’s how to manage stress and avoid burnout as a freelancer.
1. Use a Clutter-free Workspace
A research report published by SAGE Journal in 2009 revealed that stress and burnout are related to clutter. According to SAGE, too much clutter increases stress and exhaustion levels. As a Freelancer, having a clutter-free workspace shows not only how clean and organized you are, it also keeps your stress and burnout levels in check. Always reduce clutter in your workspace. This will reduce the time spent on finding something when you need it. If you can access any item on your workspace when it's needed, then chances of wasting time searching blindly would become decimated, and this reduces your exhaustion and burnout level as well.
2. Choose Your Workspace Wisely
When I first started freelancing, I used my small room as my workspace. I learned the hard way later that this approach wouldn't help my career. Having to work and sleep in the same room posed an immense problem, creating a divide between my work and personal life. When I tried meeting some deadlines, I'd think about sleeping because I could see the bed close to me. It's a psychological thing, you know. As a Freelancer, try to choose a spot that is well ventilated, lighted, and far away from your bed space. This will minimize distraction and urge sleeping, reduce your burnout level, as well as increase your productivity. Truth be told, keeping your workspace and bed space apart has a very great impact on your productivity.
3. Stick to your limits
Considering that freelancing is an effort-based economy where the more work you can deliver, the greater your earnings, one might get tempted to take on as many jobs as possible. Perhaps, to make up for the uncertain days when work will be scarce. This practice does no good. Learn to say no when the workload is too much. Your health is as important as how much money you make. Overworking yourself will only place you on a path of stress and burnout. Always stick to your limits and take only jobs that match your skill sets. This way, you will become more focused and motivated to deliver quality service in your industry while enjoying the freedom that freelancing provides without feeling stressed out.
4. Schedule Work Boundaries
In order to win the hearts of your clients, you might spend more time and sleeping later than you're supposed to. This has very adverse effects on your health. Balance your schedule for work hours and off shifts. Set your work hours to begin when you are most productive. For some people, it could be in the morning after waking up or after getting rest at intervals all day. For others, it could be in the early hours of the morning or late nights. Stick to what works for you. That way, you won't feel guilty of meeting up any pending deadline while enjoying your leisure hours.
5. Take Breaks at Intervals
A regular job offers the luxury of break time. This is usually the best time of the day for most employees. However, as a freelancer, you may get so carried away with the need to achieve more that you forget about taking breaks at intervals to refresh your mind and body. This rubs off on you in the long run. Reward your hard work by showing yourself some love. Scheduling breaks at intervals will keep you motivated while working on a project and also reduce stress.
6. Exercise Regularly
Most freelancers lead a solitary lifestyle. Personally, I spend hours watching my computer screen while sitting on a chair. This habit could cause severe medical complications if it turns into a constant habit. Recent medical reports have shown that using a personal computer for long hours causes eye problems. Also, sitting on a chair while working for long hours could cause back aches and severe body pains. Find a hobby you love and schedule time to show yourself some love with it. Hobbies could range from strolling down the street, taking a yoga session, talking to a friend, or even visiting a museum to draw inspiration. Personally, I prefer jogging on Saturdays. Give yourself some free time to relax. Exercising regularly as a freelancer is a great way to keep your health and sanity on track, reduce stress levels to the barest minimum while avoiding physical and mental burnout.
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