Surviving Burnout as a Freelancer

a stressed woman lying on a bed beside cellphones and a laptop

If you are a freelancer, you already know what I am going to say

I’ve been a freelancer for a few years now and have gone through periods of time where I feel burnt out, so I decided to see what are the common side effects of burnout and how to prevent. Upon finishing my research, I found a number of things that were alarming but, ways to ease burnout and try to find a balance between work and having a personal life.

Burnout is a real risk.

Burnout is a real risk. As a freelancer, you don’t have an employer to support your mental health by offering paid time off and free snacks in the office kitchen. If you don’t take care of your mental health, burnout will happen.

Burnout isn’t just about work; it’s also about life in general. You may feel like your workload is too much, but that might not be the main problem—it could be something else entirely!

If you are feeling burned out on projects or clients in general, it can lead to depression and other health issues. It’s important to identify these issues before they become serious problems for both yourself and those around you so that everyone can get some relief from stress and anxiety.

You’re only human and you have limits.

You’re only human, and you have limits. It’s important to recognize the fact that you can’t do everything, and that sometimes you’ll have to say no to things.

You need to put yourself first, too. If you don’t take care of yourself and your mental health, it’s very difficult for anyone else around you to do so either! Take breaks when possible; this includes lunch breaks, coffee breaks (vital!), as well as longer vacations from time-to-time (maybe even every once in a while). Set boundaries on how much work is too much for one day—and stick with them!

It’s not all about work.

The first thing to do when you’re burned out is to take a step back. This can be difficult if you feel like your job is your life, but it’s important to remember that there are other things in your life worth investing time in. You should take time off from work, make sure to relax and recharge, and try not to let work stress you out too much. If you have trouble doing this because of the nature of your freelancing business (for example, if clients need immediate responses), consider hiring someone part-time who can handle inquiries while you’re away.

If this sounds like an impossible task for people who have been freelancing for years or even decades on their own—if they’ve never taken vacations before—then consider whether it might be time for some new career goals. It might be time to switch careers altogether or change up how much time and energy goes into each job or client relationship.

Make time for yourself and your loved ones.

One of the best things you can do is make sure you’re taking time to recharge yourself. Don’t feel guilty about taking a holiday or spending some money on yourself, including going to see your friends and family.

There is no greater reminder that we are human than when we forget what it feels like to be in touch with our own humanity again. So take care of yourself!

Taking care of yourself will help you be a better freelancer.

As a freelancer, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle. But you’re only human and have limits! It’s important to take care of yourself so that you can stay productive and have a positive impact on your clients’ businesses.

Take vacations and breaks from work, even if it means working less for a period of time. If you’ve been working non-stop on a project for months on end, consider taking some time off from freelance work until you feel rested again. (And don’t be afraid to ask for help!) In addition to getting away from your desk every now and then, make sure that there are other things going on in your life outside of work as well—it doesn’t mean giving up all social activities; just find one or two nights out per week where friends are more important than staying at home working late into the night.”

Let this be a lesson

I’ve been there, and I know how hard it can be to find the balance. But here’s the thing: if you’re going to be a freelancer for any length of time, you need to protect yourself from burnout. It’s not just about getting work done—it’s about being able to sustain your business over time and avoid ending up with all your eggs in one basket. You have to be willing to put yourself first sometimes so that you can maintain a healthy lifestyle and keep doing what matters most to you as an individual. If you don’t do this, then it won’t matter how much money or success comes your way because eventually something will break down underneath all those pressures until there’s nothing left but ashes.

The Freelance Mindset 

focused young ethnic woman with credit card and laptop

It’s a Lifestyle

Being a freelancer is a unique experience that has its own set of challenges, but there are also many benefits to being an independent worker. Being your own boss means you get to set your own hours and work on projects that interest you most, but it also comes with its own unique challenges — namely, the fact that you have no one else to rely on if things go wrong. However, if you approach being self-employed with the right mindset (and some good habits), then this type of lifestyle can be extremely satisfying and rewarding.

Be A Self-Motivator

The freelance mindset is not just about being motivated to do the work, it’s also about being a self-motivator.

You need to be able to motivate yourself when working hard isn’t fun anymore and you feel like giving up because guess what, at the end of the day work is still work even if you enjoy more than the 9–5 life.

You need motivation because sometimes it can be really easy not work hard at all, but if you want great results and high client satisfaction ratings (which will lead directly into more business), then these are some of the moments where you need extreme levels of motivation that come from within yourself instead of coming from an external source like another person or company pressuring you into doing things they way they want them done (or even worse yet: doing something wrong).

Don’t Expect The World To Work Like You Do

The world is not going to work like you do, and that’s okay.

You need to be flexible, adaptable, and willing to change your mind. You have to take criticism well because there will be plenty of it; if you can’t handle criticism then this job isn’t for you. But, that is not a bad thing because criticism can help you improve your abilities and learn. You also need a thick skin (not literally). The world is an unpredictable place — you can’t predict what people are going to say or how they’re going to act — so don’t expect the world around you or other people’s actions always fit neatly into boxes that make sense according the way your brain works. Be ready for anything!

Take Time To Reflect

It is important to take time to reflect, for two main reasons:

You need to understand your strengths and weaknesses so that you can optimize your performance.

It allows you to see things from the perspective of other people and business owners, which leads to better solutions. Some people call this process “thinking outside of the box” or “looking at things from different angles.”

To think about how best to approach reflection, let’s compare two different scenarios: scenario one is with no reflection; scenario two involves taking time out after each project or task has been completed, asking yourself a few questions, then coming back later with answers in mind when it comes time for review (this process can be repeated several times per day). Now imagine which scenario would lead toward more effective problem-solving and more positive results overall? I think that we all know the answer.

Don’t Just Work Hard, Work Smart Too

It’s not enough to work hard. You also have to work smart.

You can do all the work in the world, but if it’s not organized and you don’t schedule time for breaks, then you’ll burn out before your project is even half-finished. Trust me! I have done this a few times since I have been successfully freelancing for a year now. This is why it’s important to set goals and take regular breaks from your computer screen every few hours. It’s also important that you’re always using good equipment; keep a journal of what works best for you so that next time something goes wrong with your computer or phone or tablet, there will be no need for panic because everything has been documented ahead of time!

Always Plan Ahead

Planning ahead is a key part of being a successful freelancer. You need to be able to react quickly and adapt your schedule when the unexpected happens, but planning ahead is also an important part of the freelance mindset. Planning ahead means thinking about the future, and this can help you see what’s coming so you can prepare yourself for anything.

Take time to think about what lies ahead in your career or business goals, even if it’s just “What do I want to achieve next year?”, “What do I want to achieve in 5 years?”, and “What do I want to achieve in 10 years?” If you know where your freelancing career is heading and what steps are necessary to get there, then when someone asks if you have any plans for next week or next month (or next year), it will sound like music to their ears.

You are your own boss, which means you need to react like one.

You are your own boss, which means you need to react like one. As a freelancer, you don’t have anyone else to tell you what to do and when to do it.

You may think that being a freelancer is all about the money and getting paid well for doing work that you love (or at least love doing). You might think this because it’s how people sell being a freelancer online or through podcasts — but it’s not true! Just like any other job out there, being a freelancer isn’t always sunshine and rainbows; sometimes it can be downright difficult. The difference between those who succeed in their careers and those who fail has nothing to do with how hard they work or even how talented they are; instead, the key lies within their mindset: their ability to motivate themselves through difficult times; as well as their ability motivate others around them when things get tough as well…

This is only the Beginning

In the end, if you’re going to have a successful freelance career, it’s essential that you know what type of mindset will work for you and how to get into that mindset. The most important thing you can do is put yourself in a situation where you are constantly learning and growing as a freelancer. If this sounds like something that fits your life, then go out there and get started!