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.

4 Essential Traits to Running A Business or Being Self Employed

photo of woman writing on tablet computer while using laptop

Running a business or being self employed is not a simple task nor is it suitable for everyone, it requires a unique set of skills that one must continuously work on throughout their career. With that said, let’s explore the essential traits that one would need in order to pursue the life of self employment or being a business owner. 

1. Be an autodidact

For anyone who may not know, an autodidact is simply someone who is self taught. One who can teach themselves any skill or trade through a unique learning system that they have formed to accommodate their learning style that may not be suited for everybody. By being able to take a subject and create your own curriculum that is effective and allows room for improvement through trial and error. This is one of the best skills to have to achieve success in the realm of self employment or owning a business because you are able to teach yourself anything and not depend on a standard system to learn the things that interest you. 

2. Have self discipline

The 9–5 life can be stressful depending on the field that you are in but, can be relatively straightforward in terms of day to day task. When faced with self-employment or running a business there isn’t a higher up saying when you have to get something done or when you have a deadline because you are your own boss at that point. Getting up early and beginning your to do list is on you and while no one will penalize you for not completing certain tasks in a specific time frame, you will see a number of people no longer desire to do business with you. To know when to work and play is another extremely essential skill in order to run a successful business or be able to maintain being self-employed. 

3. Be a creative problem solver

Day to day tasks often are very unpredictable when you are self-employed or running a business. You could have a meeting in the morning, then need to finish a document by the end of the day, chase down payments by next week, create an ebook for a summer release, etc. In a nutshell, nothing is the same everyday so you need to be prepare to handle random things thrown at you everyday than expecting to have the same kinds of tasks all the time. This again goes back to being an autodidact and creating your own system for day to day things to ensure your own success!

4. Financial Literacy 

When you are your own boss and not facing taxes with every pay check it is especially important to know how to move your money around. There is so much temptation to spend or misuse your money, however; everyone has to pay Uncle Sam at the end of the day. 30% of all of your income goes to the federal government and that doesn’t include special business tax depending on what kind of company you have, the state tax or any other special tax that you may be subjected to. It is important to know how to have a nest egg, how to have your money prepared for taxes, how to have health insurance, and buy food and maintain a roof over your head. Financial literacy is an everyday thing that any small business owner and self-employed person needs to know in order to create long sustaining success in this lifestyle.

What is another essential trait that I may have missed or you think is very important? Are you self employed or run your own business?

The Business Mindset Evaluation: If You Answer Yes to Most of These 6 Questions, You are Ready to Start a Business!

asian woman with photo camera in hand

Recently in the United States, a record breaking 4.4 million new businesses registered in late 2021. With this, we can conclude that we will see more people taking the risk, leaving the rat race and starting a path all their own that may inspire others. This now begs the questions, how do you know that you are ready to take those risks and make your own income? How do you know you have the mindset to begin this journey? If you can answer yes to most of these questions then you are definitely ready to take the leap of faith. 

  1. Are you comfortable with failure?

A huge roadblock for many people is the possibility of failing at an endeavor and feeling like there is no point if you can’t get it right. People who take the road of building a business or their own income, tend to see failure as the next step towards success. Trial and error are key components to making your own business. Because each business is unique in its own shape or form, people are the scientists behind their success, constantly making hypotheses and learning from mistake after mistake until they get it right. 

  1. Do you consider yourself a creative person?

One of the fun parts of running a business is being able to adjust solutions according to the situation. Need to make a logo? Work with a designer or learn to use Canva? Need to organize your finances, use Bill.com or Quickbooks? Working in the business of digital products, where do you expand? Managing online business? Make content about mindfulness? You are constantly thinking about what will be your next big idea to expand from where you are. Being able to know where you are and the different avenues you can go down are essential to make sure your business can survive for the next few years. 

  1. Do you mind working for free?

This is the most difficult one for myself as well but, is a hard truth that must be told to many looking to travel down this path. There are days and nights when you may be coming up with ideas or trying to make sure everything goes well when you launch a new product or service. It may be hours of editing or running around getting supplies to get things done for a deadline that you have created for yourself. Mind you all the free work that you are doing will pay off but instant results are never guaranteed so this is another key feature of being able to handle the business world in general. 

  1. Do you have a passion for the things you are interested in expanding on?

To avoid doing something that you do not enjoy, it is best to make sure you honestly love the field that you are pursuing. Why bother working on a fitness brand when you enjoy working out but don’t enjoy making videos or answering questions about the matter. Hobbies are hobbies, we do them because we enjoy them but do not always see them as a career interest. To be passionate, you must be interested in talking for hours about the subject, the different ways it can tie into other fields, and the future of this particular topic. Anything goes and ranges from pursuing a cooking career and brand to a prepping career and brand, just be passionate and know your niche. 

  1. Are you a patient person?

Patience is key in order for you to achieve the success that you are setting to have under your own business. It takes YEARS to see the results that you want, most people want to see their active and passive income equate to 6 figures within a few months and when that doesn’t happen, most people quit. The slow climb is what makes starting your own business or building your income worth wild. If waiting quite some time to get your business where it wants to be is something you are mentally prepared for, you should be fine!

  1. Are you comfortable risking your own money?

This step usually determines the breaking point for some people. Another unfortunate truth for most but not all because in this day and age, crowd funding is very possible but, it does take time away from possibly saving up your own money to move forward with your endeavors. You are looking to invest a good portion of your income that could have been spent on eating out, going out drinking, or attending a concert to pursue your dreams. Tie into the fact that you have to do work for free sometimes, wait for results, and learn from mistakes; it’s understandable why people are hesitant to take this path. 

The reward of working for yourself and pursuing your dreams by starting that business does make all these sacrifices worth it if you truly want it and believe in yourself. Your own hours, different avenues to explore, more control over your life; from my perspective, it would be personally hard to go back to the corporate world. I will end with a final note in that it is not a bad thing to not want to start a business and do other things. We are all unique and different so the concept of what will make us happy varies from person to person. Don’t be afraid to take risks but, don’t be afraid to say this is not for me :).

Superbia

man in white crew neck top reaching for the like

The Dopamine Don’t Hit Right


Elements inspired by Tick Tick… Boom

Ive been using again 

I can’t help it

But, I know I shouldn’t 

Every now and then 

When I take it, I can forget every little thing

My failures that feel like a sting 

The emptiness of a one night fling 

But then, I forget the happy affairs 

The light in my heart knowing someone cares

The wave of calm I feel knowing someone is there

It gets hard to tell what is real or not after a while

All the fake love, all the fake smiles

It feels so good, even though I look like a villain 

How can you deny the love of millions?

How can you deny the praise of brilliance?

I keep going back again and again 

Till eventually, I don’t know what’s real in the end

Jeremy Bearimy

clear hour glass on frame

Inspired by The Good Place

I run and run and cannot be stopped

I am something you cannot buy

I am something that cannot be taught 

I am difficult to measure 

Seen as a hidden treasure 

But to have more of me is always a pleasure 

No one can own me

Despite the many that plea

I am always and forever free

I am the most precious thing to humanity

They do not understand my prime 

For I am everyone’s time

Limbo: A Dialogue

Photo from Unsplash taken by Greg Rakozy


Inspired by real events

Death: Boo!

Me:..

Death: *Evil Laugh*

Me: … Boo!

Death: Why are you not scared? 

Me: Why should I be scared?

Death: Because… everyone is?

Me: Not me

Death: Why?

Me: Because I don’t believe in fearing my fate

Death: Your fate is to die?

Me: Not to die, but to go through the cycle of life. It is not like I can stop it from happening, just like I can’t stop the birds from singing, I can’t stop the waves from crashing back into the sea, and just like I can’t stop a child from climbing and falling off a tree.

Death: Humph. You make me laugh, so many people pass by but it is rare that I hear something like that.

Me: Most people don’t think of it.

Death: They don’t. I don’t. Very few do but, most do not. But, if they did maybe, they would respond differently. 

Me: Maybe

Death: Why do most react the way they do? Such surprise at their own demise. Yet, it is the fate of all, I know it to be true. 

Me: Because most people don’t think about you, to them you are not relevant until their journey ends. By the time you arrive, people realize it is too late to do all the things they said they would do. It’s always pushed to later so why bother and by that time you get the best of what they had to offer.

Death: The best of what they had to offer?

Me: Yes! All their potential, all their dreams, and all their goals.

Death: You make me sound like a bad guy. Maybe I am.

Me: No!

Death: I am, look at me! I come with a smile, eager for those to tell me of their journeys, traveling miles. To see life through a million points of view but, I only know little to a few. That guy who says, “It’s time to go” time to move on, how can you say that’s a good guy?

Me: You are just like birth at the end of the day.

Death: Then who is? Who frames me in such a way?

Me: Fear, he stops us from everything, no matter how small. From love, to expression, and the moments we could have had it all.

Death: It all makes sense now, everyone arrives with their fears and wonders how? As though, I am the one who took it all away. Regret, sadness, all these things are nothing I wish to bestow on anyone.

Me: Maybe there will be a glimmer of hope and as time goes on, as humanity will find ways to cope. To enjoy the cycle of life and say “it wasn’t so bad.” 

Death: It is a bittersweet quality that those who have come by are not scared of fear. A satisfied life is all I wish to see rather than tears.

Me: We have a lot to catch up on in many years.

Death: I look forward to seeing you again, some day. What will you do with your time?

Me: While my journey is not clear, I hope it is filled with adventure, joy, cheer. 

Death: May your life be long and happy… now get out of here!

17 Lessons at 25

Photo from Unsplash by Toa Heftiba


Due to my utter neglect of my website and turning 25, I will start off my new year going around the Earth with the lessons that I have learned (again you don’t have to take my advice, do whatever you want, I am just some chick on the internet)

  1. Emotional Intelligence is Key

This is something that is a day by day skill to build on, what is worth my emotional well-being? Will the reaction that I give matter or make an impact in the situation that I am presented with? Why do I feel the way I do? Is there a bigger meaning behind this? Instead, I am going to take a moment to feel my emotional response and then better understand it before I feel the need to do something.

  1. Laugh at Yourself More

Honestly, life is too short to not laugh enough at everything. We all mess up, we all don’t get it right all the time, and we all fall down. The best way to handle it, is to laugh it off and move on because that was the past and now you can move on and enjoy the present. 

  1. Failure Doesn’t Mean That I am a Failure

This was one of the hardest things to accept in a world that is so often consumed with perfectionism. If you don’t know something, you don’t do something right the first time around, then by default I shouldn’t bother anymore. This just leads to not learning or trying to become better at a craft. I am taking my time to write a book series rather than pump out book by book to make bank. I want to be a better writer little by little and the same goes for anything else I do. When I first started fencing in college, I will be honest, I was horrible and was lucky to win a match but, through hard work and determination, I managed to win 12 out 15 matches by my senior year. I also tried to make a vintage shop at some point but realized I did not have the passion to continue it, I just like clothes! Failure is the stepping stone to discover how much you are willing to commit to something to become better. (Check out my article The Ballerina Paradox for more info)

  1. The World Owes Me Nothing

This is a controversial one… but it has to be said. A lot of people walk around with this entitlement that because they went to university, they were top in their class, or that they have a million followers that they should be given everything they want on the spot. The truth is life is unfair, I will not argue that but, you can either walk around having a tantrum for the rest of your life or try to make your own situation better through education, becoming an autodidact, asking for help when you need it. The only thing you owe yourself is to become the best version of yourself by whatever means possible. 

  1. Someone Will Always Have Something I want, and I will Always Have Something That Someone Else Wants

Need me say more? Everyone likes to throw the term privilege around all too much and often look at the things they don’t have and lack appreciation for the things that they do have. It’s a normal feeling to have some kind of envy but, remember the things that you do have that have helped you thus far because there is at least someone out there that would kill to have what you have. 

  1. Self-Discipline Sucks… But it is Worth It

*sigh* This is part of being an adult and how you know that you are transitioning from dumb adolecence to adult. We can’t indulge and have fun all the time even though we all wish we could. Realizing time management and when to have fun and go to grind sounds like common sense but, trust me, it’s hard. I would love to stay up all night watching YouTube, video chatting with my friends, or playing video games but, I need to get 7-8 hours of sleep to function better so not tonight. If you need to find a better night time routine, find the things that make you calm and relaxed like ASMR, reading a book, listening to rain, or letting oils make the room more relaxing. In general, please try to know when to say no to things you REALLY want to do.   

  1. Moving Forward Means Leaving the Past Behind 

This is one of the most emotional lessons. Coming from a generation that emphasised how we need to keep everyone in our life no matter what because family, friends, and romantic relationships are everything. However, sometimes as you are growing up and trying to be a better version of yourself, the people used to associate grow toxic. Growing means leaving bad habits, bad behaviors behind and sometimes the people you care about dont want to let them go. Let them go, maybe your absence will help them start to grow, and you can find a way back to each other again. You come first. 

  1. It’s not that I don’t have Enough Time, I have a Limited Amount of Time

tImE Is A sOcIAl CoNStruCt, I had to do it, but it is true. At the end of the day, the universe will go on and on forever with or without the human race. We as people only have a certain amount of years on Earth, we all will die eventually, however; the circumstances of our death are unknown. We don’t know when, where, and how we will die, but acknowledging the inevitable helps drive the desire to live.  

  1. Don’t Follow the Crowd, Dare to Stand Out

In the age of internet culture, it often feels like you are seeing the same thing over and over again until you feel your brain go numb. I used to share things because everyone was saying the same thing rather than researching or questioning the things that I was seeing. I was blindly following something because everyone else was doing it. Now, I realized that just because something is wildly popular doesn’t mean that I have to go along with it, I should know myself and explore different ideas and concepts to keep my mind open and constantly gain new knowledge.

  1. Books are Better Than Social Media

Ever since the new year, I have given up a large amount of time that I use to spend on social media reading different books ranging from philosophy to financial literacy. To be honest, I never really knew how to use social media. When you are given a good book and some quiet time, it lets you sit and take in the information rather than being hit with something every 5 seconds on social media. Take some time away from the constant information or glamour of social media to just read a book.

  1. “All the World’s a Stage and All Men and Women are Merely Players”

Quoted by the famous William Shakespeare and ties into the previous point which is to take time away from social media because most of it is fake. What started as a source to post funny and random things has escalated to a platform to show how amazing your life is and brag about yourself. If people don’t get a like, share, or follow someone when they post something, they don’t have the justification of what they believed they are and it can damage their self-esteem. Most of the time it’s a show and not reality, with all honesty, I would not have social media if it wasn’t for connecting with people in my field and friends I have abroad. Now, I have made social media a casual mode of promoting things that I do and trying to post relatable things to not be dependent on it for my own emotional health. 

  1. Comfort Kills Ambition

One of my favorite phrases is also from an interview I did (link here). There is a reason the comfort zone exists, you retreat there when you need to recharge your battery. Leaving the comfort zone exposes you to new possibilities, interests, ideas, and experiences. While at times it can be very uncomfortable that is usually the biggest sign of growth. I have lived in a few different places in the world and each place has had its own pros and cons, however; I do not have any regrets from those experiences because I grew as a person. Don’t be afraid to take the chance on the scary decision. 

  1. Your Parents Weren’t Superheroes But, They Tried To Be

This was pretty hard to cope with; the reality is that being a parent is playing this God-like role of making a child see life through this rose colored lens while carrying all the anxiety of the world on your shoulders so your child doesn’t have to deal with it. You can feel the change once you realize that your parents were just human beings like you; trying to do their best everyday. However, it can make you appreciate the things that they did for you because whether it be mental and financial, they did struggle at some point to keep a smile on your face. 

  1. Not Every Problem in the World is Yours and That’s Fine, Just Be a Good Person

While most people can agree on basic moral values, we all can’t solve every problem in the world. There will always be something wrong because we live in a perfectly imperfect world, there will always be a problem or some dramatic event that will stir the pot. The best thing I can do in the end is try to be the best version of myself and focus on those who are directly linked to me and how I can impact their lives. 

  1. Write it Down so You Never Forget

This is just a simple tip from someone who journals a lot, it’s always great to record your thoughts, ideas, and plans so you have an easy place to access something if you forget it. We all forget things every now and then, to give yourself less anxiety or regret, just write it down; make your life easier. 

  1. Drama is For Nerds

Drama at this point is for people who study a situation with the same energy levels they should have for any test they have in class. If something doesn’t involve you directly, just stay away from it, it is not worth it, save your energy for better things that will benefit you in the future. 

  1. Take What Makes You Insecure and Make it Your Bitch 

This is a phrase that I have been living by to help drive me towards my goals. Insecurity increases fear and fear holds you back, most people are too insecure to take the chance on themselves whether it be moving to another country, opening a business, starting a passion project, etc. I could go on but, I will keep this one short. I chose to tell my story, I chose the next chapter in my life, and nothing can hold me back but myself at the end of the day. I wouldn’t waste my energy being scared.