There are many ways to stay healthy as a freelancer, but the most important thing is to take a break. It’s not uncommon for freelancers to work up to 12 hours a day for days on end without any time off, leading to Burnout.
Freelancers are constantly on the go, and it can get exhausting; this is why they should learn to avoid Burnout.
Working without breaks is common for many people nowadays. We think that if we work long hours, we’ll get more done, but in reality, it has the opposite effect. Besides being a risk to our productivity, working without any breaks can also risk our health.
What is Burnout?
Burnout is a general feeling of exhaustion, in which one has lost the ability to complete their work. It often feels like you’re in an endless loop of tasks and deadlines with no end in sight.
Freelancers are more likely to experience Burnout than people who work for an organization because they often work for multiple clients simultaneously and with no breaks in between. Their income is inconsistent, and they have to deal with more stress than people in the 9-5 workforce.
Freelancers also have less support than employees do from managers or colleagues. They might feel like their job is not fulfilling all aspects of themselves, and they may lose focus on other areas of life that bring them happiness.
How to lessen Burnout when you are freelancing
Many factors can lead to Burnout. Common causes of freelancer burnout include lack of opportunity for growth, staying in the same place for too long, and not having enough control over your work.
A mismatch between what you imagine freelancing to be and what it is, or what your expectations are, and the reality of working as a work-from-home freelancer, can cause Burnout.
There are many ways to lessen the chances of Burnout when you are freelancing. One way is by continuing to learn new skills and continually learning about new skills, which will help you stay motivated over time because you’ll never feel that you have mastered your craft.
3 Ways to Prevent Burnout as a Freelancer
If you spend most of your waking hours working on your projects or other people’s projects, and you’re in a less-than-ideal work environment, expect Burnout to happen sooner than later. Here are three ways to prevent that from happening:
1) Set boundaries – Freelancers should set boundaries for themselves and stick to them. It is essential to take breaks from working and not feel like you have to do it all. Make sure that you are taking care of your physical health and mental health by eating well, exercising, and sleeping enough.
2) Get social support – Freelances need a support system that takes care of their emotional needs and gives them business advice and the possibility of collaborating on specific projects. Although collaborating simultaneously on different projects might sound like an added workload, often it can have refreshing effects and help us avoid a feeling of Burnout.
How to Deal With Burnout If You’ve Already Got It
Burnout is a natural response to prolonged periods of stress triggered by an imbalance between the demands and resources that a person has in their life.
It is essential not to ignore Burnout if you are experiencing it. The more it gets worse, the more severe it will become. It would help if you tried to find ways to cope with your work and take some time off for yourself.
Focus on things that make you happy, whether hobbies or relationships with family and friends; this will help you balance your life and regain control of it again.
Here are some things that you can do to avoid Burnout:
1. Determine the root cause of the burnout and take steps to prevent it from happening again.
Burnout is a complex condition that has many causes. It can result from stress, prolonged emotional or physical exertion, a feeling of profound personal failure or inadequacy, lack of support from colleagues or family and friends, too many demands on time and energy, or a sense of alienation.
There are some questions you can ask yourself to do this:
-Do I have too much work/too many tasks?
-Is my workload too challenging?
-Do I feel like I’m not good enough at my job?
-Do I have a poor work/life balance?
-Am I working on projects that are outside my area of expertise?
As soon as you can identify the root cause of the issue, it will be easier to find a solution and deal with the problem.
2. When you’re tired of doing the same thing over and over, add some variety to your work routine.
It can be hard to change or switch up your work routine when you feel exhausted from doing the same thing repeatedly. Here is my advice: Do something different. Change up your work routine when you are feeling exhausted from doing the same thing over and over again. Relocate or rearrange your work area now and then.
You can try taking a break for lunch or coffee breaks, occasionally take your dog on a walk, or take on tasks that are entirely different from what you typically do.
3. Make the most of your downtime by focusing on self-care activities such as hobbies, socializing, or meditating.
You stare at the screens for hours on end. We don’t have much physical or mental space to do anything else. That’s why we need to take some time off from our work and focus on self-care activities like hobbies, socializing, or meditating.
The benefits of these activities are immense. They can help us relax and release the tension we feel in our muscles and minds. They can also provide us with a creative boost to return to work with a fresh perspective.
4. When all else fails, seek the assistance of a professional therapist or coach.
In extreme cases, there may be a need to seek professional help. When an individual is experiencing overwhelming feelings of distress and danger, they might require immediate intervention. With a therapist or coach’s expertise and guidance, people can start taking steps to feel safe again. Professional mental health practitioners will often work with the person to develop coping strategies in their everyday lives.
In extreme cases where people suffer from debilitating depression, suicidal thoughts, or other symptoms that interfere with their daily lives, they may need professional psychiatric treatment.
After finishing this article, I suggest you stand up, take a break, and do something else.
Seriously. Take a break.
Gino Borlado 