Amazing Mental Health Tips for Freelancers

by Nellie G October 25, 2022

1. Recognize the Signs of Burnout

The signs of burnout are including an increase in anxiety levels, physical exhaustion, and even isolation from others.

2. Try to Do Healthy Lifestyles

Prevent burnout by eating a healthy diet, sleeping regularly, setting a plan for a holiday, and others that make you relax.

3. Take a Break

Don’t force yourself to handle all jobs from clients. The best thing you can do is take a break. Forget about anything related to your jobs.

4. Go to Your Favorite Places

Go to your favorite places and do something you love there for a few days.

5. Socialize with Other People

That’s why you should take time to socialize with other people, including friends and family members.

Freelancing can be a highly enjoyable lifestyle once your business has been set up and is in full swing.

But even when you have attained this business status there are still frequent stressors that cause freelancers mental anguish.

According to a freelancer survey, the significant anxiety and stress issues that cause mental health issues in freelancers are:

86% cite irregular income
80% state that clients never give the correct brief or clarity on a project.
77% cite they lack the talent to complete a job
71% say that clients' ghost' them (client stops communicating or delays projects).
69% state long hours
66% complain that they feel alone and have nobody to share their stresses with.

For those already suffering from mental health concerns, freelancing only exacerbates the issue. One research study noted that 48% of freelancers found it "lonely;" 46% said it was "isolating."

Alarmingly, a further 25% of respondents experienced "frequent periods of depression." 21% said that the loneliness of homeworking had caused them to have suicidal thoughts.

These concerns are not only related to client-project work either. Freelancers also have to worry about their billing, payment, insurance, finances and savings.

This creates more stress and mental health-related issues.

Hand-in-hand with the statistics mentioned above, it is burnout amongst the freelancers that is the most common mental health issue.

The primary reason for this is the inability to refuse jobs and to stop working.

When you begin freelancing, there's an inclination to take on any work because:

you need more business experience
you need money to get your business off the ground
you don't know when work will dry up (particularly recently, when freelancers lost work due to the pandemic).

Freelancers are in a heightened state because they panic not knowing when work will dry up.

Many freelancers often convey sentiments of guilt when they don't work; even when they are on holiday, spending time with their family at home or going out socializing.

What are the consequences of not taking a break?

A study identified the symptoms of these mental health stressors as:

sleep disturbances
depression
inability to relax
high antidepressant drug use
'presenteeism,' a term for keeping on working despite facing illness or other reasons that justify a break.

So why aren't freelancers taking breaks?

Well, when you're a freelancer, time costs your money. If you become unwell or take a holiday, you're digging into your savings.

Freelancers then continue to work, pushing through the sickness barrier. Not only is your health deteriorating, but now the quality of work performed will get worse.

Which is why taking mental health seriously is vital for your work-life balance.

Reference: https://blog.xolo.io/freelancing-mental-health