Freelancing and Mental Health

“Freelancing is great, you are your own boss, you work when you want, dressed in PJs, what more could you want?”

Sounds familiar? Well, there are many myths associated with it and not all are true. You still have the client’s restrictions and requirements to follow, there are deadlines that you have to meet, and being in your sleepwear all day makes you lazy and sleepy. So, freelancing is not all that you might think it is.

Freelancing is stressful and managing your mental health while you are working as a freelancer is easier said than done. It is lonely to freelance. Yes, you might enjoy the mobility of taking your work anywhere with you, but the picture that Instagram paints of freelancers is unrealistic. No one talks about this. But is imperative that you understand that even though you are earning well as a freelancer, but your mental health is suffering.

Working alone for 8-9 hours a day is lonely. And those who live alone, it is depressing. Spending so much time with yourself immersed in your work impacts your mental health. And here is how you can cope with it:

Have a Realistic Work Schedule

You are your own boss to a little extent, yes. But not entirely. We cleared that up above. But if you truly become your own boss, there isn’t going to be an official time to stop working. This could lead you to become a workaholic or work at ungodly hours.

Limit your work hours for each week. Make a work schedule and stick to it. This could be great for both physical and mental health. When you have a schedule and limits to follow, this would also create some boundaries with clients. When you put clear boundaries in place for your clients and let them know that you follow a strict schedule, they will no longer expect you to answer emails or calls outside that timeline.

Join Networks and Socialize

With networking, you can meet new people and it can also help your career. With introverts, the idea of talking to a stranger is scary and overwhelming. So, if you are a freelancer who is also an introvert, you can certainly polish your socializing skills as it is one of the most effective ways to keep yourself away from isolating thoughts.

Networking allows you to both socialize with the outside world while helping you find new opportunities that could help your career grow. You can find a plethora of social media online communities. And you get to interact with people of the same field. You can talk, share advice, and tips. Ask questions and learn from each other. See that you have networking groups both online and offline as it is a must to have face-to-face interaction.

Take Short Breaks

Now, that sounds obvious. But you must take sufficient breaks as they can help you relax and unwind a bit. When it comes to managing your mental health, you have to give rest to your mind and divert it other than work. Rather than lounging at your desk, get up and take a walk. Fix yourself something healthy. Do a quick de-clutter of your room.

The idea is to stop working and thinking about it as well. Sounds easy, right? But the reality is that it is difficult for freelancers to switch off. As their mind is always working and always thinking. So, learning the skill to switch over from time to time could be quite effective to rest your mind.

Regular Exercise

Exercise rejuvenates both the body and mind. And doing regular exercise would do you well. Research reveals that physical activity can help those suffering from mild depression and also prevent symptoms of anxiety. It is a lot easier to stay positive and motivated when you are happy with your health. It is recommended to exercise between 75-150 minutes every week.

Seek Professional Support for Mental Health

There is no shame in seeking help. It can be overwhelming when you alone have to take care of so many things. And since it about using your mind, it can tire you and disturb your sleep patterns. This leads to poor mental health. Talk to friends and family. Share. Talking it out with someone could lift off that weight off of you. There are therapists, councilors, and other medical professionals who could help.

Now that you know how can strike a balance between your work and mental health, you are bound to succeed. For further assistance regarding freelancing and how to hit it off, try DanKash and learn it all from the experts.