Freelancer Burnout
When I first started working as a freelancer, I knew that I would be one of many and that I needed to do things to make myself stand out from the crowd. Since I was new and didn’t have anyone there to help me get started, I assumed that the best way to set myself apart was to have a cute website, offer cheap services and be available whenever a potential client needed me.
This got old really quick.
I would be answering emails at midnight or while making dinner. I was putting in extreme amounts of effort just to make enough to hopefully cover one bill. And then, those clients never even left reviews, so I couldn’t showcase them on social media or on my site in hopes to get more clients. I was frustrated, tired, bitter, and just about to give up hope. I thought it wasn’t worth it and the imposter syndrome was beginning to hit.
Sure, freelancing is tough. People have a lot of options to choose from and sometimes you are competing against the latest AI. But that didn’t mean I had to risk my mental and physical health just to work. (The same is true of all jobs!) That’s when I had a revelation.
You don’t always have to be available.
That’s right. You don’t always have to be available. Nor do you have to sell yourself short just to make a quick buck. And you don’t have to put up with everyone and everything. That revelation was amazing, but that doesn’t mean I immediately got it and that I immediately started doing better. It just means I realized that what I was doing was leading me to burnout…and I can’t say why I didn’t catch it before.
Are you someone who deals with burnout? What does it typically look like for you?
Signs You’re Headed Right Towards Burnout
Fatigue
Tired. And I mean wanting to collapse onto the ground and become a puddle exhausted. Getting weird aches and pains that you aren’t used to.
Zoning Out
Disassociation was my middle name. I could be there but be a million miles away. Unable to keep up with conversations or what was going on in the moment.
Emotional Exhaustion
Being done with everything and everybody. Getting snappy or sad and just not being able to regulate your emotions like you normally could. Sound familiar? I dreaded hearing the notification bell on my phone and I won’t tell you how much I loathed hearing my phone ring.
Lack Of Motivation
Have you ever heard that phrase, “time to make the donuts?” Well, that is how I was feeling. I was getting up, turning on my computer and dreading having to look at it. This even led to me no longer enjoying things I did love, like reading and writing and watching those comfort shows that we all have.
Less Sleep or Poor Quality Sleep
There was a point where I was having nightmares every single night. I would wake up screaming, much to the chagrin of my housemates. I also would perhaps get a total of four or five hours of sleep. And that was with sleeping pills. And considering lack of sleep can assist in developing chronic illnesses, I really needed a change.
Headaches
Migraines are terrible. 0/10-would not recommend. At my worst, I was averaging around 15 migraine days a month. I once slept in the bathtub because it was the only place dark enough!
How To Prevent Burnout
Set boundaries.
For me, this looked like having particular work hours and sticking to them. Of course, I made sure they were easy to find on my site and on any site where I am listed as a freelancer or contractor.
Know when to say no.
Yes, you don’t always know when the next contract will come or how much you’ll make but that doesn’t mean you should take everything that comes your way. Don’t overload yourself. If you can realistically work on five projects, don’t book ten in the same timeframe. You know your limits, stick to them.
Likewise, not all projects are a good fit for you. I know you know that. For me, I don’t read erotica, anything in technical nonfiction, or any project longer than 200,000 words (albeit there are exceptions). If there are genres you’re comfortable with, stick with them. If you don’t feel comfortable being a fact checker, you don’t have to be one. Communicate this with potential clients on your website or social media pages.
Some clients aren’t worth the money. Trust me, I learned this the hard way. There are those clients who want way more bang for their buck, trying to add in things once the contract has been paid. There are some who refuse to heed your advice. There are some who try and nickel and dime you. There are those who refuse to pay even when they receive the work back. Why force yourself to be around them? Don’t. You don’t have to hire every client. And you don’t have to continue working with them. Have a contract blacklist of those you won’t work with and why. Also, make sure that your contract is clear on price, how additions to the project will be handled, and contract cancellation.
What are some other suggestions you have on preventing burnout as a freelancer?