10 Signs You’re Suffering From Freelancer Isolation
Loneliness is a key factor in today’s mental health crisis. Your depression might stem from your work habits.
If you’re a creative, you probably work as a freelancer. Most graphic designers, voice actors, writers, and film editors do. Freelancing can be a great way to enjoy personal freedom, earn money on your own terms, and also make a name for yourself in your industry.
Unfortunately, freelancing can also be maddeningly lonely. Freelancer isolation is an issue many creatives face, primarily because most freelancers work entirely alone. You might not even realize how much the isolation is affecting you.
Freelancer isolation is no joke. It can cause depression, speed up burnout, worsen your health, and even encourage substance use. If any of these warning signs ring true, you need to get out there and socialize. It could save your life — or at least, your career.
1. You can’t remember the last time you saw your friends.
Hit the pause button and think for a minute. When was the last time you spoke to your friends in-person or online? When did you last hear other people talk outside your work environment? Was it a week ago? Two weeks? Do you not remember at all? Prolonged time away from friends is often one of the key signs that you’re isolating yourself too much.
OUR ADVICE: It will not kill you to go out to a bar with your buds or go out amongst people at all. Call them up, make some plans, and touch some grass. You’ll be glad you did.
2. If you’re honest, you’re depressed.
Loneliness is a key factor in today’s mental health crisis. According to Leapers.co, 70% of all freelancers report feeling lonely or isolated as a result of their work. Isolation also has been linked to higher rates of clinical depression. Plus, creative work, which by its nature often comes with a deep dive into your soul, can exhaust you mentally and emotionally. An imbalance of creativity and socialization can deteriorate you, too.
In other words? Your depression might stem from your work habits.
OUR ADVICE: Now would be a good time to consider renting an office in a co-working space or joining an online creative community like Oba. Sometimes, a night out with friends isn’t what you need. You may need a lifestyle change.
3. Your social skills are starting to fade away.
Most people don’t realize that your social skills are a lot like muscles. You need to use them or lose them. Suddenly struggling to pick up on social cues, oversharing like you’re being paid to do so, or losing your ability to connect are byproducts of isolation.
OUR ADVICE: You may want to consider going to therapy to help hone or recalibrate your social skills. You might also be able to regain those skills by making a conscious effort to connect with other creatives or take a part-time sales job.
However, this is all a matter of scale.
If you used to be a social butterfly and have just quieted down, joining a community without some therapy will be fine. If the idea of striking up a conversation scares you, it may be time to ask a pro for help. Use your judgment to figure out what you need.
4. Lately, you can’t focus or remember anything.
You know you had an appointment today…but what was it for? Hey! Wait a minute! What does your client mean you didn’t read the email they sent you? Huh. After re-reading it, you realize you skipped six paragraphs. Sound familiar?
Loneliness has been linked to forgetfulness, difficulty focusing, and cognitive decline. Which, in turn, can make it hard to actually do your work effectively. You also might feel less inspired or unable to create the way you used to.
Loneliness leads to burnout pretty quickly. It’s not a shocker.
OUR ADVICE: Along with going to public events or joining a creative community, it may be time to hit the gym. Believe it or not, going to the gym can help improve your focus, memory, and mood.
If you don’t mix well with the gym, it might be time to touch some actual grass. Call up a friend and go to coffee with them. Or, better yet, take a quick walk around the block.
5. You are increasingly jealous of people who work in an office.
Most people will never understand why creatives get envious of office workers until they’ve worked from home for a while. Office workers don’t realize what a luxury it is to actually see other human beings at work until they haven’t seen a person in the better part of a week.
This jealousy is a key sign that you’re struggling with freelancer isolation.
OUR ADVICE: Try to get a simple part-time job if you can, even if it’s just working retail or fast food. Doing so might even help pay the bills while you look for gigs. If you can’t do that, volunteering for a cause you adore or doing on-site contract work can help.
6. People have mentioned you’ve let yourself go.
When you don’t really see anyone day-to-day, it’s easy to lose your interest in self-care or personal style. Much like how the pandemic made our society a lot more “dressed down,” freelancers stuck in isolation often forget to upkeep their looks, clothes, and living areas.
In other words, if you look like you just rolled out of bed and decided to wear a potato sack 24/7, you might be too isolated. Self-care is a social act for many of us, and the same can be said of hygiene.
OUR ADVICE: Take a weekend to clean your home, do your laundry, toss your worn-out clothing, and book an appointment at a salon. Create a schedule of maintenance. Then, give yourself an incentive to keep up that maintenance. Remember: self-care is for you at the end of the day!
If you’re looking to switch out your wardrobe sustainably and give your self-care a reset, try Thred Up.
7. Dating? What’s that?
Whether people want to admit it or not, working with other people tends to be a good way to meet new romantic partners. For example, you might know people who met spouses on their commutes or who met their partners as a friend of a colleague’s.
When you’re a freelancer, many of those opportunities to meet new people vanish, which can be isolating and depressing. Dating apps are often not much better. So, what’s a freelancer to do?
OUR ADVICE: Romantically paired freelancers should schedule a date night with their partners, and singletons should consider attending meetups for professionals in their areas.
8. It feels like nobody “gets” you.
Sometimes, freelancers will have tons of friends who work regular 9 to 5’s. You might be one of those people who goes out for drinks with former colleagues at work. However, there’s a snag you might have experienced: they don’t get the struggles that come with freelancing.
Seeing how many people assume you have all the free time in the world because you’re a freelancing creative can be absolutely infuriating. Hearing how many people make snide remarks about being unable to live on an artist’s wage can be undeniably aggravating.
These kinds of issues can make you feel alone even when you’re surrounded by people.
OUR ADVICE: Drop the people who can’t respect your time or your career. Start seeking out other freelancers in your field of choice — either online through Oba or via local meetup groups. Sometimes, you just need people who “get it.”
9. You just realized you don’t know who you’d ask for a referral to a different doctor, a job reference, or entry to local dining events.
When you have a regular job, you might see regulars at your place of work — such as the local police officer who goes to the bagel shop every day or the lawyer who comes to a paralegal office. If you’re like many people, you eventually get to know those people, and you might be able to ask them for the inside scoop on certain areas or services.
Think carefully. Do you have a go-to friend who can offer you advice on where to find a good dentist? What about a person who knows all the good restaurants in town? Do you know who you’d ask for help with insurance? Who could you put down as a job reference on an application?
If you can’t answer those questions, you’re a bit too isolated for your own good.
OUR ADVICE: Now is the time to expand your network. Don’t just stick to professional networking events. Make a point of going on Bumble BFF, Meetup, and other similar apps. You might be surprised at what communities end up becoming your new home.
10. Family members have said they’re worried about you because you stopped talking to people.
Isolation is a bit funny at times. On one hand, humans are social creatures, and we need to socialize to truly thrive. On the other hand, being a loner can be addictive because we get used to having everything our way…until we realize we actually need others to function.
When a person is extremely isolated for a long period of time, they might prefer loneliness — even when they are aware it’s not entirely healthy for them. Does that sound like you? If so, you’ve got a bad case of freelancer isolation.
OUR ADVICE: Do not fall into the comforting trap of choosing to stay alone. Isolation is not as productive as you think. Even if we introverts don’t want to admit it, humanity inspires us. Being around people gives us fresh ideas and perspectives on the world that is important for the depth of our art. Stay inspired and avoid burnout: socialize!
How do you score on the freelancer’s isolation quiz? Do you need to take steps to reach out to others? Over at Oba, we’ve all been there, and we get it. Need people who can be both a friend down for a rant session or trading snippy work memes, and a coworker who’s got your back or can trade the best freelancing tips and tricks? Come check us out and sign up for weekly reminders to fight the isolation beast!
