4 Tips for Achieving a Healthy Freelance Work / Life Balance
Recommendations for maintaining a healthy freelance work/life balance.
This article was written by featured writer Ashlee Christian
Being a freelancer can come with a lot of perks, you usually get to work from home, and you generally get to set your own hours. Being a freelancer can also come with a lot of downsides, mainly that you usually get to work from home, and generally get to set your own hours. You can probably see where I am going with this. The freelance work/life balance can be very tricky to get right. Balancing it well offers you the utmost in work autonomy, which we know can lead to increased motivation and engagement.
When imbalanced, your work life may end up creeping into all corners of your home and relationships creating an environment where you’re always working/available. There is no formula that is going to work for 100% of people, you have to find the balance that works best for your and your lifestyle. However, not setting your boundaries or getting into a rhythm of what works best for all aspects of your life is going to come back to bite you one way or another.
Designate Working Space and Outfit it Appropriately
I am currently typing this in my 8ft long, by 6ft wide “office”. I mention the dimensions for two reasons, one, these are the dimensions of my home that I set aside for working, and two, those are the dimensions that I can write off of my taxes as a deduction. Having a separate space set aside for working achieves a few different things for me mentally and physically, firstly it allows me to separate myself from the rest of my apartment (which is not big by ANY means), however, I found that when I would try to work on the couch, I would get distracted and start watching TV or getting sucked into various corners of the internet. From a physical standpoint being hunched over a laptop on the couch is also not great for your back and neck (which I hear are important parts of your body). So in order to make my office more appealing and better set-up for working, I purchased an external monitor, laptop stand, keyboard, etc… (remember all tax deductible!). Now you might not have a place within your home that is conducive for working, so maybe you would prefer to work from a co-working space, or a coffee shop. Wherever you end up just be sure that when you go to those place you are mentally prepared for work.
Set Expectations Early and Often
One of the ways to avoid the never-not-working lifestyle is to be overly communicative with your clients about when you are available, and when you are absolutely not. Finding a good balance of this can be tricky, but if I am working with a client on an ongoing basis I make sure to let them know what my general schedule is for the week, in addition to any time that I will be traveling or otherwise unreachable. Setting similar expectations in your personal life with friends and family can be really beneficial as well. The life of a freelancer (or anyone with a irregular work schedule) can be unpredictable at times, which can lead to tension in relationships. However, when everyone knows what to expect and is respectful of everyone’s time and obligations we can find a better balance with our clients and our personal relationships.
Leave Room for Flexibility
As a freelancer, you probably don’t work a full 9–5 Monday thru Friday. You probably work some combination of hours over the course of the week based on what’s on your plate. While it’s important to organize your time wisely and make sure you are able to fulfill your client obligations, don’t forget that you are the boss! Give yourself the flexibility to take a day off if you aren’t feeling well, or to rework your schedule because a friend is coming into town at the last minute, or just because you plainly don’t feel like it. If you can swing it, allow yourself the flexibility to do it. A great way to plan for these kinds of days is to build in a certain number of non working days when you are determining your rates.
Know When You are Reaching Your Burnout and Take Time to Re-evaluate
A work/life imbalance that stems from overworking yourself almost always leads to burnout. It’s important to be mindful of the signs and symptoms of burnout so you can take steps to remedy. Build in time for reflection every few months to determine if you’re feeling burnt out, and if so what can be adjusted to prevent it further. Remember that most full time working folks don’t have the autonomy to adjust certain aspects of how and when they work, which is why more and more people are choosing freelance work over traditional employment. As a freelancer you are in charge of all aspects of your business, from the revenue to the operations to the actual product. Which at times can feel overwhelming, and is likely what leads to freelancers taking more than they might be able to handle at times. However, it’s important to strike a good balance for not only your mental health but for the overall success of your business.
Freelancers, what are your tips for striking a good work/life balance? Share them in the comments!
