Mental Health Check-In For Freelancers

Most people categorize themselves as either introvert or extrovert. And I used to think it was kinda weird that I was sometimes BOTH…depending on my environment. A few years ago, I learned there’s actually a term for that! An ambivert! That’s a person whose personality has a balance of extrovert and introvert features. Who knew?!

Well, my more introverted side tended to come out in work environments. I’m talking anxiety before the seemingly neverending rounds of meetings. Silently dreading small talk with the department VP at the microwave. And taking “smoke breaks” just to decompress throughout the day.

I don’t smoke. Never have. Lol.

But on the flipside, coworker happy hours were fun, messaging your work BFF, and chitchatting about what your boss said to his boss when you were eavesdropping after the meeting. The social part of The Office wasn’t all bad.

But the perks of freelancing far outweighed the glimmer of joy I sometimes found while working a regular 9-5 job. I’ve maintained over the past 4 years of freelancing, I’ve never been happier. Even if freelancing itself has it’s own challenges.

For one, everything is on you. Every responsibility, task, success, failure. You’re the common denominator. And it can sometimes feel like a lot of weight. Even if you’re fortunate enough to begin delegating tasks to someone else, you still have to manage it. So in your freelance business, you are still the be all, end all.

And get this, all the times you hated having your schedule decided for you (start at this time, end when we say) or meeting put on your calendar, there’s something to be appreciated about a given structure to your day. Without that structure, it can be easy for the day to get away from you…until you learn to become disciplined and create your own structure.

How about that office banter and those work BFFs? When you freelance, you’ll find yourself spending way more time alone. Yes, that can add to your productivity. But it can also be a little lonely. Even for an introvert.

With all of the normal challenges of freelancing topped with a heap of 2020-covid-pandemic-lockdown-endless-deliveries-and-online-shopping added to the mix, it can take an even bigger toll on your mental. But trust me, it’s not just you.

We all deal with life challenges in our own ways. But in case you’re not sure where to start, here are some things I’ve found to be helpful.

1. ESTABLISH AND PRIORITIZE YOUR OWN SELF CARE PRACTICES

   Self care means different things to different people. And experiementation will help you figure out what works well for you. But whatever it is, prioritize it regularly. Daily if you can. Because in the long run, you’ll experience less frustration and burnout if you have grounding practices in place. Those things that help keep you balance, aligned, and not on edge ready to snap as soon as your client does something to annoy you (it will happen).

   My own daily self care practices include:

   • Meditation

   • Journaling

   • Reading books or listening to audiobooks

   • Working out and stretching

   Also, every few months, I make sure to take a “vacation” whether I’m physically going somewhere or not. I let my clients know I’ll be unavailable for a certain timeframe and I turn my out of office notification on!

2. CREATE YOUR OWN ROUTINES

   Without the employer-imposed schedules and routines in place, it can be soooo easy to get sidetracked or bogged down in work. After prioritizing my self care practices in the morning, I begin working pretty much around the same time each day. And I stop working around a certain time. I also let my clients know my working days when onboarding them as new clients…because ya girl doesn’t work on weekends and I keep client communication through email instead of my personal phone. Nothing worse than client text messages at 11pm while you’re binge watching Girlfriends on Netflix. Lol.

   Sometimes people hear the work routines and get a bit turned off. But no worries, it doesn’t have to be anything strict and doesn’t have to match your old working schedule. It can be whatever works best for your working and productivity style. The key is to experiment and adjust.

3. GET SOME SUN

   You’ve got a lot on your plate and may feel overwhelmed sometimes. But getting outside, if only for 5 minutes is not only a way to get some vitamin D, but also a quick way to reset your mind. You need to take plenty of breaks to keep your mind and body working optimally. Plus many times, if you’re working in the same space all day, it can feel a bit draining. So it’s nice to switch it up. And post-lockdown, try getting to different environments to work for the day. Like coworking spaces, coffee shops, the backyard, etc. Most freelancers I know crave freedom, so why not take it when you can?

4. MAKE TIME FOR FUN

   This could be picking up a new hobby or nourishing an old one. Or intentionally getting on the phone with friends and family. Digging into a good book, trying a new recipe, or joining some sort of club. A club may seem out of the question during the pandemic, but many orgs have gone virtual. I’ve found a ton of fun stuff to do to connect with other people from the comfort of my own home. Just do a search on Google and I’m sure you can find something that matches your interests!

5. CONNECT WITH A THERAPIST OR TRUSTED CONFIDANT

   There are a lot of things we can do on our own to cultivate healthy mental health, but sometimes you just need to get it out. Talk to someone. There used to be so much stigma surrounding mental health, but I’m so happy to see people are more open to embracing mental health, therapy, and different resources to feel supported, heard, and to experience more peace in their lives. You can check with your insurance company to see what type of support is offered or you can use online therapy services like BetterHelp (that’s one I’ve used). But whatever you do, remember you don’t have to go it alone 💙

Share your thoughts! What strategies help you during your freelance journey?