Staying Sane As A Freelancer

When you’re a freelancer, the world is your oyster. You can work from home, from a coffee shop, or even from the top of a mountain (if there’s WiFi up there, of course). However, whilst freelancing may seem like it’s all rainbows and roses, the actuality of it can be quite different. We’re talking showering in the afternoon, beginning your work at night, and having a social life that is stale to say the least.

There are some ways that you can stay sane as a freelancer, however, and we’ve noted them down here.

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Work 9 ‘til 5 hours

When you’re working from home, the more appropriate phrase can be ‘working from bed’. Sure, some freelancers have their lives together, but others just haven’t quite got the routine down yet. And it’s something that you need to do, or you could end up losing out on work, and potentially working all evening. This cuts out much of your opportunity to have a social life, and means that your body clock is confused as a result. Work 9 ‘til 5 hours if you can, and you’ll be glad that you’ve got some normality.

Make time for fun

Freelance work, just like any other form of working, can be pretty boring sometimes. You can feel like you wake up every day, make that short commute from your bed to your desk, and then make that short commute right back to bed again. And nobody wants to live that kind of life, do they? Have breaks, and make sure that you involve some fun into your day. Even looking out for some arcade games for sale and having a midday games break could help, so try to switch off for a little while and enjoy yourself.

Have non-work space at home

Again, when you work from home, it can be hard to switch off. Your ‘office space’ is invariably in your bedroom, or in another room in your home, which can make you feel like your home is the office. It’s important that you do your work at a table or desk, and keep your couch and your bed for their original purposes, or you could find it pretty difficult to chill out. If you have a designated office in your home, you can close the door and forget about it, instead of feeling like you can’t relax.

Pick up a hobby

Whilst it’s important to try and maintain your normal social life when you work from home, it can be useful to get a new hobby, too. Perhaps you could go to a meet up for freelancers, or you could do something that you really enjoy, like dance classes or going to a book club. Whatever it is, it’s a good idea to put yourself out there, so that you don’t fall into the habit of becoming a little reclusive. There are plenty of other freelancers who will be in the same boat, so don’t feel alone here!

So, if you want to stay sane as a work-from-home whizz, then keep these things in mind!