Being a freelancer comes with a lot of perks. You get to be your own boss, make your own hours, and work from anywhere in the world. But with all of these freedoms comes a greater responsibility to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
After all, when you’re your own boss, it’s easy to get caught up in work and let the rest of your life fall by the wayside.
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to be a productive freelancer. Here are a few tips for achieving work-life balance as a freelancer.
Tips for Achieving Work-Life Balance as a Freelancer
1. Set Boundaries
One of the most important things you can do for your mental health is to set boundaries between work and the rest of your life. That means setting regular working hours and sticking to them. It also means taking breaks throughout the day and unplugging from work when you’re not working. Just because you’re working from home doesn’t mean you have to be available 24/7.
If you have kids, make sure you’re spending quality time with them when you’re not working. And if you don’t have kids, make sure you’re still making time for your loved ones. It’s easy to get so caught up in work that you forget about the people who matter most to you.
2. Get Dressed for Work
When you’re working from home, it can be tempting to just roll out of bed and start working in your pajamas. But getting dressed for work (even if you’re just changing into different pajamas) can help put you in the right mindset to be productive.
Confident dressing like a boss can really elevate your productivity levels.
3. Create a Workspace
If possible, create a dedicated workspace in your home that’s just for work. This will help you stay focused when you’re working and make it easier to transition into “relaxation mode” when you’re done for the day. Try to have a chair and desk that are comfortable enough to work in for long periods of time. Keep the things away that distract you.
Create a comfortable and peaceful environment that can help you power through your work.
4. Choose a Co-Working space
If you find that working from home is too distracting, try working from a co-working space. This can help you get out of the house and into a more professional environment. And if you need to take a break, there are usually other people around to talk to.
Co-working space is beneficial and proves productive for freelancers. Different communities can be found in a co-working space which can help one feel less alone and more motivated.
In co-working spaces, you will have networking opportunities, can learn from the people around you and build a collaborative environment. Such spaces will make you competent enough to achieve your goals.
5. Schedule Breaks
Working non-stop is not only unsustainable, but it’s also unproductive. Make sure to schedule breaks throughout the day so that you can take some time to move your body, grab a snack, or just take a few deep breaths.
6. Stay Connected
Just because you’re working from home doesn’t mean you have to feel isolated. There are plenty of ways to stay connected with other people, whether it’s through video calls, social media, or good old-fashioned face-to-face conversation.
7. Get Outside
Whenever possible, take your work outside. Getting some fresh air and vitamin D can do wonders for your energy levels and overall mood.
8. Make Time for Yourself
It’s important to schedule time for yourself, even if it’s just half an hour each day. This is time that you can use however you want, whether it’s for reading, writing, exercising spending time with friends or family, or just taking some time to relax.
9. Keep a Routine
Maintaining some sort of daily routine can help anchor your day and make it feel more normal amidst all the chaos. Wake up at the same time each day, eat meals at regular intervals, and go to bed at roughly the same time each night.
10. Set Priorities
There will always be more tasks on your plate than there are hours in the day. That’s why it’s important to set priorities and focus on what’s most important each day or week.
Of course, this will vary depending on what deadlines you have looming or what projects are taking up most of your attention—but trying to do everything all at once is a recipe for burnout.
11. Take Care of Your Physical & Mental Health
Finally, remember that your physical and mental health should always be a top priority—no matter how busy you are. The workload can always wait, but your health can’t. Due to continuous work, anxiety and stress have become a part of our lives. So, it is important to take care of your mental health by doing things you enjoy, staying active, and spending time with loved ones.
Make sure to schedule time for exercise, healthy eating, relaxation techniques like yoga or meditation; or whatever makes YOU feel good.
12. Unplug from work when you’re not working
When you’re not working, it’s important to unplug from work completely. This means no checking your work email, no working on projects, and no thinking about work at all. It might seem like a tall order, but it’s important to have some time each day that’s totally dedicated to relaxation and rejuvenation.
Conclusion
Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is essential for anyone—but it can be especially challenging for freelancers who don’t have set hours or workplace boundaries. By following these simple tips, you can achieve a better work-life balance as a freelance. Just remember: take things one step at a time and don’t try to do everything all at once. Creating a healthy balance takes time and effort but it is so worth it in the end.
