The growth of the internet has opened up many doors for freelancers. No longer do you have to deal with annoying commutes, foul-tempted bosses, and other issues. However, freelancing comes with its own set of challenges. One of the biggest is the temptation to work too hard or too long and end up burning out. That’s why you should consider the tips below to help prevent this from happening.
Take Regular Breaks To Do Something Fun
All work and no play will have you burning out in no time. Scheduling time for leisure and relaxation is just as important as scheduling time for work. You should always build breaks into your routine so that you can take your mind off work. A good way is to take a 30-minute break every couple of hours. You can use this time to read, make a meal, play a game on Big Samo, or even get in a quick workout.
Don’t Take On More Work Than You Can Handle
It can be tempting to take on as much work as possible so that you can maximize your earning. Of course, this is another surefire way to burn out fast. You should be aiming to get a few good clients that allow you to live comfortably rather than working around the clock. You may also find that trying to do too much work brings down your quality. Failing to maintain quality can actually lose you clients in the long run and even cause you to earn less. So as the old saying goes “don’t bite off more than you can chew.”
Maintain Your Social Life
A benefit of freelancing is that you don’t have to drag yourself to your cubicle and deal with office politics. On the other hand, your social life may take a dive. That why it’s important to maintain connections with the friends that you do have. It can be tempting to work as much as possible but don’t neglect the important people in your life. Loneliness and social isolation can also lead to burn out.
Outsource
A trick if you do find yourself with too much work from time to time is to outsource it. You probably don’t want to outsource work from a client that expects the highest quality. However, if you have any lower paying work that doesn’t need to be as high quality, then you may want to outsource it (for less than the clients paying you). Just make sure you check it for errors before submitting. You don’t want to lose a client for a silly mistake.
Take A Holiday
If you have been grinding hard for months (or years!), then it may be time for a holiday. In fact, a break for one or two weeks can completely revitalize you. Once you return, you will be able to work much more effectively.
Final Thoughts
You don’t want to burn out and see your freelancing dreams crumble. Getting enough rest is just as important as working hard. That’s why you should start incorporating some of these tips to make the chances of burning out as low as possible.
