How to Look After Your Mental Health as a Freelancer
The best way to protect your mental health is to understand what things could impact it and then put measures in place to prevent or manage them.
Note: In this article, I’m going to look at ways to manage some of the most common causes of stress and anxiety for freelancers but if you are suffering from severe anxiety, depression, or stress, you should seek professional support.
Freelancing is hard. If it wasn’t, everyone would be doing it.
Your income can fluctuate dramatically from one month to the next. A project you thought was in the bag can drop off at the last minute. And clients you thought would be a joy to work with can end up being a complete pain in the ass.
Then there’s the pressure of working for yourself – everything is on you. Every decision, every mistake, every success or failure. And it can be lonely, especially if you work from home by yourself.
So it’s no wonder so many freelancers end up anxious, stressed, or depressed.
But there is good news. There are things you can do to look after your mental health. To reduce the feelings of anxiety. To minimise stress. To avoid burnout. And to build a business that makes you happy.
The best way to protect your mental health is to understand what things could impact it and then put measures in place to prevent or manage them.
- Part 1: Reducing Uncertainty
- Part 2: Managing Self-Doubt
- Part 3: Dealing with Stressful Clients
- Part 4: Minimising Isolation and Loneliness
- Part 5: Avoiding Self-Neglect and Burnout
