The Importance Of Self Care As A Freelancer
Too many freelancers neglect self care. They think they must be constantly available to clients and feel guilty if they aren't doing something productive.
Don't. Don't feel guilty.
You cannot give 100% to your clients if you're tired or ill or injured or anxious or stressed, or depressed. So you have to look after yourself. You have to take care of you. If you don’t, you’re not only risking your health, but you’re also doing a disservice to your clients.
Of course there will be days when you aren’t feeling 100% and you power through anyway. None of us operates at 100% all of the time. But you can limit these days by looking after yourself and setting boundaries.
Make time for exercise
If you’d have told me 20 years ago that I’d be exercising four to five times a week and running regularly, I’d have laughed in your face.
These days, I can’t imagine my life without regular exercise, and I genuinely don’t think I’d be able to deliver the quality of service I do if I didn’t make time for it.
I know it’s easy to neglect your fitness as a freelancer – trust me, there are plenty of days where I look for every possible excuse not to get those trainers on. But I make myself do it because I know there are so many benefits.
And I wholeheartedly recommend you make time for exercise too, because you and your business will be better for it.
Not only will you see the physical benefits, such as reducing the aches and pains, increasing strength and mobility, and combating fatigue. You'll also see mental benefits such as reduced stress and anxiety and a boost to your self-esteem (it always feels good to achieve something). Plus, getting some fresh air and a change of scenery can be great for clearing the brain fog and working through problems.
So make time for exercise. It could be a short walk each day, a visit to the gym twice a week, or doing your local Parkrun on a Saturday morning.
Stop working ridiculous hours
You do not have to be available twenty-four seven. Your clients coped just fine before they met you, and they can cope just fine if you don't reply to their email within 30 seconds.
The idea that your clients will go elsewhere if you aren't always on call is ridiculous. If your clients are that demanding, then you need better clients.
If you are constantly working long hours seven days a week, you will end up burnt out and miserable.
So set working hours that work for you. If you don't want to work after 6pm, then don't answer calls or read emails after 6pm. Tell your new clients that you aren't available after 6pm.
I know there will be some weeks where you have to put in extra hours, but it should be your choice. And I recommend having at least one laptop-free day per week because it's important to give your brain a break.
Take time off
Holidays are important to me. Part of why I wanted to work for myself was so I had the freedom to travel whenever I wanted. I take between two and five holidays per year, and I come back refreshed and raring to go.
But even if you are a real homebody, it's still important to take time off. When you're immersed in your business day after day, it's hard to see the big picture, and it's easy to burn out.
Taking time out to relax and refresh can help you come back to things with a fresh perspective, new ideas, and renewed motivation. It gives your subconscious time to work on things while your body and mind take a much-needed rest.
So plan for time off. Put a little money aside so you can afford not to work for a week or two. Let your clients know you're going to be away, and make adjustments so they still get the work they need from you. Automate your marketing so you still have a presence while you're away.
Your business won't go under just because you take a week off. And you can always give yourself twenty minutes a day to reply to any urgent emails if you need to.
Eat properly and stay hydrated
I'm not a nutritionist, but we all know that a diet of coffee and biscuits is not healthy. Neither is not eating at all.
Make time to eat properly. Prepare some healthy snacks and a proper lunch before you start work if you need to. Fill a bottle of water and have it within easy reach.
And don't eat your lunch at your desk. You can afford to take twenty minutes off to sit and eat your lunch away from the laptop, so do it.
I take a coffee break around 10-10:30. I sit with my coffee and do a row of knitting. Then I take between thirty and sixty minutes for lunch (depending how long I need to prepare it). I also take a short break mid-afternoon to have a cup of tea or some fruit and move around a bit so I don't get stiff and sore. And I have a big beaker of water next to me at all times.
A good diet will help you stay more alert and focused. And you're less likely to have sugar spikes and crashes throughout the day. Plus, the short breaks give you a break from the screen and get the blood flowing as you move around.
Do fun stuff
I love my work. Love what I do. But that doesn't mean I want to be doing it all the time. There's other stuff I enjoy doing too.
And I'm sure there's stuff you enjoy. So make time for it.
Whether it's curling up with a good book, knitting, cooking, exercising, binge-watching a box set, going to the cinema, doing puzzles, meeting friends, or spending time with family. Make time to do the things that bring you joy.
And if your business doesn't give you time to do the things you love, make some changes.
It is possible to build a business that works around you. I did it, and I can help you do it too.
Lisa Slater
