Work Life Balance for Freelancers in 2020
Freelancing is an amazing lifestyle for many people in 2020. Whether you’re freelancing online and using services like UpWork to get your next gig, or maybe you’re a massage therapist with a few clinics and spas that you service. It can be exhilarating to have the freedom to work when you want to and take time off when you’re ready for a break. But, with the freedom to take work when you want it, comes the anxiety of not having a steady paycheck. Here are some tips to improve your work life balance and make sure you’re getting the best of the freelance lifestyle.
Jenny Knizner from USAToday.com reminds us to set aside administrative time:
“As a business owner, you are not only responsible for the actual contracted work but also all the administrative, financial, business development, sales, and marketing tasks. Be sure that you schedule time in your work day to seek out future job opportunities, maintain client relationships, manage the books, schedule social media posts, maintain your website, and all those other fun tasks that are now yours. Schedule time for all these activities during the hours you want to be working, not during your “off-hours.””
Set yourself up for success – and avoid burnout – by budgeting your time and money for the administrative side of your business. If you absolutely hate that sort of thing, think about hiring a Virtual Assistant or using specialized services like QuickBooks to make it easier and less time consuming. Remember, the reason you’re freelancing is to be your own boss and do what you love. If you don’t love doing your taxes, outsource it!
Lauren Sharkey from Bustle.com suggest treating yourself like an employee
When you are your company, it can be hard to distinguish between being an employer and employee. But several freelancers believe you should treat yourself like the latter. That means giving yourself benefits like a pension and learning to let things go at the end of the working day.
“Don’t be the boss from hell to yourself,” says Sara Teiger. “I’m only just learning after 17 years not to be a total tyrant.” If things go wrong, don’t beat yourself up about it. Remember that you’re only human and mistakes can often be easily fixed.
This is an important piece of advice, especially for the Type A perfectionists out there. Would you call your employee at 10pm to remind them that they put the wrong date on the mass email? I sure hope not! It’s hard to create work life balance when you’re constantly reminding yourself of ways you could have done better. Instead, treat yourself like an employee and give yourself reviews that include both your wins and your places for improvement. Over time, you’ll be able to let go of the little things and be able to focus on the big picture.
KalohHQ.com reminds us to socialize!
Freelancing can be an isolating experience, particularly if you do something fairly solitary, like writing. Meanwhile, engaging with other people is pretty important for mental health. A coworking space can be a good place to meet other freelancers and/or you can set up regular work dates with friends who are also freelancers. If you are home alone for most of the day, try to be proactive about making plans in the evening.
Having a work space and a home space is one of the most important things to do for those struggling with work life balance. Renting a full time office can be expensive and you’re still alone with your thoughts all day. Co-working spaces are the obvious solution to this and their popularity shows how great they really are. With a co-working space, you’re able to leave work for the day which gives you the physical and mental distance from your work day. You also get human interaction with other like-minded entrepreneurs!
Now that you’re ready to start taking your big idea to the next level, check out our co-working space here and claim your desk.