We all hear a lot of great things about being a freelancer: ability to travel and work anywhere in the world, more time to spend with your family and friends, and even better pay. But although all these are true, there is another side to the freelance lifestyle that very few people talk about.
Freelancers can get caught up in loads of work and even though we are in control of our time and work conditions, most times we find ourselves spending almost 12 hours a day working!
Working long hours to get your freelance projects done may get you a lot of clients and more projects, but in the end you won’t have time to do the things you enjoy doing.
Here are 5 ways you can switch off work as a freelancer.
- Take the weekends off
Now this is so hard. I can’t remember the last time I took a full weekend off. I usually try to catch up on more work over the weekends when it is quiet but I know I should try to switch off work more often. So going forward, I will be dedicating an entire day in the week (most likely a weekend) where I won’t do any work. Everything that needs doing would be automated, and everything else like emails and the works would have to wait.
Taking time off keeps you refreshed and relaxed. And you can use that time to do things that you love.
- Have a schedule and stick to it
The fact that you work at home (or anywhere you want to work) doesn’t mean that you can’t give yourself office hours. As a freelancer, you’re also a business owner.
Create a schedule and stick to it. Make sure you include the time you start work and the time you close from work. When you plan your time this way, you’ll always have time to dedicate to other activities that are important to you too. Getting your head buried in work will only make you feel overwhelmed and stressed out. Trust me, I had to learn this the hard way.
- Make breaks non-negotiable
No matter how much work you have, you need to give yourself a break. If your freelance work is such that you can’t take the day off, you need to at least give yourself some time off.
For every hour you work give yourself a 20-30 minute break. Use that time to take a walk, grab a drink at your favourite coffee shop or simply take a power nap. Whatever you do during that time should be something that will give you the opportunity to take a breather.
- Set clear cut boundaries
The main reason why you spend hours working is because you have so many clients to attend to. You can’t take up every job offered to you. You need to learn how to say “no” when you have more work than you can handle.
It’s so much better to cut down on the workload than to take on more clients and struggle to fulfill their orders.
- Give yourself some personal time
As a freelancer you may have the tendency to forgo the time you would have spent for some personal time. Don’t let your work rob you off the time to enjoy your own company. Setting aside time to for yourself, will give you the chance to switch off work.
Take time meditate, pamper yourself or simply devote to developing your mind. Just a few minutes spent doing something that will make you happy and fulfilled will make all the difference in the world.
How do you switch off work?
I’m not very good at doing this I must admit. I should try and keep weekends free but I can’t turn down work at the moment
I know. It is hard..
Some great tips, I think it is so important that you do not let your work life take over personal time. We all need a break xx
Yea we all do. Thanks Cathy x
personal time is something we all need. it’s just trying to find that time, that balance
Yea it can be tricky.
It can be so hard learning to switch off but it is definitely such an important thing to do.
Yea it can be hard..
I am totally and utterly useless at switching off, I just never know when to stop x
It can be very hard for me too x
I don’t blog over the weekends. Used to blog from Mondays-Fridays. But cut that down to MWF, unless there’s an important post to publish. It’s important to do this, especially for us mums, isn’t it? Family time is more important 🙂
Family time is very important indeed.
I wish I could switch off.
Hopefully these tips will do well for me especially since I will have 2 little dudes to look after soon.
Actually make that 2 little and 1 big dude 😀
Charlotte x
It can be very hard with a family. I know how tough it can be.
Super advice. I switch off from work by going shopping or having a bath! But my favourite way is to sit in front of the telly with a packet of sweets watching TV!
Same here. Love my Netflix.
These are great tips and definitely ones I should implement myself more
Thanks..
I really struggle to switch off sometimes, especially as I have to work around three young kids, so it means working late into the night sometimes! Some really good tips here
Thanks Rachel.
I am not so much a freelancer and an unpaid full time carer, so I think some of these are tips I should follow. I can’t take a weekend off but I am going to schedule a couple of hours out of the home this weekend.
Ah nice. Good to schedule some me time.
It was. I even dressed up in girl clothes for a change!
Oh good..It is needed every now and again.
This is such a useful post, and you make some great points xx
Thanks xx
This is such good advice, very often I’ll find the boundaries blurring and be working until midnight or waking up on a Sunday morning and reaching for my laptop. Forcing myself to take breaks really helps too. x
Yea it does x
I needed to read this today. I’ve been struggling with a work life balance. Some very good points especially scheduling breaks and taking the weekend off. Thanks for sharing x
Thanks for reading Kerry x
Its true, I work my main job and in my breaks I do my blog and deal with clients, come home sometimes early in the morning and still work when I get back. I need to learn how to switch off too.
It is hard sometimes but needed.
This is something I really struggle with. I’ve tried having a set ‘day off’ each week or stopping at a certain time but never manage to stick with it. Something I need to do better in 2017, I think!
Yea me too..
Fab tips here! It’s so easy to let the work take over isn’t it? Family time is so very important x
Yea it is Jayne x
some great tips.. its so easy to let work to take over,, esp when your freelancing
Yea it is.
These are great tips. I need to follow some of these. I keep trying to switch off but I always have so manythings I need/want to do. I am going to take a nice break at Christmas 🙂
Yea me too. Can’t wait.
Since working from home, this is something I really struggle with! I tend to stay up late working – as I’m most productive in the evenings – and then sleep in in the morning. I always faff about before settling down to work too. Once I get going, I’m fine, but until I’m in the zone I get so distracted x
Yea I know what you mean Lousie. I find it hard to settle down to work some days x
As a single mum of four, and a freelancer, I just cannot and do not take time off. I never know when an offer of work may come in. Your post is so right though! Great tips. Kaz x
Thanks Kaz xx
This is such great advice! I think it’s so important to switch off because you need to be able to just come from work at some point. I know many freelancers who often take mini weekend breaks away.
Thanks Jazz.
I need to take on some of those for sure, I rarely take any breaks which i know is bad.
Yea it is Melanie..Breaks are needed.
I enjoyed this post and I agree it is so important to practice self-care when you are a freelancer. I am getting better at creating a schedule, although still working on actually sticking to it. My weekends tend to be full with socialising and family, so I focus on that and little much everything else. Your post is a gentle reminder to do better and looking after myself better. Thank you so much x
I think i need to print this I keep procrastinating and sometimes I dont know when to stop. x
Great thoughts! I look up to my husband, because he does all these so well. He’s been doing the self-employment thing for 8 years, while I just started last year. xoxo
Ah nice. Good luck with it all.
Thanks for your sharing.
Thanks for reading.