It is not always easy being a freelancer. I’ve been freelancing full time for over fourteen years. For many people who have gone down this road though, they might feel they made sacrifices in order to feel freedom. Of course, the life of a freelancer comes with many ups and downs. From financial concerns to getting the next client, it can be a big battle to contend with. One of the biggest battles we might have as a freelancer is with ourselves. Anxiety is not uncommon amongst freelancers. This can be for the very obvious reason that they don’t know where the next contract is coming from. It can also be down to not having a good work/life balance. Reducing freelancer anxiety is not easy, but is achievable.
Reducing Freelancer Anxiety: The Right Supplies
Learning to look after your health is about making sure you have the right practices. When we work at home the temptation to snack on unhealthy foods is right there. But when we are constantly fuelling ourselves with the wrong things, it can fuel our anxieties. A very good example is if you are someone who is slightly intolerant to gluten. There’s research that shows gluten to cause mild depression, and this is due to the inflammation the body creates. Reassessing your diet is crucial, but it’s also important to think about the things that will keep you going throughout the day
. Having the right supplies in terms of the right nutrients will make a massive difference. A Vitamin D supplement is the first port of call, but there are also other things that may help to reduce your anxiety. CBD gummies can be a little snack that gives you a dose of cannabidiol which can help you feel calmer. Giving yourself the right supplements is a little thing, but it can be paramount to your overall health.
Reducing Freelancer Anxiety: Focus on Financial Security
Being a freelancer can be about financial concerns. And for many, learning how to save money can feel like an impossible task. But this might be where you need to get the balance right. Financial concerns versus our feeling of freedom as a freelancer is a battle that will always rear its head. There has to be times when we need to take a good look at our finances and see if we can focus on making ourselves secure in this respect.
If we focus on getting ourselves financially secure, this will give us more freedom to pursue the things that we are passionate about. There is no shame in doing a part-time job, especially in this climate, but some people feel that they cannot go and do a regular job because it will take them away from their passion. It’s about getting that balance right. Giving yourself the focus and task of earning money in the short-term so you can pursue your dreams is a worthy pursuit.
Reducing Freelancer Anxiety: A Daily Practice
Stress is a daily occurrence for many freelancers which is why you need to have a daily practice to reduce your anxieties. If you feel that 80% of being a freelancer is fantastic but there’s that 20% that can tip you over the edge, learning how to keep yourself calm in those situations is about conducting a daily practice that will greatly reduce your perception of stressful situations.
One of the simple things that we can all do is deep breathing, as this can take up ten minutes in the morning before we start our day and it can start us off on the right foot. Learning to feel calm when you go into stressful situations will also make you feel stronger and will gradually over time increase your confidence, which is crucial to winning those all-important contracts. I completed a mindfulness diploma in 2017 and this has made a significant difference to my anxiety levels.
Know Your Barriers to Promote Reducing Freelancer Anxiety
We all need to know when we’ve hit our limit. As a freelancer, we can feel that we are constantly on the go as we may feel that if we stop working then it will dry up. Everybody feels this at some point, but you have to focus on your health first and foremost. As a freelancer, we can get into this frame of mind where it is all about the work. But when there is no barrier between work life and home life everything becomes muddled. Understanding where your limits lie is crucial. And this is where working your freelance life as if it is a nine-to-five job will serve you in good stead. That way, it gives you the opportunity to step away from the computer and focus on other aspects of your life which will, in turn, reduce any sensation of anxiety.
