As a freelancer it can be easy to let work take over your life. With no set hours or anyone to tell you when to start and stop your work, it can be tempting to just keep going. While you might rake in more money this way, it can be at a cost to your mental health. This is why you need to take care of yourself and work out a better balance than just working all the time. If you find yourself suffering from work-related stress, not taking part in activities you once enjoyed and working all the time, it could be that you’ve burnt yourself out. To avoid this, we’ve put together some top tips for a better work life balance.
4 Tips For A Better Work Life Balance
Learn To Say No To Jobs
As a freelancer, it can be tempting to always say yes to the work that comes your way as you want to ensure you have enough money coming in. This can end up being counter-productive as you might not have time to complete it. Instead, only say yes to the jobs you have time to do and charge more for the work you do.
Take Breaks Throughout The Day
If you find your focus is waning and you’re not being as productive as you’d like, make sure to take breaks. This can help reset your mind, lower your stress levels and improve the work you’re doing. Whether this is stopping for lunch, a coffee or a walk round the block, it’s sure to help.
Prioritise Time With Friends And Family
Make sure to schedule in time to see your friends and family. Work is important, but it’s also vital you spend time with loved ones to keep yourself feeling happy and your mental health in a good place. Whether you decide to give them a call, video them on FaceTime or visit them for lunch, you’ll feel a lot better after. It can also be a great time to offload anything playing on your mind and have time away from a screen.
Make Time For Self Care
When you work for yourself, it’s easy to forget to have fun or to relax. Carve time out in your schedule to just focus on yourself and what makes you happy and calm. This could be having a long bath and reading a book, taking a long walk or going to the gym. You could get your nails done or maybe go to the hairdressers. Whatever you choose, try and do something each day that makes you happy.
Conclusion
These are just a few things you can do to help yourself have a better work life balance. It’s important to have both in life, being able to complete your work and do what makes you happy. If you don’t, you can make yourself feel both mentally and physically unwell and be unable to enjoy life like you should. What are some top tips you have for a better work life balance? Let us know on Twitter.
