6 Ways to Be a Happier Freelancer
Freelancing is a work style choice, so it is only fair that we can mold that style into a happy one. Being happy in one’s career is the only way to stay productive and keep moving forward. Of course, it is important regardless of productivity or success to love what your doing.
In this article, let’s look into six ways freelancers can be happier today, and can set up a way to be happier in the future of their work. You have the power to shape your own freelance business, so know that you always have the power to create a freelancing business that will make you want to get out of bed in the morning.
1. Write Down Your Perfect Work Day
Open up notepad or get out a pencil and paper. Write down, from detail to detail, what your perfect freelancing day is. What had you always imagined it would be? Be detailed from the time you wake up, to the time you take breaks, and to the time you work on client projects, blog, or your own personal projects. Write down if you want to work out at 1pm, and take lunch at 12pm. Write down if you want to go out with friends or family in the evening, having the freedom to do that.
Also, write down your perfect projects and perfect clients. What type of work do you want to be doing on your perfect day?
Create your perfect day in a very detailed hour-by-hour format. Then, strive everyday to make that perfect day a reality. If it’s not possible now because have too much work, not enough, or not the right kind of work, then always be looking for ways to fix those problems and slowly work into your perfect freelance day.
2. Set Up a Budget for Success
One of the more unhappy things about going freelance is the large fall in income the first several months (or years). Happiness isn’t money, but being forced to change your lifestyle and life on less because of freelancing isn’t always fun either. It doesn’t matter if you make six figures, but set up a successful budget to know how much you need to live comfortably. Set up a budget that let’s you buy the food you need and want, has the leisure money you want, and can pay the bills at the end of each month with a bit of extra savings.
Know how much you need to work and dedicate to your business in order for this to happen. Every freelancer may feel overworked at first to meet these goals, but the more efficient you get at running a business and doing the work you do, the more your income rises and your hours fall back into a comfortable pace.
3. Donate Time and/or Money to Charity
It’s been proven — helping others or helping organizations you believe in can make you happier. Take advantage of the fact that you own your own business, and donate some of your revenue to a charity of your choice. For many countries, the donations are tax refundable at the end of the year.
If you can’t afford to donate a portion of your income just yet, then donate some time to help out! Freelancers are always looking for an excuse to get out of the home, and looking for places to clear their heads. When everyone else is working and you aren’t, take time out of your day to help out at the local shelter, animal shelter, or otherwise. Or, get involved with an organization that will give you the responsibility to donate your time (i.e. be a girl/boy scout leader).
4. Outsource and Become More Efficient
After you’ve built up a steady client base and officially have too much on your plate, don’t use this time to become overstressed and overworked. Instead, outsource all of the work you don’t like to do, and take on even more! You’ve just made your business more efficient, more profitable, and easier to handle.
Knowing that you can always outsource, never stop marketing. Always be growing your freelance business and becoming a better business person.
5. Travel
Travel for inspiration, motivation, and some quality relaxing time. Freelancers have the power to still maintain an income while on the road, so use this to your advantage! Unlike traditional workers, there does not have to be any extra saving up to take time off of work, no consequences of being away from the office, and no set work hours to abide by.
If you are a lone freelancer, meaning no kids that need to stay around school and no spouse that needs to stay around a job, then get smart about your traveling. Many long-term travelers take advantage of short-term leases, and pay rent for 3-6 months while working abroad. Living like a local in pre-furnished apartment is cheaper than several days in a hotel by far. A three month stay in Costa Rica for about the same price as living in America? Yes please!
6. Be a Hard Worker, but Not an Obsessed Worker
Being a freelancer is about being responsible. A freelancer must know how much and how hard to work in order to maintain the lifestyle they deserve, but at the same time not work themselves to death and unhappiness.
What many new freelancers, or those dreaming of the freelance lifestyle, do not understand is that freelancing is not about cutting your work hours in half and having a vacation day, every day. Even the freelancers and business owners that do have the financial means to do that, don’t do that. The point is, people work, and people like to work. It’s in our nature, and getting in a lazy slump can only bring on long-term depression and unhappiness.
Know how to stay productive, but don’t get too obsessed with your new business so that you’re working 14 hour days. Find a good balance, and stick to it.
How do you stay happy?
How to you remain a happy freelance worker? What do you do when you become too stressed, and how do you avoid becoming too stressed?
Sometimes I set up something at 7pm (aperitive, dinner out). So I know that time to work is bound. Otherwise it’s easy to work until 9pm, to do more or less the same amount of work!
I’m definitely the same way! I tend to overwork myself with no real productivity, which only hurts me in the long-run because I’m fatigued by the next day. That’s a good tip to make plans at your stopping time to enforce it.