There’s some good news and some bad news here. The bad news is that loneliness is a problem a lot of freelancers have to deal with, especially when they’re just starting out and haven’t built up their network yet. But the good news is that you’re not alone in your loneliness!
First thing first, let’s get to understand the meaning of these terms.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Embrace virtual networking and communication. |
| Join freelancer communities and online forums. |
| Consider coworking spaces for social interaction. |
| Prioritize self-care to maintain emotional well-being. |
| Engage in hobbies and activities outside of work. |
What Does It Feel To Be Lonely?
Lonely is a feeling, but it’s also a state of being. When you’re lonely, you feel both emotionally and physically isolated from other people and the world around you. You feel like you’ve got nowhere to turn and no one to turn to. But this isn’t always necessarily true!
You can be lonely even if you’re surrounded by people, or if you’re in a room with someone else. You can be lonely when your phone is blowing up with messages from friends, or when it’s not.
You can be lonely in a big city or in the middle of the woods. You can be lonely when people are asking for your time and attention all day, or when you haven’t had any human interaction for days.
What does it feel like to be lonely? It feels like mushy peas—it’s just kind of… there, always lingering and filling up space inside of you.
Building a successful freelance career without in-person meetings is achievable. Check out our article on how to be a successful freelancer without ever meeting anyone to discover tips for virtual networking and communication.
Why Do Freelancers Feel Lonely
Do you feel lonely as a freelancer? You’re not alone. Being a freelancer can be a lonely job, even if you’re in the middle of a bustling city. Many people don’t understand what it’s like to be a freelancer, and they probably can’t empathize with your struggles. However, there are ways that you can overcome loneliness and use it to your advantage.
Here are 14 reasons why freelancers feel lonely:
1. You Don’t Have Any Coworkers
Freelancers work alone, which means they don’t have anyone to talk to during the day. This can be very isolating for some people who need more social interaction than others.
2. Your Friends And Family Don’t Understand What You Do For Work
If you tell your friends or family about being a freelancer, they might not really know what exactly that means or how it works. They might think it’s all fun and games until they realize how much work goes into being successful in this field! You could find yourself explaining details over again because most of them will never go online just so they can see for themselves how much time one needs to spend on their blog or website each day before everything starts making sense
3. They Miss Their Office Friends
If you’ve worked in an office environment for any length of time and then suddenly find yourself working from home, you might find yourself missing the chatter of your coworkers and the social interaction of your lunch break.
Embracing freelancing can help reduce the fear of missing out on valuable life experiences. Learn more about how freelancing helps people in reducing the fear of missing out in our insightful blog post.
4. They Feel Isolated From The World
When you’re in an office environment and take breaks with your colleagues or go out to lunch with them, you get to interact with people who are outside your inner circle and learn more about life in general. When you work from home, that isn’t so easy to do.
5. They Lack The Motivation To Go Out And Make New Friends
You know those friends you made in college that you never really see anymore because they live far away? Maybe it’s time to reconnect with them and make new friends!
6. You’re Probably Not Getting Much Feedback From Your Clients Either.
When you’re working with someone remotely, it’s likely that they won’t give you much direction or feedback on what they think about what you’re doing—and the lack of positive reinforcement can make anyone feel lonely and discouraged.
7. They Lack Inspiration
When people first go freelance, they usually do so as a means to an end—that end being their ideal work situation. But until they get there, they’re on their own time and working for themselves, in charge of their own hours and projects.
Without someone else to guide them or put them on the right track, it can be hard for new freelancers to figure out what exactly it is that they should be doing. If you find yourself feeling lost or unsure about where to turn next, know that you’re not alone!
Struggling to find clients as a freelancer can be discouraging, but don’t lose hope. Our article on what to do if you’re a freelancer that is looking for clients but not getting any offers valuable strategies to improve your client acquisition.
8. They Have No One To Learn From
Freelancers have this amazing opportunity to take control of their own education and learning process. And without the structure of a day-to-day job where other people are dictating what you need to learn next, we often forget that acquiring new knowledge is crucial for our growth as professionals and individuals. If you’re not learning anything new on an ongoing basis, how are you growing?
9. Their Work-Life Balance Is Off
When you don’t have other people around to ask for help, it can be hard to maintain a healthy work-life balance. You might find yourself working long hours just to keep up with client demands and deadlines, or forcing yourself to take time off even when you’ve got a lot on your plate.
10. They Don’t Get Personal Satisfaction From Their Work
If you feel like your job doesn’t have an impact on the world around you, it’s easy to feel lonely and powerless. That’s why freelancers who provide services for a wide variety of clients are more likely to feel lonely than people who work for one business over a long period of time. It can be hard to see how your work has meaning or is making a difference when it feels like it has no bearing on anything outside of the freelancer-client relationship.
11. They Have A Hard Time Networking Online
Freelancers who work alone may struggle to find people to connect with online. It’s hard for them to meet new people because they don’t have coworkers or classmates to introduce them.
They might also be reluctant to put themselves out there on social media because they worry about being judged by potential clients or other professionals in their industry.
This makes it harder for them to make friends with like-minded people in their area, such as other freelancers who work from home or with similar interests outside of work—and this lack of connection can lead to feelings of loneliness.
12. The Lack Of A Consistent Routine
Without a “normal” work schedule, it’s easy for your routine to feel off-kilter. A great way to combat this is to set up a routine that fits your lifestyle but stays consistent from day to day—even if it’s just setting aside time for breakfast each morning, or making sure you go for a walk every day at 1 pm.
Embarking on freelancing for the first time can be overwhelming, but with the right guidance, you can succeed. Discover 11 essential tips for freelancing beginners to kickstart your freelance career.
13. Their Salary Is Not Consistency
If you have just started out as a freelancer or if you’re struggling to get regular work, your income will be inconsistent. If your income is inconsistent then this could cause depression and anxiety which in turn causes loneliness as well as problems with motivation.
14. Hard To Get The Client
Finding new clients is really essential for freelancers. When you don’t find a client and don’t have an ongoing project, this can make you feel depressed and lonely. You have to be patient and hardworking enough to find new clients on time.
Loneliness Can Affect Your Health In The Long Run
Well, let’s look at an article from SAGE Journals or the answers!
The article says that “feelings of loneliness and social isolation can be harmful to our health: increasing our risk of premature mortality by 26%.” This means that feeling lonely can be more harmful to your health than smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
Not only does it increase your chances for premature death (or death before you expected), but “people who feel lonely tend to report higher levels of perceived stress even when exposed to the same stressors as non-lonely people.” This means that if you’re feeling lonely, everything will seem worse than it actually is.
The article also found that “social isolation is twice as unhealthy as obesity.” So people who are obese are less likely to suffer long-term health consequences than someone who feels socially isolated.
13 Ways To Avoid Feeling Lonely As A Freelancer
But there are some easy ways you can avoid feeling lonely, even if you work remotely, or live in a rural area. Here are my favorite ways to avoid loneliness as a freelancer:
1. Join Or Host A Meet-Up!
There are meet-ups for pretty much every interest imaginable (or unimaginable), so if you just search on Meetup.com, you’ll find something that fits your interests and is conveniently located nearby. You can also host one yourself if there aren’t many options near you.
2. Get Out Of Your House
If you’re feeling particularly down about the amount of time you spend alone, it might be time to take advantage of all the public spaces in your area. Libraries, bookstores, coffee shops, and restaurants are all great places to get some work done while still meeting people who share your interests—just make sure that you talk to them!
3. Find A Community Of Freelancers In Your Area
Even if you’re writing code for clients in Australia and painting murals for people in Japan, find other individuals who are self-employed near you and get together once a week or month to talk about what’s going on in each other’s careers.
If you can’t find one, start one! Call up local freelancers who work in the same industry as you do and offer to host the first meet-up at your home or office—it’ll help break the ice and give everyone an excuse not to be shy.
4. Find A Friend
Find a few friends who aren’t freelancers and make plans with them regularly (weekly or monthly) so that you’re not just talking about business all the time; this way they’ll also have other things going on besides work which will give them more perspective on life than just their own career path.
5. Go To The Gym
Or do some other exercise) every day after work – this helps get rid of stress while also making sure that you’re physically active enough to keep yourself healthy; plus it gives you something else to look forward to besides just sitting at home.
6. Join A Local Coworking Space
If you’re not sure where to start looking, just google “coworking space” and your city. A quick search for “coworking space San Francisco” pulled up 16 different options in my area.
5. Go To The Library
Doing work or just reading in a public place can help get you out of your comfort zone. It’s also a great way to passively socialize with other people who are looking for something to do. If you’re lucky, it might even lead to some collaboration!
Prioritizing work-life balance is crucial for freelance professionals. Explore our blog post on how freelancing is changing how we work and live to understand the importance of managing time and maintaining well-being in the freelance world.
6. Host A Dinner Party Or Potluck Once A Month
This will give you something to look forward to every month and ensure that you’re regularly spending time with others. Even if your friends don’t do what you do, they can still be valuable sources of support.
7. Get A Dog Who You Can Walk And Play With!
Having a dog will give you another being to care for and can make your apartment feel more lively. And walking your dog is a great social activity: people love dogs! You’ll get more opportunities to talk to strangers than ever before.
8. Volunteer At Your Local Animal Shelter
If you aren’t able to have a dog because of your work schedule, or if you just want more dogs in your life, volunteering at an animal shelter is a great way to interact with pets while still being around other people.
9. Go On Dates
Get out of the house by scheduling coffee or lunch with someone. You can ask a friend to meet up with you, or you can use this time to have a quick business meeting with a client or potential client. Even just getting out of the house for an hour will help!
10. Start A Side Hustle
If you find yourself getting lonely, start something new! Make something and sell it online, or take up a hobby and see if you can make any money from it. Not only will it help to keep loneliness at bay, but it might turn into something profitable!
11. Talk To Yourself (It’s Okay)
Sometimes, there’s nothing wrong with having a conversation with yourself out loud. It’ll help you practice speaking clearly and will help keep you company, even if no one else is around.
12. Create A Comfortable Work Environment For Yourself
Set up your home workspace in a way that makes you feel like you’re in an office—with a desk, computer, and anything else that might make you feel more connected.
13. Treat Yourself!
When you feel the loneliness creeping in, don’t let it win. Take yourself out to lunch or buy yourself something nice that can sit at your desk and remind you of how much you’re worth!
Final Thoughts
Everyone needs a sense of belonging, even if it’s just to their coworkers. When you’re a freelancer, however, you don’t have the benefit of seeing your coworkers every day. That’s why I’ve collected these tips that can help set the groundwork for a happier and more fulfilled freelancing career.
Further Reading
10 Ways to Overcome Loneliness as a Freelancer: Discover effective strategies to combat loneliness and stay connected while working as a freelancer.
Freelancer Loneliness: How to Cope and Connect: Learn valuable tips on coping with loneliness and fostering meaningful connections in the freelance world.
Dealing with Freelancer Loneliness: Strategies for a Happier Work Life: Explore strategies to improve your well-being and happiness as a freelancer by addressing feelings of loneliness.
People Also Ask
How Can I Tell If I’m Lonely?
Are you finding yourself longing for an office job? Are you feeling like something is missing in your life? Are you feeling isolated or without purpose? That might be loneliness talking.
How Do I Get Over The Feeling Of Being Lonely?
The best way to get over feeling lonely is to take a step back and be gentle with yourself. Remind you that this is a new experience, and time will make it easier. Try to engage in activities like yoga and meditation that can help you check in with your feelings and practice self-care. If you’re still struggling, reach out for help—whether it’s tagging a friend in a post on social media, or finding a therapist to talk to.
How Do I Find Other Freelancers?
It’s hard to find other freelancers when you’re working from home, but it’s not impossible! Look for local meetups or co-working spaces where you can go and network with others, even if just for an hour or so. If there are no meetups or co-working spaces around you for freelancers, consider starting your own! You can create a Facebook group where people can discuss their work and encourage each other.
What Are The Symptoms Of Freelancer Loneliness?
The most common symptoms are:
- Feeling like you haven’t talked to a real person in days (weeks?)
- Forgetting what day it is
- Saying goodbye to your family and then realizing they’re not leaving for the day—you just haven’t changed out of your pajamas
- Staring at your dog and realizing that even he’s bored with you
- Losing all sense of time, both when it comes to the current time and how long ago things happened (was that a month ago or last week?)
Why Do I Feel Lonely As A Freelancer?
Freelancers are often working at home, which can be isolating. There aren’t many opportunities to socialize with others or even talk with anyone throughout the day. As a freelancer, you may not have co-workers, and it can be easy for days (or even weeks) to go by without having any real human interaction. This constant feeling of isolation is bound to cause some feelings of loneliness.
I’m Feeling Lonely. What Do I Do?
It’s normal to feel lonely sometimes. This can be especially true for freelancers, who are often working from home, or from coffee shops or other public spaces without a community to support them.
At those times, the internet can be a great resource for connecting with others who share your interests and your passions. There are tons of online communities that offer all sorts of support, whether you’re looking for people to chat with or just want some advice on getting started in a new field.
How Can I Find New Friends?
A great way to find friends is through local meetups. Meetup has a huge variety of events around the country, including ones for fellow freelancers & remote workers. If there isn’t one near you, consider starting your own group!
Does Having Pets Help?
Absolutely! Pets are amazing companions, but they may not be enough if you’re truly in need of human interaction. Make sure to strike a healthy balance between caring for your pet and making time for friends.
I’m A Freelancer And I Feel Super Lonely?
This is totally normal! It’s hard to be a freelancer and not feel like you’re missing out on workplace bonding and watercooler chats.
I’m Feeling Disconnected From My Family, Especially My Children. What Can I Do?
We know that’s a tough one, and we promise it does get better as time goes on. It might be helpful to find ways to incorporate your family into your workday—especially if you have children. When you set up your workspace, try making it in a common area where you’ll be able to see your kids playing or doing homework throughout the day.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.