How Freelancing Led Me To Depression, Anxiety, and Burnout

There are so many great things about freelancing and working for yourself. You get to work when you want, where you want, and with whom you want. 

The downside is that being a self-employed solopreneur can be stressful, lonely, and downright depressing or anxiety-inducing at times. 

If you’re feeling the strain of freelancing or running your small business, you’re not alone and I’m here to tell you it’s not all in your head. 

While entrepreneurship can be great in many ways, it also brings its fair share of challenges that require a certain level of mental fitness to overcome. 

In this post, I’ll explore some signs that freelancing may be leading YOU down a dark path and what you can do about it!

Takeaways
1. Freelancing can have a significant impact on mental health.
2. The challenges of freelancing can contribute to depression and anxiety.
3. Burnout is a common risk for freelancers due to high workload and stress.
4. Understanding the signs of mental health issues is crucial for freelancers.
5. Seeking support and implementing self-care strategies is essential for maintaining well-being.
6. Balancing work and personal life is critical to prevent burnout.
7. Professional help and counseling can be beneficial for freelancers facing mental health challenges.
8. Prioritizing mental and physical health is necessary for long-term success in freelancing.
9. Awareness and open conversations about mental health are important within the freelancing community.
10. It’s crucial to take proactive steps to protect mental health and seek help when needed.

1. I Bought Into The Hype

You probably know that freelancing is a great way to work for yourself. It’s also a great way to make money, and it’s even a great way to be your boss! But I didn’t know that at first.

I bought into the hype that freelancing was the best thing ever because everyone around me was doing it. 

And they were doing it because they thought it would help them achieve their dreams of making money from home, being their boss, and working from anywhere in the world something we all want as freelancers, right?

Building a successful freelance career is not just about skills, it’s also about understanding your value. Learn why US freelancers charge higher rates than others in our article on why do US freelancers charge higher than others?

2. I Ignored The Warning Signs

If you’re like me and not in the habit of monitoring your mental health, it can be difficult to know when something’s wrong. 

When I first started freelancing, I was so busy that I didn’t have time to notice my warning signs. 

Even though they were there: anxiety attacks, depression, burnout – all of these things seemed normal because they matched up with what others around me were experiencing at their jobs as well.

When we’re working long hours at our jobs to get more done and make more money (or just survive), it becomes impossible for us to see the warning signs that our body gives us when something is off balance or out of whack.

3. I Worked Too Hard

I didn’t sleep enough, I didn’t eat enough, I didn’t exercise enough. I was always thinking about the next project and how to get more clients on the books. 

When work started to slow down and my bank account grew smaller with each passing month, it seemed like there was no other option than to keep pushing through until things picked up again.

When they did finally pick up again, it was more of the same but this time it came with a few new additions: stress headaches, anxiety attacks, and panic attacks that would strike out of nowhere when I least expected them (in January!). 

My social life disappeared completely as my friends were busy themselves building their careers or starting families and even though all these things were happening because of choices we had made together as adults…

It still felt like such an enormous loss at times that I couldn’t help but wonder if it was worth it at all?

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4. I Never Said No

Once you start accepting more projects or clients, it’s easy to get in the mindset that saying “no” isn’t an option. 

You know what they say about the business: The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Or something like that.

But here’s the thing: if your mental health is suffering because of your freelance work, it doesn’t matter how much money is coming in. 

You ultimately won’t be able to keep up with all your commitments and will end up quitting in a huff (or worse).

So when a client asks for something outside the scope of their original request or offers less pay than expected (even if it’s just $100), say no. 

Don’t feel bad about it either it’s not personal and doesn’t mean anything about your relationship with them or other potential jobs down the line. 

It’s just part of being a good freelancer who values their own time and sanity as much as their clients do theirs!

5. My Inboxes Were Full To Bursting

A few years ago, I was freelancing full-time and working as a copywriter at a marketing agency. One day I got an email from one of my favorite clients asking for help with their social media content. 

The problem? They had no idea what kind of tone or style to use for their posts.

I spent two hours answering questions and giving suggestions on which content would be best for them based on the brand they were trying to represent. 

And then another two hours creating different templates in our publishing tool so they could easily update their social media when needed. 

After all of that, I went home and reached into my inbox… only to find 14 unread emails!

The next morning, there were another 10 waiting for me; within two weeks, my inbox was at capacity every day (and still is).

6. I Didn’t Take Enough Time Out

Taking time out is a crucial part of staying healthy and preventing burnout. It’s important to remember that all work and no play make Jack a dull boy.

To make sure you don’t get too relaxed or stressed out, it’s best to take time out in small doses. 

Try taking one day off each week from working, but still answering emails and responding to messages etcetera because otherwise, people will think you’ve gone off the grid and run away with the circus! 

Or something like that. You could also try taking two days off each month, where you just do whatever makes you happy for 24 hours. 

Maybe this means binge-watching Friends on Netflix or going for a long walk in nature (if your location allows such things).

Or perhaps go out into nature every day for an hour or so? No matter how much time off we take from our lives as freelancers. 

They are usually busy ones full of commitments, responsibilities, and deadlines which can add up over time if left unchecked.

Before taking the leap into full-time freelancing, there are important factors to consider. Our article on 13 things to consider before you quit your day job provides valuable insights and practical tips to help you make an informed decision.

7. I Was So Invested In My Business That It Ruled Everything

I was so invested in my business that it ruled everything. My life, my health, and my relationships. 

I didn’t have a social life outside of the internet or any hobbies other than creating content for my website. 

I didn’t have time to go out with friends because I was working all day on client projects and then editing content for myself until 2 am every night.

I needed to make more money than freelancing could provide so I started looking into other ways to monetize my content. 

Launching courses, selling digital products, and doing paid speaking gigs (another post for another time). 

This led me down the path of burnout which caused me to stop creating anything at all just so that I could deal with depression and anxiety issues that had surfaced as a result of working myself into oblivion every single day since quitting my full-time job earlier in 2017!

8. I Believed Everyone Else’s Success Stories But Not My Struggle

If you can believe it, I once believed in my ability to succeed.

I had a different job before freelancing and I loved it. I was good at it, too! I was promoted often and worked my way up from an entry-level position to the executive level. 

When the company went through some restructuring, they tried to offer me another position but for less money than what I was making when I started there (more than 5 times less). 

The new position also required that I learn new skills that were outside of my comfort zone. 

The company didn’t believe in my ability to move into this new role and perform well at it a belief which became more apparent as time went on but here’s the thing: They were right!

It took me six months before being able to perform well enough at this job so that people didn’t notice how much stress or anxiety made their way into my day-to-day tasks anymore; 

By then though, no one cared because they’d already gotten rid of me. After all, having anxiety isn’t conducive to their culture? And this is when things got bad…

9. I Talked About Work All The Time

This one is a bit different from the others. I didn’t realize it at the time, but on a subconscious level, I was so invested in my business that it ruled everything. 

Including my relationships with other people. And because many freelancers talk about their businesses all of the time (and because I had already been doing this for so long), I didn’t notice just how much this was affecting me until later. 

I thought what everyone else was doing was easy compared to my journey and struggles as an entrepreneur who didn’t want or need help from anyone else (even if they took pride in helping other people).

I also knew that most people think that successful entrepreneurs are rich, happy, and living charmed lives. 

So when you tell them about your struggle, they feel sorry for you instead of seeing how much grit and determination goes into making things happen on your terms. 

It’s very easy to get lost in believing other people’s success stories when your struggles aren’t validated by anyone else around you.”

Balancing a full-time job and freelance writing can be challenging but rewarding. Explore our strategies on how to maintain a full-time job and freelance writing without losing your mind to find effective ways to manage your time and energy.

10. In Many Ways, My Business Was Me

I was so invested in my business that it ruled everything. There was no separation between me and my work, and that’s not an ideal situation for anyone. 

It meant that I couldn’t separate my life from work because there wasn’t a line between them and I didn’t see the difference between them at all.

As the business grew, so did its demands on me as an individual. I worked long hours while dealing with family issues, personal health issues, and other problems that cropped up during this period in my life (and still do). 

The pressure of these things began to weigh heavily on me, especially when combined with being constantly busy with work or thinking about work outside of normal working hours (i.e., not getting enough sleep).

Takeaway

What you should take away from this article is that there are many reasons why freelancing can lead to burnout, anxiety, and depression. 

Freelancing is a very individualized experience, so how you feel about it will depend on what’s going on in your life at the time (or even earlier).

If you’re considering starting a freelance career, then make sure that it’s for the right reasons and not just because of its perceived glamour. 

If you’re already freelancing then I’d recommend finding ways of managing your work-life balance as well as making sure your business keeps up with all legal requirements (including tax filing).

Freelancing and consulting require staying engaged and motivated. Discover the secrets to staying focused and productive with our guide on the 12 secret to staying engaged while freelancing or consulting, and unlock your full potential as a freelancer.

Conclusion

Freelancing can be a great way of working. It’s flexible, it offers opportunity and growth and it takes you out of the rat race. 

In many ways, my freelance business has been brilliant for me. The money, the freedom, the choice of clients I get to work with, the flexibility to work anywhere in the world – so much of it is amazing. 

But like I said at the start of this article – if you don’t have balance and perspective, there’s a high chance that freelancing will lead to burnout. 

And when you’re burned out but still forced to show up for clients and make money? That’s where depression and anxiety come in and take over your life. 

If we are going to avoid these outcomes (and I’m sure we do!) then we need to remember that it’s time that matters most – not money or success or growth or any other kind of metric we use as freelancers. 

Yes, those things are important too but if they come at a cost – like our mental health – then they’re not worth it one bit!

Further Reading

Here are some additional resources for further reading on the topic of freelancing and its impact on mental and physical health:

The Dark Side of Freelancing: Protecting Physical and Mental Health: This blog post explores the challenges freelancers face in maintaining their physical and mental well-being while working independently.

How to Tackle Freelance Burnout: Learn effective strategies to prevent and overcome burnout in freelancing with this comprehensive guide from IPSE (Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed).

Freelancing Made My Depression Worse: Here’s How I Learned to Cope: In this article from The Guardian, a freelancer shares their personal experience with depression and provides insights into coping mechanisms and strategies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Freelancing?

Freelancing is the process of working for yourself rather than an employer. You set your hours, you get to call the shots and you take home all the money that you make. 

It’s a great way of earning extra cash or building a career, but it can also be stressful and exhausting at times.

What Is The Difference Between Freelancing And Being An Entrepreneur?

An entrepreneur is someone who owns their own company and hires others to work for them, while a freelancer is someone who works for multiple companies on a contract basis.

How Do I Find Clients To Work With?

There are many ways to find freelance work, including networking with people in your community or industry, posting your services on social media or freelancing websites like Upwork or Fiverr, and applying for jobs posted by companies on sites like Indeed or LinkedIn.

What Is Freelancing?

Freelancing is when you are self-employed and do not have a regular employer. Instead, you work for yourself and seek out clients who need your services. 

There are many different types of freelancers, including graphic designers, writers, editors, web developers, and more.

Why Should I Consider Becoming A Freelancer?

There are many benefits to freelancing! You can work whenever you want, which means that your schedule isn’t dictated by someone else’s demands (e.g., an office job). 

You can also choose how much money you want to make it all depends on how much time and effort you’re willing to invest in finding clients and completing projects.

What Does It Mean To Be “Burned Out”?

Burnout occurs when one feels exhausted or depleted from doing too much work in too little time. 

It’s important not to push yourself too hard because burnout can lead to depression or anxiety disorders if not treated immediately.