Have you tapped into any self-care habits during COVID-19 to reboot, feel better, or clear your mind to do better freelance work?
Even for work-at-home freelancers and self-described introverts, lockdowns, restrictions, and social distancing have taken a toll.
Honestly, I try not to think about the hours of lost productivity on freelance work spent on helping kids at home with online school. Frustrated is a good way to describe it.
Can you relate?
COVID fatigue is a real thing for freelancers. And without some self-care habits in place, it can make you feel sad, bored, lonely, anxious, fearful, AND frustrated.
Good news. More and more people are getting vaccinated.
Bad news. It’s going to be a while (no one knows for sure), before things go back to “normal.”
And that means there’s bound to be more uncertainty and isolation (depending on where you live).
How do you deal with it as a freelancer? Sink into despair, binge watch shows, mindlessly scroll social media, eat?
That’s been the common response to COVID fatigue for a lot of writers, freelancers, and other people trying figure it out. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Good self-care habits can help you steer clear of those pitfalls and thrive as a freelancer during uncertain times.
What are you doing to take care of yourself during COVID? Tell us about it in the comments below.👇
6 signs the pandemic is taking a toll on your freelance work
If you’re struggling to make money writing, get clients, or move up and earn more, you’ve got to figure it out.
Maybe you’re simply not doing enough marketing (often the case).
Or you need to refine your skills to pitch editors and reach out to businesses with a letter of introduction. These are skills you can learn and develop EVEN during a pandemic.
But that may not be the thing holding you back from freelance success.
If you are feeling the drain of COVID-19, it can look like this:
- You know something isn’t right.
- You are sad or anxious.
- You’re not sleeping well.
- You’re tired of feeling isolated.
- Maybe you don’t feel like doing anything.
- Or you’re just ready to ignore all the warnings about COVID-19 and go back to life the way it was.
Sound familiar?
If any of these statements ring true for you, it’s time for some self-care habits to help you break free of a frenzied mind, relax, reboot, and…you know…make money writing.
Self-care habits can include things like:
- Reading a good book
- Taking a hot bath
- Going for a walk
- Spending time with family and friends (in person…social distancing rules may apply. Or via a phone call or virtual meeting)
- Spending time on a hobby you enjoy
- Exercising
- Massage therapy
- Carving out some me-time to do WHATEVER you want
- Even shopping for new clothes or enjoying a treat can count as self care
Pick a non-work related activity and non-clean-up-the-house activity you enjoy, and make it part of your work week or daily habits.
Self-care to get to a happy place
I spent most of 2020 chasing client deadlines, while trying to manage online school with three kids (so many interruptions!).
And we’re still kind of in the same situation. Freelance work…online school…hang out at home.
If it feels like you’re living your very own Groundhog’s Day, you’re not alone.
I wasn’t about to let COVID fatigue take me down last year, so I laced up my running shoes and ran a ton of miles:
- 6-Half Marathons (13.1 miles)
- 13-Marathons (26.2 miles)
- 2 -50Ks
- 4-50 Milers
- 2-100 Milers
- Plus training miles, strength training and rest days
- TOTAL: 2,023 miles in 2020
Running…it’s my happy place. I ran 185 miles in January, and freelance work is off to a great start in 2021.
If you want to prevent COVID fatigue, you need some self-care habits to clear your mind, reduce stress, crush your freelance goals, and keep going.
Tell us about your self-care habits to be a better freelancer
If you’ve been struggling to stay focused, get motivated, or any other feelings or behaviors with this pandemic, how are you dealing with it?
Or maybe you were in a funk, and self-care helped you climb out of that hole.
If you’re not there yet, reach out for help, or pick a self-care activity and get started.
When you create self-care habits for yourself, you’ll feel better. You’ll be healthier. And you’ll be a happier and more productive freelancer.
What self-care habits do you recommend? Share in the comments.👇
Evan Jensen is a freelance copywriter for health and fitness businesses. He’s also the blog editor for Make a Living Writing.
