The best thing about freelancing is that you’re your boss. You have the flexibility to set your working hours and manage all the things you want to do and how you do it. 

It makes sense why some people enter the freelancing world to look for a better work-life balance.

The thing is that even if you can open up time to weave in personal tasks during the day, self-employed workers are still at high risk of burning out. Freelance burnout is a real thing at all levels and experiences.

The pressure to overwork to get the most out of each day can result in long-term health problems, damaged relationships, and a poor quality of life. No rigid working hours can be quite tricky for some. 

Rather than establish a barrier between work and personal life, it creates blurry lines between work and personal time, which can lead to constant stress and fatigue.

So, how can you prevent yourself from overworking as a freelancer?

#1. Stop comparing yourself to other freelancers

It’s a natural thing to compare your accomplishments to other freelancers in the field. All those social media feeds are full of colleagues’ posts about their successful projects or simply touting their latest career accomplishments.

Being a freelancer is way different from being a staff from a big company like MGK Asia.

When you find yourself feeling envious of other freelancers’ successes, take a step back and reassess your own career. Are you happy with the work that you’re doing? Do you feel like you’re making progress in your field?

Remember that everyone has different goals and motivations. The person who’s working 12-hour days might be trying to save up for an early retirement, while the freelancer who has all the time in the world might be working on three part-time projects.

There’s no right or wrong way to approach your workflow. Meaning that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to the freelancer lifestyle. Find what works for you, and don’t compare your career path to others.

#2. Set boundaries with friends and family

Freelancing means not a strict 9-to-5. But, just because you can work whenever doesn’t mean that you should be working all the time. If you want to maintain a healthy work-life balance, it’s important to set boundaries with friends and family members.

Let them know when you’re working and when you’re available. If you need to focus, let them know that you can’t talk during certain hours.

It can be helpful to set regular “office hours” for yourself, even if you don’t have an official office space. Let people know what times you’re usually working, so they won’t interrupt your workflow.

#3. Don’t overcommit

As a freelancer, you’re probably used to managing your own time. But, just because you’re good at juggling multiple projects doesn’t mean that you should take on more work than you can handle.

Oftentimes, freelancers will overcommit themselves to please clients or make more money. But, this can lead to poor work quality and missed deadlines—which will only reflect poorly on you in the long run.

To avoid overcommitting yourself, always be honest about how much work you can realistically take on. If a client asks you to take on a project that’s outside of your scope, don’t be afraid to say no.

#4. Structure your workflow

Don’t try to pay today’s bills with today’s projects. This is one of the most common mistakes that freelancers make.

Instead, you should have a system in place to manage your workflow. That way, you can focus on today’s projects while still being prepared for tomorrow’s workload.

One way to do this is to create a “tickler file.” This is a system of reminders that helps you keep track of upcoming deadlines and projects. That way, you won’t be caught off guard when a project is due—and you can structure your time accordingly.

#5. Learn to delegate

In the early stages of your freelancing career, you might feel like you have to do everything yourself. But, as your business grows, you’ll quickly realize that you can’t (and shouldn’t) do everything on your own.

If you want to prevent burnout, it’s important to learn how to delegate tasks—both to other people and to automated systems.

For example, if you manage your website and keep all the content freshly brewed, consider opting for AI-powered content marketing tools. Or, if you find that you need help managing the finance side of tax season, holiday bookkeeping can all be taken care of by automating with software.

Delegating tasks will free up your time so that you can focus on the most important aspects of your business. It will help you avoid burnout in the long run.

#6. Take some time for yourself

When you’re used to working all the time, it can be hard to justify taking a break. But, it’s important to step away from work now and again, even if it’s just for a few minutes.

Use your lunch break as an opportunity to get away from your desk and clear your head. Take a walk around the block or go grab coffee with a friend.