At some time or another, most freelancers have suffered from burnout in one form or another. The level of burnout can be the question that plagues many. Freelance writers who write articles, eBooks or website content day after day often find themselves sitting in front of their computer and staring at a blank page and for whatever reason, the words simply will not come. While some may pass this off to simple writers block, it could be much more serious than that.Writer’s block is typically a temporary situation that can be resolved by scouring the web for new ideas, reading, or other simple tricks. Burnout on the other hand can be devastating, especially if you earn your living this way. It isn’t always easy to differentiate your ‘down days’ of writers block from burnout, but there are things you can do to help ensure that you do not suffer from burnout. Here are some simple tips that can help you stay on track and avoid total burnout.
1. Make time for other things – Regardless of how much work you have, it’s a good idea to take time out to do things that are unrelated to your work. Whether that means taking on a volunteer role, walking with your dog (or yourself), make sure that it has nothing at all to do with your regular tasks.
2. Take time off - Now you might think that I just said this, but I mean REAL time off. A weekend, a week, even a day. Take real time off where you have no pressure to get anything accomplished. You work as hard as those who are able to take a real vacation off from their “brick and mortar” jobs. You need time off to ensure that you have the ability to do your work well.
3. Explore options – If you cannot find a way to take some time off, talk to your clients. It is possible that you will be able to work out something with them to give you a different type of work until you get the wind back in your sails.
Summary
Burnout is not any fun at all. If you feel that you are overwhelmed and simply cannot face work, take immediate action. If the pen feels a bit heavy, take some time off, do something different, do anything. Avoid freelancing burnout as it will not go away on it’s own, you need to be proactive.
About Doreen Martel
Well-rounded freelance writer who contributes to various blogs, paid to write sites and revenue sharing sites. Doreen is legally blind and has worked at home for more than 10 years. She uses the lessons learned from this experience to enhance her writing and share information with others.
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great post as usual!
Exactly advice that we had been hunting for. Nicely put also.
Hi! Just had to chime in. I thoroughly liked your post. Keep up the phenomonal work.
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