Avoid Burn out Working Freelance at Home

Burn-out is the emotional state of being worn out, exhausted and stressed. It can happen in any job, and those who work at home are especially susceptible. Lack of contact with others of the outside world, being confined to one location all day, performing monotonous tasks, and being frustrated by lack of financial reward and recognition in the early phases of starting your home based job all can lead to burn-out. Once it sets in, burn-out makes it difficult to keep working, which leads to even more frustration. Learn how to avoid burn-out working freelance at home to keep yourself productive and content.

Steps

 * 1) Resolve to be healthy. You're more likely to burn out if you are run down and exhausted. Make efforts to eat right and get enough sleep--a calming bedtime routine can help. If you have health issues that have been neglected, make the time to take care of them.[[Image:Avoid Burn out Working Freelance at Home Step 1 Version 2.jpg|center]]
 * 2) Get out of the house more often. If you work strictly from a home office, try a change of scenery, like working in a local coffee shop or park. At the least, make an effort to get out of the house a few days a week, even if it's just to people watch or window shop.[[Image:Avoid Burn out Working Freelance at Home Step 2 Version 2.jpg|center]]
 * 3) Start an exercise routine. Not only will exercising improve your health, it will also help to relieve stress. Try to get aerobic activity at least 3 days a week for an hour at a time. Look for a routine that will help to get out of the house, like walking with a friend or taking an aerobics class.[[Image:Avoid Burn out Working Freelance at Home Step 3 Version 2.jpg|center]]
 * 4) Take time for relaxation and creativity. Try to structure your work time to a standard work day. Spend the rest of your time on a creative hobby, a relaxing activity, or just doing nothing. Give your brain and body time to recharge and refresh.[[Image:Avoid Burn out Working Freelance at Home Step 4 Version 2.jpg|center]]
 * 5) Evaluate your boundaries and priorities. If your work is not fulfilling, you are not meeting your financial goals, or you just feel stuck, it may be time to make a change. This could be as simple as finding new ways to work, a change of scenery, or a new schedule. Bigger changes could be in order, like delegating some of your work, hiring an assistant, or looking for new clients or a whole new career.[[Image:Avoid Burn out Working Freelance at Home Step 5 Version 2.jpg|center]]
 * 6) Find support. Find other freelancers or people in a similar line of work to vent to and talk to. If there are none in your area, look for support groups online. People in the same situation as you will be able to relate to you and share ideas about how to avoid burn-out working freelance at home.[[Image:Avoid Burn out Working Freelance at Home Step 6 Version 2.jpg|center]]
 * 7) Make your work area organized, ergonomic and attractive. A cluttered work space and not being able to find things will just create extra work and frustration. Keep on top of your work area and files, as well as computer files. Invest in a comfortable chair, an ergonomic keyboard, adequate lighting, and anything else necessary to make your work time comfortable and productive. Add some decorative touches to make your work area an attractive place that you look forward to spending time in.[[Image:Avoid Burn out Working Freelance at Home Step 7 Version 2.jpg|center]]

Related wikiHows

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 * Get Paid on Time when Freelancing
 * Start a Freelance Copywriting Business
 * Do Freelance Graphic Design

Sources and Citations

 * http://helpguide.org/mental/burnout_signs_symptoms.htm
 * http://www.sideroad.com/Entrepreneur/avoid-burnout.html