Overworked and burned out? - How to be a better boss to yourself
As a freelancer, you are your own boss. Be a good one.
One of the most enticing things about freelancing is the freedom it comes with. Nobody tells you:
what to do
when to do it
why do it
and this can feel wonderful and liberating, especially after a regular 9-5 job. But there is one big problem, the fact that nobody tells you:
what to do
when to do it
why do it
It’s clear that you need to be your own boss, but how can you be a good boss to yourself? Here are a few tips to get you from overworked and underappreciated to employee of the month!
By knowing your limits, you will have a better sense of how much work you can handle at a time. This can mean how many projects you can take on in a given period, and also how many hours we can work in a day without overdoing it. The good thing about knowing your limits is you can also start practicing saying no, which is essential for creative freelancers who have a tendency to want to do everything for everyone.
I often get carried away and do so many non-essential things because they make me feel good. But then I look up and notice that another they has gone by and I still haven’t worked on the book I’m supposed to be editing, or the proposal I should send to the client, or the project I should have finished yesterday…
I don’t think you need to stop doing non-essential things if they make you feel good. But if you are churning out Instagram reels to know real benefit with your teeth clenched, I think it’s time to rethink your priorities. One good thing about the ups and downs of freelancing? You’ll have time for passion projects during the next slow period which is coming in 3, 2, 1…
You have probably heard of the Pareto principle that states that 80% of outcomes come for 20% of inputs, which means that you are allowed to let go of stuff without compromising your results. By reviewing the things you do and crossing out a few, you can have more time to dedicate to what actually matters (I’m using this excel sheet to do this) or just more free time in general.
I’m a huge advocate for doing fun stuff whenever possible. To me, it can look like drawing in my illustrated journal, listening to a podcast1 while cleaning the kitchen (yes, I actually like doing that) or brainstorming on my next Substack post. I think as adults we sometimes forget that fun stuff matters, even if it’s just for us, although I think creatives are better at remembering this than others. Anyway, do something fun, you are allowed!
I definitely am a hermit, so freelancing suits me well, but even I need some company sometime. Try to meet with fellow freelancers if you can, I heard they are good company…
I just started listening to this one about telepathy and it’s incredible!
Great tips! I myself measure every potential assignment against the three Ps: Price, Prestige and Pleasure. The work has to score big on at least one, preferably two of those. (And occasionally you get a job that scores all three!)
A brilliant list. This was me in 2024 but 2025 is going to be more structured, at least that's what I'm saying for the next week đŸ˜‚ thanks for sharing your tracker