We’re sure that you may have experienced this in some capacity or another. Sooner or later, we all want to give up. A few of us act on it and go back to the relative comfort of a “show up and get paid” full-time job, or in more extreme examples give up technology and computers altogether.

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It’s no secret that burning out can lead to getting little done, staring mindlessly at your screen, and ultimately questioning your decision to become a freelancer. But behind the symptom of burnout, typically there are a few root causes.Today we’ll identify some of these causes, and how to overcome them. 

1. “There’s always so much to do”

If you have a to-do list that seems never ending, you’ll feel overwhelmed too. Every morning, you’ll be stressed out with what you need to do for the day, and spend your evenings planning what you need to do tomorrow. Cue a never ending loop. 

Here’s what you can do. Break your work into manageable chunks, so that instead of a never-ending list every morning, you’ll be completing small chunks of your work daily. Being able to cross out tasks from your smaller list will help you manage your stress, and your workload. 

2. “Money is tight”
If you’re anxious about where your next client will come from or when your next invoice will be paid, it’s all too easy to want to throw in the towel. Here's advice for you: Get paid upfront. This can help you put an end to wondering whether you’ll get paid before your bills are due.

Uncertainty about how you’ll be getting paid in the future is another reason many of us want to give up. Selling retainers, establishing a pipeline of future work, and diversifying your income through products are ways that you can hedge against uncertainty.

3. “I can’t focus”
Having the world at your fingertips is dangerous. How many of us have sat down to do some work, only to end up a few minutes later on Facebook or Twitter, or idling around in your inbox, or on Reddit? The urge to waste time online isn’t something that can be fixed by just removing access to those websites. Instead, the time you spend on those sites just needs to be blocked out and scheduled.

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Here’s something you can try out. The Pomodoro Technique is a time management system that encourages people to work with the time they have—rather than against it. The idea is simple: Work 25 minutes at a time (and do nothing but work), and then break for 5 minutes. Do whatever you want during that 5 minutes, and then go back to work. You’ll be glad to have that break. 

4. “I’m sick of freelancing”
Working alone is a huge part of freelancing. Like the saying goes, no man is an island, and being alone for long periods of time will take a toll on anyone.

Reach out and network with other freelancers. At Rtist, we have a community of like-minded individuals and freelancers who you can interact and connect with, to share ideas or just generally talk. You’ll be surprised at how many people are out there, some of whom are facing many of the same challenges that you face.

Conclusion
Balance is the key to it all, and ending your freelancer burnout will be made easier if you follow our tips above. It doesn’t take a lot to have a happy and healthy freelancer journey.

If you’re looking out to start on your freelancer journey, why not check out Rtist? We have one of the biggest creative talent communities in Malaysia that matches you with your clients. Check us out now!