Wow, what a year 2020 has been. If you’re reading this having felt the full effects of COVID-19, I am so sorry.

Though, with endings come new beginnings. If you’re planning to make the leap into freelancing because your job circumstances have changed – good for you. While scary, freelancing is super rewarding and can unlock a whole new, flexible way of working.

But it’s important to remember that the self-employed life is not all sunshine and rainbows. Freelancing can be lonely. I recently caught up with fellow freelancer Sam, who has given me a few tips on how to tackle the loneliness you might feel while freelancing…

Tips on beating freelancer loneliness

“Setting up a business from home is a big decision. Whilst it has a whole variety of benefits for you to think about, there can also be a couple of drawbacks. Being lonely is one of them.

Loneliness can be much harder to deal with then you may realise. And when you are someone who spends all day by themselves, it can really have an impact on your mental and physical wellbeing.

The thing with being lonely as a freelancer is that it can be hard to fix. After all, it’s not like you can suddenly hire a team to work with you just because you don’t want to be on your own. So, to help you out I want to share with you some of the easiest ways to beat loneliness when you are a freelancer.”

Work in a shared space

“Shared working spaces are definitely becoming more popular, and with good reason. They give freelancers a space to work in alongside other freelancers who also would otherwise be working from home alone.

You can work in a shared space as often or as little as you want – you usually can pay as you go. The space will usually have a desk for all, facilities to make a drink as well as shared open space. You can arrange furniture to network with the others working there should you wish to.”

Head outside for a walk

“Fresh air is an incredibly useful tool for your mental and physical wellbeing. Especially when you are someone who spends a large chunk of their time at home on their own.

Getting outside in the fresh air not only means that you are going to be away from your working space, giving yourself a well-earned break, but you can also see people in the real world. This will make you remember that you are not completely alone.”

Listen to a podcast

“What about if you are sat in your at-home office? What can you do, then, to feel less lonely? A great option is to listen to a podcast. You can find a podcast that is going to interest you, which will always be much easier to listen to.

Not only will you feel that you have learnt something, but simply by hearing voices, you are much more likely to feel that you are part of a conversation and that you are not completely alone in the world.”

Make video calls with other freelancers

“The great thing about this modern way of working is that there are more and more people who are based at home and work remotely. Chances are, you will find someone who is in much the same position as you.

So, why not arrange a catch up with them on a video call? This can be as regularly as you can both manage. But the idea is that you not only have a friendly face to see, but that you also can share ideas, tips and maybe even create an important business link with one another.

Working for yourself as a freelancer is great. However, there are certain things that you are going to need to do to make sure that you don’t feel lonely and that you instead feel that you part of a wider world of those who work from home.”

Remember, you’re not alone. If you need to reach out, even for a friendly chat because you’re feeling overwhelmed, email me at lmcgachie@yahoo.co.uk.