Can Freelancing Make us More or Less Prone To The Blues?

Could it possibly be true that the freedom and self-controlling world of freelancing can actually make us more prone to the blues? Is freelancing more motivating or depressing for you than being employed? And why is it so rarely talked about in the media or forums?

For many years, job satisfaction — or dissatisfaction — has shown to have a significant impact on both our mental and physical well-being. Amazingly, national polls on the subject of well-being show the self-employed are least likely to report themselves as “thriving” (at 14% — compared to 22% for the unemployed).

Thankfully, there are freelancers who are prepared to share their views on the topic. As highlighted when I posted this question on the Freelance Heroes Facebook Group:

I’ve read many articles which indicate that a considerable proportion of freelancers suffer some kind of mental or psychological issues. Yet, it still appears to me to be a taboo subject, which is why I’m bringing it up. How do you keep mentally healthy during the challenging times of owning a business? What support has helped you e.g. walks, mindfulness techniques, etc? How has mental heath affected you, or other freelancers that you know?

Now, I’m going to respect the anonymity of these respondents, to anyone outside of the group, but there have been some positive comments and very honest feelings shared too. Here are just a few:

“My mental health issues came to a real peak after I had my son, 4 years ago and it took six months to realise and get help for PND. 3 and a half years later I am still on the meds and feel no need to come off them. Why would i when I can look back now and realise I have possibly always had difficulties, in self worth, value to society, confidence, sadness and anxiety issues. Right back to being a child I can see this. Life is hard and not very many have the right support to get through trauma and upset. I won’t give up my tablets because that man said I was mad if I needed them, yes there is still that view of medication.

I still struggle to find a means to be peaceful and calm and it grows with every new email address, technology with notifications. I can’t cope, I get overwhelmed and I know I am not alone. I put myself through 18 months of counselling at one point and it helped in a lot of ways but there are still residual emotions that will be with me. I need to learn about mindfulness now, that means to forgive, be in the moment and learn how to engage in each task I carry out rather than letting it all just become a great big burden. As I said to you earlier Ed, I also find the mastermind sessions useful for my own self confidence and belief, I have an opinion and it is worth something to other people at times. I value that greatly.” — Anon

“I suffer a lot from lapses in focus, which affects my concentration — and then my motivation and momentum. That then causes problems that shake my confidence and slow me down. It’s a real problem for me — but I know that it affects a lot more people than we might all think.

For me — my solutions are two-fold. Writing and walks. Walks help to streamline my mind and help me focus — with some good classical music! Writing helps me keep grounded. Not creative writing; but note-taking, strategic planning, scheduling. Something to turn to when I’m feeling confused, something to get me grounded and moving again.” — Anon

As I said, there are both sides of the story reflected in these comments. Such as…

“My mental health was pretty bad when I was employed in the UK, I was always off sick with stress and digestive problems. I was actually disciplined for this on a regular basis in a few of my jobs. Since working for myself my mental health has never been better… I have no-one breathing down my neck, apart from the odd client, but I can organise my days, weeks how I like and I can take time off when I want. If I am having a stressful time, sitting in the garden with a cup of tea, taking the dogs for a walk are great ways of unwinding. I also swear by essential oils, I have a diffuser which sits on my desk and I often use this to help in particularly difficult times. I don’t get lonely at all, only very occasionally do I miss proper human interaction, but I am an introvert and all my friends are on social media just a quick message away… It’s actually at the weekends when I am not working that I feel a bit lost, but I know I need to step away from the computer at some point. I have a few friends that started businesses at the same time as me, but didn’t like the isolation and soon went back into employment… which is total madness to me, I love it” — Anon

and…

“I’m always happy to talk about these issues and agree they are still taboo! I suffered from depression when I was younger, and I’ve found the only way to manage it is proactively. Making sure I eat well (most of the time), try to get 8 hours sleep, exercise, time off (rarely work at all at weekends and avoid evenings), time to myself (some weeks I book in spa, hair or shopping during my working week when I have childcare!), and making time to talk with those who support me & whom I support: I try to place these things at equal importance to getting and doing work. It’s not always easy but you have to remember you can’t pour from an empty cup! I have been known to clear my diary and go to bed for the afternoon for my physical or mental well-being, and I feel lucky to be able to do so!” — Anon

Historically, the topic of mental health has been a taboo subject. I say “historically” but the comments here are, thankfully, highlighting that this might be changing.

When you’re employed and you’re thoroughly unhappy, you should be able to turn to your employers. If you’re part of a union, they’re duty bound to provide support. But who do you turn to when you work for yourself, outside of friends and family?

So, the three reasons I wanted to start this are

1. If you’re suffering, you’re far from alone.

2. Because I knew that, if anyone wanted to wear their heart on their sleeve, there would be many in this group willing to offer a virtual shoulder of support. And, finally,

3. That there are two sides to the mental heath impact of moving from employment to freelancing.

These comments have been mind-blowing, very personal, and — as one contributor wrote “the doors have been truly blown open!” — and I’m glad they have.

Action Point

Autonomy is a major draw of freelancing although, with 5 million freelancers in the UK, none of us are really alone.

So I implore you to keep the conversation going, use this group, ask the same questions of other freelancers in your network, listen, and support; or get in touch with your story.

As Helen Keller wrote “Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.”

This post originally appeared at http://www.edagoodman.com/can-freelancing-make-us-more-or-less-prone-to-the-blues/.