How to Avoid Burnout
A recent article over at editorandpublisher.com says that many journalists are planning on leaving the field due to burnout. This isn’t really surprising considering the dismal state of the newspaper industry, but it got me to thinking about how easy it is to get burned out no matter what field you’re in - especially being a freelancer.
Here are a few ideas to keep you keep enthusiastic about
your work and not dread assignments when you get them.
Actively pursue projects that interest you.
I realize that we’re in a business to make money and sometimes you have to take on projects that ‘aren’t up your alley’, but there’s nothing that’s going to sour your disposition towards freelancing faster than doing one boring project after another.
If you don’t have a niche that you’re passionate about yet, get one, and then go full throttle in pursuit of clients who want what you’re offering. There’s no better feeling than writing about what you love AND getting paid for it.
Avoid low paying gigs.
Again, sometimes you’ve got to take a job for less than your normal fee, but don’t make it a habit. Slugging away for hours for a mere pittance will suck the life out of you faster than a mall job during Christmas. (Trust me, I’ve been there).
Ask for feedback.
Too often we freelancers get an assignment, turn in the work, get paid and move on to the next gig. While the money is important, it’s also nice to know that you’ve done a good job and your client is happy with the work.
Ask your client for a testimonial to put on your web site, or simply just follow up to see if they’re satisfied. Getting a thumbs-up from a customer boosts your confidence and gets you revved up for the next project.
Manage your time wisely.
I don’t care what anyone says, writing is a stressful job. To come up with quality prose you really have to tax your brain and going full-bore for hours at a time can cause you to zonk out.
For every two hours worked, take a 20 minute break. Walk around to get the blood flowing to the rest of your body or even go outside and stare at the grass. Just get your mind off your work and let yourself recharge.
Play.
All work and no play might make Johnny a dull boy, but it’ll make you burnout out fast. Working hard is good, but don’t forget to do things that you enjoy. If you make your work the number one thing in your life - at the expense of the fun things you like to do - you’ll end up resenting the work.
Balance is the key to avoiding burnout. Some people might admire you for working 7 days a week, but if you don’t take time for fun, you won’t last long no matter what business you’re in.
Posted
on
Friday, January 25th, 2008 at 7:21 pm under
These tips are excellent, and I couldn’t agree more. Writing can be challenging.
One of my friends doesn’t get that. A few years ago I was frustrated. A corporate project required technical writing. My mind went blank. What’s the big deal he said you’re just writing words on a page. How hard can that be? I told him you have to do more than put words on a page in order for it to be effective.
Today I have a lot of articles to write I’ll definitely be taking breaks throughout the day. One of my biggest breaks involves hanging out with my daughter for about three hours. I’m on a roll with one of my articles, and I took a break to visit your website.
January 26th, 2008 at 6:02 amA lot of people think that good writing is easy because we make it look easy. They don’t realize how much time and brainpower can go into delivering a quality piece of work. It can be exhausting.
January 26th, 2008 at 3:24 pmI blogged about this very topic a few months ago when I was on the verge of burning out. One suggestion that several of the commenters made was to change my environment. I often write at my desk in my apartment, but I have a laptop, so there are plenty of other places I could write and recharge my creative batteries at the same time. So far, that advice has worked well for me.
January 27th, 2008 at 6:58 pmThat’s a great idea, Susan. One that I missed. Thanks!
January 27th, 2008 at 7:08 pmHi
I’m a creative writer/artist/proofer. I’m fairly new to article-writing though. One of the things I told myself from the get-go when it came to article-writing was that I wouldn’t go for low-paying gigs. I’d also go for topics I feel I’d enjoy writing about. So far, I’ve had writing gigs about food, rubber stamping and I’m about to write one about my body!
I’ve found it a bit hard sticking to my guns when some writers charge a lot less and demand is cheap, but it’s starting to pay off!
I’ve just got to nail points 3 & 4!
take care…
January 27th, 2008 at 7:53 pmPixie, one of the keys to getting good paying gigs is to go after them. I don’t know where you’re finding work, but I’ll say that most of the job boards and bidding sites are a waste of your time and money. They encourage low fees because you have so many people vying for the jobs - especially people in foreign countries to whom getting ten bucks for an 800 word article is good money.
In order to get the higher paying gigs you need to strike out on your own and approach companies that usually use your type of service, and then offer them something more.
For instance, don’t just offer article writing, but also offer consulting work, press releases, or anything else that raises your value above everyone else.
Good luck and keep on keepin’ on!
January 27th, 2008 at 8:37 pmThanks for the tips, Michael
take care…
February 2nd, 2008 at 5:12 pmOne word: delegate.
February 4th, 2008 at 7:33 pmAbsolutely, Dina. Delegating tasks, especially the more mundane ones, will definitely help you avoid stress and getting burned out.
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