Are You a Burnt Out Freelance Writer? How to Tell
August 5, 2008 by Jodee
Filed under Writing Gigs
by Jodee Redmond
Burnout is a word that we hear often in the freelance world. At least I do. Pretty much everyone in my immediate circle has said, “Don’t let yourself get burnt out!” at one time or another. I have been thinking about that and I realized that I wasn’t really sure what the symptoms of burnout are. Could I be burnt out and not know it?
I decided to do some checking. Here are the signs of burnout, courtesy of MayoClinic.com:
* Do you find yourself being more cynical, critical and sarcastic at work?
* Have you lost the ability to experience joy?
* Do you drag yourself into work and have trouble getting started once you arrive?
* Have you become more irritable and less patient with co-workers, customers or clients?
* Do you feel that you face insurmountable barriers at work?
* Do you feel that you lack the energy to be consistently productive?
* Do you no longer feel satisfaction from your achievements?
* Do you have a hard time laughing at yourself?
* Are you tired of your co-workers asking if you’re OK?
* Do you feel disillusioned about your job?
* Are you self-medicating — using food, drugs or alcohol — to feel better or to simply not feel?
* Have your sleep habits or appetite changed?
* Are you troubled by headaches, neck pain or lower back pain?
I considered each item on the list. None of these things apply to me, with the possible exception that sometimes I find it hard to drag myself out of bed to get started in the morning. I honestly love what I do, and I have no trouble laughing at myself. I think it can be argued that my caffeine habit is not self-medicating to avoid feeling; it’s to avoid falling asleep on the keyboard. There is a difference.
I’m happy to report that I am not a burnt out freelance writer. I’m hoping that I will continue to enjoy what I do for a long time to come. At least now I know what to watch out for.
For a lot of information about job burnout with quizzes see docpotter.com
I’m a burnt out 9 to 5′er…does that count? I’d love to freelance full-time…..soon soon
There were times I suffered from burnout. I think it’s important to take time and think about how WE”RE doing – not everyone else. Freelancing is great but not at the expense of your health and your sanity. I don’t like being cranky all the time.
Interesting list – I think I’m a burnt out mom
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Even when you are doing what you love, it is easy to overwhelm your schedule to the point that you begin to resent it all. Take breaks, be realistic about your work load, and don’t put “it” off until tomorrow.
I don’t think I’m a burnt out writer. I’m just a burnt out worker from working too much.
Looking at the list, I realized that I was burnt out at different times at previous jobs. I’m starting to learn how to set a better schedule for myself and not to say Yes to everything, or at least say Yes, I can do [such and such] but I won’t be able to start until…. and it’s worked out well.
I just pulled out of a big burnout…and not a moment too soon!
I myself am starting to feel the edges of burnout, and both mind and body are crying for a break (a real vacation-like break).
As a freelancer and contracted writer in some cases, I don’t have any entitlement to off-time. I do worry about the loss of income, as well as potentially losing a freelance job. In some cases my clients, where I am in a contract agreement, might need to find another freelancer to do my tasks if I am unavailable.
Has anyone else dealt with these kinds of issues? Would love some advice, if any of you have some to spare.
I’m more worn out than burned out, I think. I’m coming to realization that I can’t bill more than about 4 hours in any given day. I just go brain dead. Anyone else?
That being said, I have lamented the lack of a real vacation numerous times on my blog, and I’m really starting to whine.
Aurora — I have several lawyers I blog for daily, and I was forced into taking time off at the beginning of the year because I had mono. Looking back, I don’t think I would have gotten so sick if I hadn’t worked myself into physical and mental burnout beforehand (as I tend toward workaholism and was working 15+ hr days, including weekends). My advice for taking a much needed break, for physical or mental health (whatever the case is), based on what worked for me is to offer to find a replacement and/or to give as much notice as possible (so that they may find someone to replace you or so that the transition in training the new person goes as smoothly as possible). I think it would largely depend on what type of work you’re doing. I had a few jobs where literally no one could do what I do — at least not without spending a month or more getting familiar with my clients’ cases — and in those cases my clients were really hurt by it. I did lose one client because of having to take time off. But in my case it couldn’t be helped, as I literally couldn’t sit up and could barely see, let alone type or think. I think the important thing is to do what you have to do for yourself and just do the best you can to make sure your clients are covered. Be prepared that reality may play out that you may lose some work, so if possible have a bit of reserve pay saved up before you take off and/or a plan in mind for how you will make up for the lost pay once you return to work. If it’s only a week, it might not be that big of a deal. In my case, it was more like two months before I could go back to working a full load. So hopefully you’ll have it easier than I did.
Thanks Amy, that was very helpful. I think I should just throw caution to the wind, and do it (easier said than done, I’m sure). Possibly if I suggest a time that is a couple months from now to give plenty of preparation time it will work out okay.