5 Ways to Combat Loneliness as a Freelancer

Although freelancing and remote work have many benefits, they’re not without drawbacks. Feelings of loneliness and isolation are a potential downside, particularly if you’ve recently switched careers and are used to working in a team or a busy office environment.

You can’t do your best work if you don’t look after your mental health, so if you’re feeling lonely or isolated, it’s best to address this early. Here are five tips for combatting loneliness as a freelancer.

1. Switch Up Your Workspace

The ability to work from anywhere is a big draw for many freelancers. So while you might have a home office set up with all your essentials, you don’t have to work at home alone all the time.

Finding spaces in which you can work alongside other people – even if you’re not directly interacting with them – can reduce feelings of loneliness. A change of scenery and the hustle and bustle of other people’s lives can help relieve the boredom of spending too much time at home, provide new perspectives, and boost productivity.

Consider taking your work out of the house and into shared areas, such as cafes, libraries, and coworking spaces. You could even try out the digital nomad lifestyle by traveling the world and meeting new people – all while freelancing.

2. Find an Online Community

With loneliness common among freelancers, it’s no surprise that many online communities have sprung up to combat isolation. These communities are great places to: 

• Connect with and get to know other freelancers
• Network and collaborate with colleagues
• Share your feelings with others who may have similar experiences

Many of these communities are free to join and are on social media. Some, such as Freelancer Talk, have their own website.

Online freelance communities might cater to a particular industry, such as freelance editors, or they could be aimed at a certain demographic, like women who own their own business. Explore the different options out there until you find a community that clicks.

3. Take Time to Rest and Socialize

Being in work mode 24/7 isn’t healthy and can increase the risk of issues like loneliness and burnout. This is why effective breaks should be an essential part of any freelancer’s routine.

Take time out of your schedule to switch off, relax, and think about or do something other than work. This will help reduce stress and boost your general mood, which can then ease feelings of isolation.

When working remotely, you might be missing regular social activities, like work drinks and office chats. To counteract this, organize more opportunities to socialize throughout your work week, whether that’s a board game night with your family, a group session at the gym, or coffee and cake with friends.

4. Organize Virtual Meetings

While you might be interacting with a number of people throughout your workday, from clients to fellow freelancers, communicating solely by text on-screen can still feel lonely and isolating.

Organizing virtual meetings, video calls, and catch-ups can reintroduce a personal element to your work interactions, whether they’re formal appointments or informal conversations. Making these meetings a regular part of your schedule will guarantee a level of social interaction and can help build better professional relationships.

5. Express Yourself

Finally, it’s important not to isolate yourself further if you’re suffering from feelings of loneliness. Express your feelings by:

• Rejecting toxic positivity
• Practicing mindfulness
• Writing down your thoughts in a diary or journal
• Reaching out to your support network 

Being able to express your feelings can improve your mental health and will help to combat loneliness.

Becoming A Proofreader or Editor

At Knowadays, our graduates can join a Facebook group to discuss all things proofreading, editing, and freelancing.

If you’re interested in courses that set you up with all the necessary skills to become a freelancer, as well as tools to combat freelance loneliness, take a look at our course bundle. You’ll get 15% off both our Becoming A Proofreader and Becoming An Editor courses.