There are many benefits when freelancing, and it's not least surprising that starting your own freelance business is growing in popularity. Freelancing is one profession where a work to life balance can ultimately be achieved, read on to find out the hidden secrets of getting that perfect work-life balance.

Freelancing is not necessarily easy especially when you are just starting. There are many techniques and tools that you might need to make your freelancing career successful. You will have to learn online marketing, how to source clients and master your skills.

Creating a borderline between your personal life and work can be challenging because predominately you work from home making your work to life balance harder to distinguish. Not having a fixed schedule can eat away your supposed leisure time causing frustrations later on in your freelance career when you would have benefited from being in a more friendly environment. Let’s explore further work-life balance best practices!

Photo by Francesca Tirico 

Looking for that perfect work to life balance?

Freelancing offers flexibility allowing you to work from home and at your own time, essentially becoming your boss. Due to your overbearing control over the work you do this may lead to procrastination forcing yourself to work late into the night consuming your precious social time.

Form a list of projects that you have and the deadlines that you are accustomed to meeting. Structuring your tasks is crucial as it will define your time and allow you to take back control of your work to life balance.

Encourage yourself to be as productive as possible within the allocated time that you have scheduled, perhaps use the Pomodoro technique to increase your level of productivity and maintain focus to enhance your freelance career.  

It is tempting to take on a vast array of projects to earn the maximum amount; however, be mindful of the projects you commit too by selecting tasks that are appropriate to the skills you bear. Learn to say no when you are already overloaded being honest with your clients will avoid any dissatisfaction or the risk of a bad review.  

Having a structured work to life balance is not just about being able to deliver freelance work efficiently; it’s about sticking to your schedule as per agreement with your clients and setting expectations to form a harmonious working relationship. Working from home does not mean you have to be available all the time, make this clear to your clients; otherwise, you might face jeopardising your personal life.

Is your workload hectic at the moment? Do you want to turn down clients? There is a simple solution to this, outsourcing. Let other freelancers take on the work you don’t have time for, yet you will still get paid to complete. Even though you will incur a cost distributing your workload, you will benefit in terms of a higher level of income and an improved work to life balance.

Take into consideration these top tips for when you want to outsource: 

Get the office vibe by decorating your room and putting a workstation that suits your personality. Ensure your office is away from your bed as the temptation to procrastinate is far too easy. Avoid television during work hours; however, music might keep you from any unwanted noise in the house.

Putting in the investment into your workstation will drive your freelance work and make you more efficient as you will suddenly start to enjoy your environment. Be sure to declutter and remove any unnecessary items that could disturb your concentration and to your dismay affect your chances of finishing work on time.

Taking breaks not only improves your concentration it can benefit you in more ways than one, why not use this time to exercise increasing your circulation and reaping the rewards of a healthy lifestyle.

Are you passionate about your hobbies? Learn to incorporate activity into your rest breaks; it could be sports, cooking or gardening. Keeping active and engaged with other events in the day will improve your productivity and even relieve stress ensuring your work to life balance is more manageable as a freelancer.

Sometimes a vacation is in order especially if you are starting to feel overworked. With Skillbox you can apply the ‘holiday mode’ to your account this will then hide your profile from view temporarily. Recharge your batteries and return with a refreshed outlook.

Being isolated when working from home as a freelancer is a challenge in itself. Make time to meet your friends as there is life away from your workstation. Get dressed and get active!

A work-life balance is spoken about for a reason as this essentially helps you produce great work and keeps you active making you want to achieve more when you are ‘in the zone’ because you have things to look forward too.

Other ways of engagement are in the local library’s where it is free to have a workstation and in co-working spaces that help you get better connected with like-minded professionals. Don’t be afraid to join work from home communities, use social media to find specific groups that interest you, all in the aim to better your social stance and improve working relationships.​

Freelancing means an endless amount of freedom; however, this doesn’t always equate to a well-structured work to life balance. Enjoy life by getting the balance right, one way that could help is to join Skillbox a platform that lets you provide services online and in-person creating a more dynamic freelance approach.