Freelancer Loneliness, Working From Home

Freelancers’ dream: go for a hike whenever you want

For many freelancers, loneliness is the biggest drawback of working from home.

Yes, working from home has many advantages—no commute, setting your own hours, taking care of other chores when necessary—but for some freelancers, loneliness starts to outweigh the benefits.

If you previously worked in an office where you had ongoing contact with others, you got used to that. You had some type of relationship with co-workers (not all great, I know), and they became part of your life.

If you suddenly started working solo from home, whether or not it was your choice, the change in scenery can be a big jolt.

At first, because it’s unique, it can be exciting. You’re on your own. You get to make all the decisions.

And for some, it stays that way. They’re fine on their own and find enough online or face-to-face connections with others.

But others feel isolated, truly alone. Working by themselves, sometimes in a small apartment, can wear on you. The walls start to close in.

Even Introverts Get Lonely

You’d think working from home, alone day after day, would be ideal for introverts. But anecdotal experience shows otherwise.

While most of us want solitude at times—being away from others to be able to focus and get something done, we want that to be our choice.

Solitude is a break from the normal situation of being with others.

On the other hand, loneliness is being alone for extended periods, not by choice, but by circumstance. There’s a big difference.

Loneliness Sucks Away Your Inspiration

When you’re lonely, it weighs on you, and even minor tasks become a burden. It adds stress to your life.

The little admin jobs every freelancer must do suddenly seem like a big deal.

Writing that invoice? Can’t bring myself to do it. Updating my portfolio? Not today.

If you’ve had those thoughts, it’s time to change the status quo. Once negativity takes over, it can be hard to get back on track.

How to Fix Loneliness

There are many ways to feel less lonely, but the key is that you’re the one who has to take action. You have to do something about it.

If you’re waiting for others to help you, to “rescue” you from loneliness, you could be waiting a long time.

Why don’t others get in touch with you? The simple answer is that they’re busy. They don’t know that you’d like to talk, meet over coffee, or go for a walk. Right now, to them, you’re out of sight, out of mind.

Think for a moment about all the people in your life, such as family, friends, ex-colleagues, and acquaintances you haven’t called.

Why haven’t you gotten in touch with them? Same answer. You’re busy, and you just haven’t thought of them. Or maybe you feel you’d be bothering them, interrupting them from what they’re doing.

Now, consider your reaction if they call you to get together for coffee. Would you? You probably would, right?

So, the simple fix to loneliness is to take the initiative and contact others. Just call or text to say hello. You have to start somewhere to initiate the connection. It won’t happen by itself.

Why Call Rather Than Text?

Today, we’ve gotten used to texting rather than calling. Yes, there are advantages, but there’s one huge disadvantage.

You miss the sound of another voice with a text. A voice is a human connection we’re hard-wired to respond to. Think of your favorite singers and actors. It’s their voices that captivate you.

You only have to watch people talking to babies to know this is true. Does the baby understand the words? No. But they laugh and gurgle at the sound of the voice. (Texts just don’t seem to do it for babies.)

The response to a voice stays with us throughout our lives. If you usually text rather than call, try phoning.

Other Ways to Fix Loneliness

Maybe you don’t want a one-on-one meeting. You just want to be near people, to feel like you’re participating more in the world around you.

Consider changing your environment for a couple of days a week. Where could you work?

How about a coffee shop, a mall food court, a co-working space, a public library, or maybe a university library? If the weather is nice, try a public park.

Again, you have to take the initiative. Try things. You might think, oh, I could never work in a busy coffee shop. Have you tried it? You might be surprised. Bring noise-canceling headphones if necessary.

As a first step, go on a scouting mission. Find the coffee shops that seem best for working. Go to your local library to check the facilities. Can you walk to a park? Does it have picnic tables? Have a seat and imagine that it’s your office for the morning.

Once you’ve scouted the locations, give one of them a try. Take what you need and get set to work.

A More Permanent Way Freelancers Can Avoid Loneliness

Find one or more partners to work with on your projects. I called this a virtual agency and wrote about the benefits and how to run a virtual agency here.

Writers, designers, and developers can find others to work with on appropriate projects. Not only will you have someone to talk to and bounce ideas around with, but you’ll also be in line for bigger projects.

Clients appreciate when you can take care of the whole project rather than just a portion of it. It’s easier for them, and it means more money for you. Hit the link and find out.

Be Careful That Loneliness Doesn’t Lead to Depression

If you find yourself being lonely often, don’t let it slide. Yes, we all get lonely once in a while. That’s just life.

But watch that it doesn’t start to add up. Ongoing loneliness often leads to depression, which can devastate your life.

It’s up to you to take action. Even surrounding yourself with strangers in a coffee shop is better than sitting alone, getting desperate for human connection. Just the interaction of ordering your coffee is a start.

Successful Freelancers Control Their Mood

If loneliness is weighing on you, you can’t work effectively. You lose focus.

To be a successful freelancer, you have to dedicate all of your efforts to your work during your working hours. If other thoughts steal your focus and time, you’ll soon find days going by with nothing accomplished. Don’t let it happen to you.

If loneliness is starting to be a problem, it’s up to you to fix it. Make the call.

New Book For Freelancers

I’ve just published How to Become a Successful Creative Freelancer. It’s the essential business guide for freelance writers, designers, developers, filmmakers, and photographers.

Whether you’re just starting as a freelancer or have years of experience, you’ll learn a lot from this book.

It’s broken down into easy-to-understand chapters with strategies and tips you can use today. Not just “what to do”, but also “how to do it”.

It’s available now in Kindle ebook and paperback on Amazon.

Want to Grow An Agency? The Agency Book is For You

If you’re looking for tips on how to build and grow your agency, you’ll want to read How to Start a Successful Creative Agency.

Available at Amazon (Paper & Kindle), Kobo (ebook), Apple Books (ebook), and Gumroad (PDF).

The book is packed with useful information to help creatives start and grow their business.

Charge More And They Will Understand the Value

“I took a lot from your book around proposals. Show them everything that is involved in delivering a quality product, all the steps you take.

You can charge more, and they will understand the value you put into it.”

Sean Hogue, Twitter

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This chapter covers essential areas such as Clients vs. Projects, Corporate Clients vs. Small Business Clients, How to Create an Opportunity Document, Benefits of Finding a Niche… and much more.

 Questions? On Twitter, I’m @StroteBook. D.M.s are always open. Ask away.