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In this article, we look at how the UK’s freelancer and self-employed community can supercharge their mental health.
Freelancer mental health has taken a huge battering since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. The number of self-employed people saying they have ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ mental health has increased from 6% to 26% since the beginning of the pandemic (a 300% rise), according to the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE).
How freelancers & self-employed can stay mentally fit
Being mentally fit can help freelancers and self-employed achieve and sustain a state of good mental health. When we are mentally healthy, we enjoy our life and environment, and the people in it. Good mental health also helps us to cope with difficult times in our professional and personal lives.
Mental health matters as much as physical fitness and the WHO definition of mental health reinforces this:
“Mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.” .
World Health Organization (WHO)
What exactly is mental fitness?
Mental fitness refers to a state of psychosocial well-being, it means having a positive sense of how we feel, think, and act, which improves our ability to enjoy life. It contributes to our innate ability to be self-determined.
Essentially, mental fitness is the intersection of three key things:
1. Mental toughness
2.Emotional intelligence
3. Mental health.
As a freelancer, you need to be thick-skinned. The good news is that you can build mental toughness by learning to be more resilient, being kind to yourself and positive self-talk boosts emotional intelligence and taking steps to reduce stress and boost your self-esteem can really benefit your mental health.
How to supercharge freelancer & self-employed mental health
The first thing you can do to supercharge your mental health is to look after your physical health – eat healthily, get out in the fresh air and exercise, drink in moderation, give up smoking and try and reduce your stress levels to avoid burnout!
Many freelancers like myself suffer from the dreaded imposter syndrome. Studies have suggested imposter syndrome can lead to a drop in job performance and job satisfaction while increasing burnout. It’s also been linked to anxiety and depression. The good news is that you can overcome imposter syndrome!
Practising mindfulness can really help you stay calm and reduce your stress levels and I highly recommend giving it a try! Mindfulness involves paying attention to our experience in the present moment, with curiosity, compassion and acceptance. It’s a blend of the ancient wisdom of meditation with modern psychology. It can help you live life more fully and with a greater sense of perspective.
Practising self-care is vital if you’re a freelancer or self-employed since the lines between your personal and professional life can easily blur. Self-care is basically about doing things that preserve or improve your mental or physical health. For example, taking a holiday can really boost your mental health and wellbeing.
A growth mindset is vital for freelancer success and in turn, will boost your self-esteem and happiness. When you first start freelancing or become self-employed you are most likely stuck in a fixed ’employee’ mindset but you can develop a growth mindset.
Finally, grab a copy of my ‘My Little Mental Health First Aid Kit’ for UK based freelancers and self-employed https://bit.ly/3qFe4kl for a deeper dive into how you can supercharge your mental health and wellbeing.
