#6 beefy bits of advice for the recently self-employed

Additionally, research shows that finding and using personal strengths can reduce stress, while boosting productivity and well-being. Indeed, learning itself is a route toward well-being.

3. Understand potential unknowns

Self-employed workers face many insecurities, such as variable workloads, changing client demands, cash flow issues and insecure incomes. These cause fear and uncertainty and take up valuable mental and emotional resources.

Not knowing whether work will be available in three months or whether a client will pay on time aren’t only scary on their own, but also bring the possibility of experiencing pain and loss if everything crumbles and impacts loved ones.

People can learn how to build emergency funds, manage slow paying clients, and develop a growth mindset to cope with unexpected challenges.

4. Nurture relationships

Self-employment is often a lonely journey because others may not understand what the role involves. There are no formal co-workers around, and making time to socialize can be challenging. Loneliness is detrimental to well-being, with associated risks that exceed the danger of smoking 15 cigarettes per day.

Nurturing relationships is essential and self-employed workers can develop positive relationships a number of ways. Sending thank you letters to clients, seeking out and working with mentors and peers, and prioritizing time to connect with family, friends, and significant others all help create meaningful connections.

5. Give up unhealthy pressure

Self-employed people put unhealthy pressures on themselves. It can be easy to compare ourselves to highly visible entrepreneurs and feel guilt, shame and disappointment from not meeting personal expectations. While these self-imposed pressures can have, to some extent, a motivational effect to work harder, they also act as stressors and impair well-being.

Such unhealthy pressures might also make it more difficult to open up, express vulnerability, and seek support because of fear that this may be perceived as a weakness. Acknowledging the multiple reasons why something may not be going well and practicing self-compassion is a simple, yet powerful technique.

6. Establish routines

While self-employed people have greater autonomy and flexibility than employees, they also lack the structure and support of organisations. This unique combination of working conditions makes it more difficult to remain motivated, to avoid stress and to manage time, creating a spiral of negative emotions that becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, impairing performance through procrastination.

One way to cope with this challenge is by establishing routines. In addition to reducing some of the negative emotions and improving productivity, routines can promote a sense of well-being and meaning. Routines can also make it easier to incorporate the steps mentioned previously into daily or weekly schedules, including time to look after oneself, not just the business.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a difficult time to become self-employed. But when the challenges inherent in this type of work are addressed, self-employment can actually contribute to well-being. It can create flexibility, autonomy, a sense of meaning, and opportunities to be creative and express one’s values.

Like all change, this transition will likely require time and self-compassion. But in the long term, self-employment can be sustainable and rewarding, provided we look after ourselves.

This article by Andreana Drencheva, Lecturer in Entrepreneurship, University of Sheffield; Kristin Hildenbrand, Lecturer in Leadership and Organisational Behavior, University of Sheffield, and Mike Duffy Jr., Doctoral Researcher, University of Sheffield, is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Published December 22, 2020 — 11:00 UTC