How to Deal with the Isolation of Freelance Life

For over two decades, I’ve been fortunate enough to work from home. No maddening commute and all the coffee I can handle. Sounds pretty cool, right?

And, even when a global pandemic sent the world scrambling to work remotely, things stayed relatively the same here (save for my child enrolling in online school). Being in a familiar environment, away from all the chaos, is a true blessing.

But even blessings have their downside. For all the benefits of working from home, there’s also a real sense of isolation. You may go days without leaving home or seeing anyone outside of those you live with. A public health crisis only serves to amplify the effect.

This is a heavy burden for freelance web designers. Life seems to consist mainly of work. It’s something many of us have learned to live with. But that doesn’t necessarily equate to thriving.

While there’s no easy fix, there are some ways to decrease the negative impacts of isolation. The following are tips for beating those stuck-in-your-home-office blues.

Find Comfort in Nature

You don’t need to live on the edge of an enchanted forest to enjoy the outdoors. Nature, or some form of it, is available to just about all of us.

For instance, I live in a small town. We have some lovely parks to visit. But even if I can’t get to the park, I still enjoy the natural elements in my own back yard. I’ve set up some bird feeders and enjoy watching the cardinals, finches and chickadees peck away. They are calming and sometimes even comical. I spend a lot of time enjoying them – particularly in the warmer months.

Wherever you happen to be in the world, admire the nature right outside your window. Maybe birds aren’t your thing – that’s OK. You could find comfort in watching squirrels climb the trees or telephone poles. Even caring for a houseplant or two can be effective.

Most importantly, get outside for at least a few minutes each day. Grab some natural light and feel the breeze against your face. These things are both good for you and free – so take advantage!

Participate in the Design and Development Communities

We humans are social beings. And, even though in-person interactions are difficult to come by, there are still opportunities to connect with others. This is especially so within the web design and development communities.

Social media is still buzzing with activity, if not more so than before. There are some great Facebook pages and groups that cater to specific tools like WordPress or even languages such as CSS. Twitter has plenty of relevant hashtags, such as #WebDesign and #WebDev, among others. They are great ways to expand your knowledge and get to know some cool people.

Virtual events are also becoming quite common. Several in-person meetups have switched to Zoom during the pandemic. It seems like there are always online get-togethers being held, so be on the lookout for ones that are of interest to you.

None of this fully replaces the fun of being out amongst the crowds. But you can get creative. Participating in a virtual event from a place that isn’t your office (your living room, back yard, etc.) can at least make it feel like you’re out and about.

Take Time Off

Working from home often brings with it the temptation to put in extra hours. With such easy access to your office, spending some nights and weekends at your desk can seem like a positive. It helps you cross some tasks off of your to-do list – reassuring in its own right.

Doing this once in a while is fine. But spend too many hours working and you risk becoming overwhelmed. Both your body and mind can suffer the consequences. Suddenly, it becomes harder to focus and sit still. Continuing to grind out those hours only makes it worse.

Taking some time off may be just what you need. Even if it’s not a traditional vacation, the mere fact that you are away from the office is beneficial. Whether the distance is ten feet or a hundred miles, it’s worth doing.

If your situation prevents you from taking in the tourist sites, there’s still plenty to do at home. Tackle an improvement project you’ve been putting off or take the dog for a walk.

And, for goodness sake, turn off your email! The constant buzz of new notifications is pretty much the opposite of relaxation. Let your clients know that you’ll be unavailable, then chill out as best you can.

Find Little Ways to Break Free from Isolation

Being (mostly) confined to your home office can really take its toll on your well-being. Therefore, it’s vital to try and stay connected to the world around you.

Spend time in nature to clear your head. Participate in personal and professional communities to reinforce a sense of belonging. And take some time off to refresh your creative spirit.

None of these things may be as profound as, say, going to a packed concert or travelling to your favorite vacation spot. But they can add up to make a positive difference in your life.