im gonna make a thread of tips for freelancing with severe depression/anxiety because its the winter months and it might help not only myself but other people too
-keep a schedule, this one is p common but it does help to at least have a loose outline of what needs to be done and when, because you will be fuzzy brained and forget. keep track of your projects, pay, AND clients, even if its just one or two, get in the habit
-on the work days where youre numb and dead on the inside, work for 20 minutes. Then another 20 minutes. As many 20 minute chunks as you can get yourself to do, at least do one, the you tomorrow will thank you for the work you do today
-on the work days where your mind is running so fast your hands are shaking, get up, run, scream, cry, then again, take 20 minutes. Even if its bad work, get the bad work out of your system. 20 min of bad work is not a loss.
-surround your workspace with kind words and motivation. surround it with your best work, with things you love, things from people you love, so when you’re not being kind to yourself, your environment is
-communicate with your clients. they want to hear from you, even if it involves notifying them of a delay or a refund. Have prewritten messages ready for times when you can barely manage a couple words. Greet them kindly, inform succinctly, and sign off respectfully.
for the love of god go outside. you dont even have to walk around, just sit, outside in the fresh air for 5 minutes.
-be kind to yourself as much as possible. be the benevolent boss you need and dream of. Self discipline =/= self deprecation.
Self discipline is saying to yourself “I know you are hurting, I know you don’t want to do this, but you have to, and we are going to work together, body and mind, to get it done so its no longer weighing on you.”
If you take meds, make taking them the first thing you do every day. Then youre up! Might as well go sit at your desk now....
On top of backing up your work, save jpgs of your WIPs. If your PSD gets corrupted, at least you have something to work from and your soul will not want to shrivel up and die.
Keep personal hygiene products by your bed, for the days you literally cant move, at least you have the ability to get in a wet wipe bath and brush your teeth/floss.
Remember: you were hired for a reason and you’re probably doing great. Even if you don’t think it was your best work, you did it in spite of your challenges and difficulties. Reward each finished job with the self-indulgent self-care you deserve.
ok one more, place glasses/bottles of water by your bed and by your desk. i know you dont wanna listen to pinterest fb wishy washy stuff about how drinking water will cure your mental illness but this is me, ur depressed gremlin dad telling you to drink water and go outside
one last thing, this is not a cure all, you'll probably still have depression/anxiety even if you follow all this to a T. (I made the list and I cant follow it all perfectly) But thats ok, these are just ways to try and make the fight easier, ways to coexist with your demons.
just fyi, this thread is muted. im glad a lot of people found this helpful, and i wish i had it in me to respond to everyone but my health and work come first.
