How to Beat Freelance Writer Burnout

It happens to every writer eventually. Even though you know you still love to write, and even though you know that your livelihood depends on you writing, you just can’t bring yourself to tap out another word. You have writer burnout.

Burnout is real in every career, so it should be no surprise that it happens to freelance writers every now and then. Being burned out doesn’t mean that you’re failing as a freelance writer or that you should give up and go back to your day job. It doesn’t mean that you’re a bad writer or that you’ve been kidding yourself by thinking that you could actually make a living as a writer. All it means is that you need to re-tap your inspiration and find a new reason to get excited about your work. Burnout doesn’t have to set your dreams of being a freelancer on fire, as long as you take steps to beat it. If you think you could be experiencing writer burnout, take these steps to win back your confidence and positive outlook.

Recognize Burnout When It’s Happening

The first step of beating burnout is realizing it is happening. The sooner you can admit to yourself that burnout has set in, the sooner you can get back to feeling better about your work. Could you be burned out? Here are some of the common symptoms:

• Your work is taking you longer than normal to finish.
• You keep getting distracted when you’re writing—checking social media, watching TV, or even doing the laundry instead of finishing a piece.
• You’re making more mistakes than normal in your work.
• You haven’t been pitching for new work because you can’t find any opportunities that excite you.
• You haven’t updated your portfolio recently.
• You increasingly dread sitting down in front of the computer.

These symptoms can become a self-perpetuating cycle of frustration, as your days become longer and the work becomes increasingly stale, since you’re not hunting for anything new. Getting real about the fact that you’re dealing with burnout gives you the freedom to do something about it, so be honest with yourself about what feels wrong about your work.

Pinpoint the Problems

When burnout happens, there is usually a complex list of reason. However, you can beat the burnout by identifying the main contributors to the mix. For example, are you bored with the kind of writing you are doing? Are you frustrated with pitching for jobs that you’re not getting? Is your working environment so filled with interruptions that you feel like you can’t do your best work?

Determine what exactly is standing in the way of you enjoying your freelance work and what is making it harder to get your job done. Even if these main issues don’t address every cause for your burnout, dealing with the major contributors could be a game changer for your work.

Change Up Your Schedule

Sometimes, making a change to your schedule is all you need to do to breathe new life into your writing. Do you always wake up in the morning and stumble straight for the computer? If so, try getting up, going for a walk, showering, and making coffee before you start your working day. Taking some time for yourself and clearing your head before you work may help you sit down in front of the screen with a renewed outlook.

Alternatively, if you feel like you’re working too long into the evenings, set your alarm for a bit earlier and create a strict writing schedule for the day, so you can get your work done in during traditional working hours and have your evenings free for family and friends.

Don’t forget to make breaks a part of your day. You will always burn out if you feel like you’re chained to the computer for hours on end. Get up, take a walk around the block, make a cup of tea, or go to lunch with a friend. Take frequent 10-15 minute breaks to give your brain a rest.

One of the benefits of being your own boss is that your schedule is what you make it. Take advantage of your ability to tweak your working day to help fight back against burnout.

Realize That It Is OK to Feel Burned Out

Every writer can talk themselves into the idea that they are the only ones to ever burn out, but it is simply not true. You’re not the only writer who is frustrated with the process, while all the other writers there have the words pouring out of their heads on demand. Writers burn out. It is just part of the process.

It’s acceptable to have some off days and simply do your best to get through them. It is also OK to reconfigure your schedule, take a few days off, or shift some deadlines around when you need to. Sometimes, giving yourself permission to feel burned out and to need some downtime is all you need to return to your work feeling refreshed.

Find Writing Work That Excites You

If your burnout is linked to a writing rut, it’s time to refresh your client list. Take a day or two to focus on deciding what kind of work you want to do next and to prepare pitches to potential freelance clients. For example, if you’re used to writing blogs for businesses, pitch a long-form article to a magazine. If you’re tired of writing technical guides, indulge your love of sports by picking up some sports blogging jobs.

As you try to add new work to your schedule—and get rid of work that you find boring—remember to take your work seriously. No matter what kind of pieces you are writing, you’re doing a job that requires talent and skill. Don’t downplay any of your writing just because you hope to move on to different kinds of writing in the future. Your work counts, and it makes you a writer.

At Writers Work, we have the formula for busting burnout with our consistently updated job lists and Writers Marketplace, where clients can come directly to you. Dip your toes into new kinds of writing and find a steady stream of clients who need your skills in our community. Start your membership today, and begin creating a freelance writing career that you’ll be excited to build!