Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue, Freelancers Are People and We Need <3 Too

With the day of love right around the corner, I thought it would be a good time to chat about something near and dear to my heart. The importance of self-love!

As a freelancer, it is very important to practice self-love on a regular basis. And you have to be more intentional about it than you might if you're in a full-time position. After all, you are your own manager, project coordinator and director—if you don't take care of yourself, no one else will either! >>>>>>HUUUUUGGGSSSS<<<<<<<< Here are some practical ways to love yourself :)

Set boundaries

When you go freelance, people (family, friends and clients alike) often think that you suddenly have a ton of free time and are available at all hours of the day. Everyone has to find their own comfort level, and it depends on the kind of life you want to have. Some people want to work traditional hours and "clock out" every day at 5pm. Some people want to sleep in and work late into the evening. Find what works for you, and then set healthy boundaries with your family/friends/clients to make it happen as often as possible. 

Take care of yourself

Working from home, it's easy for me to get into the zone and just sit in front of my MacBook for hours. Sometimes I even forget to eat all day! So I'm writing this just as much for myself as advice for you ;) But it is super important to take breaks throughout the day, get regular exercise, stimulate your brain and TRY to eat healthy!

This year, one of my goals is to cultivate a morning routine that includes exercise and creative brain stimulation (e.g., podcasts, blogs). So far I've been pretty successful at one of these (take a guess!)...and not so much on the other. But when I'm successful at both, it carries throughout my entire day, and my body and mind feel so much clearer! 

Choose projects wisely

One of the best things about being a freelancer is that you get to choose what you work on. Sometimes you might have to take work that's less than glamorous, but you still have a choice. Don't just focus on the money, but choose projects that energize you and light you up! 

Support other freelancers

No one REALLY knows what the #freelancelife is like except other freelancers. And what better way to show self-love than to build relationships with your community. Reach out and support one another. And get out of the house every once in a while! Meet up in a coffee shop or a park to work (put that mobile hotspot to work) or just catch up!

Reward yourself

You work hard, and you deserve a break. Or that expensive shirt you've been eyeing online. Or a fancy dinner and night out on the town with friends (or your lover!). When you take time for yourself, you are re-energized and can bring your best to your work. Being busy is not an excuse to not spend time on yourself. I can promise you, you'll actually be MORE productive if you just take that break that you're so desperately craving.

And don't forget, you're in control of your schedule! So take that 5-week vacation you've always dreamed of and go somewhere that doesn't have a computer screen.

Now I'm going to take my own advice and take a walk to the neighborhood ice cream shop with my Aaron & Luna! :)