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5 ways to be a<br />
happy freelancer<br />
With her new book, Out of Office, being your go-to guide for all<br />
things freelance, who better to share the secrets of how to protect<br />
your mental health while bossing your own business, than<br />
regular <strong>Happiful</strong> contributor Fiona Thomas?<br />
If you’ve struggled to get back<br />
into the regular nine-to-five<br />
rhythm, or are in need of a<br />
career change, then setting up<br />
as a freelancer might seem like<br />
the perfect solution. No boss,<br />
no problem, right? Being selfemployed<br />
certainly comes with<br />
some mental health benefits.<br />
Flexibility, creative freedom, and<br />
a sense of accomplishment – not<br />
to mention the option to plonk<br />
yourself down in the trendiest<br />
café and call it your office. But the<br />
truth is that freelancing can be<br />
just as mentally draining as the<br />
traditional workplace. Here are<br />
my top five tips on how to support<br />
your mental wellbeing, and give<br />
yourself the best shot at being a<br />
happy freelancer...<br />
1. Get paid on time<br />
Late payments are, unfortunately,<br />
a common problem for most<br />
freelancers. I have lots of lovely<br />
clients who pay on time, but that’s<br />
not always the case. To keep your<br />
stress levels in check, don’t hang<br />
around. Always send invoices as<br />
soon as work is completed. Make<br />
sure that your payment terms<br />
are clear and set out in writing<br />
— ideally as part of a contract —<br />
before you start work. If possible,<br />
take payment upfront (or at least<br />
a percentage) to make life easier.<br />
Use a spreadsheet to keep track of<br />
what date you sent each invoice,<br />
58 • happiful.com • <strong>October</strong> <strong>2020</strong>
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