How Working Freelance Helps HSPs With Anxiety & Overwhelm
Are Highly Sensitive People better suited to a freelance lifestyle?
Grab a cup of coffee & let me paint you a picture… One winter night, about seven years ago, I had just started working full-time as the director of communications for a large non-profit organization. It was 5:30 pm and I was driving home from the office, exhausted, depleted, and overwhelmed, when I decided I should probably stop at the grocery store.
Already mentally & physically spent from being “on” all day, I gritted my teeth as I fought traffic on my commute home.
After leaving the grocery store, I dragged the shopping bags from my car into the house and, Zombie-like, distributed the items into the fridge and pantry. After mentally patting myself on the back for getting through another “productive” day, I ate a sandwich and stumbled into bed. I didn’t have my kids with me that night so I was able to calm down and go to sleep by myself after a long, draining day.
However, what did I find when I woke up the next day? A large package of ground beef sitting out on the kitchen counter. Sigh… Obviously, after having it sit out all night, I had to throw the beef away. What a waste!
Existing Day to Day
This very true story is meant to illustrate the intensity that most Highly Sensitive People face each and every day. Does it resonate with you?
Overwhelm related to work multiplies by several factors for HSPs, including:
Working in a busy office setting
Dealing with stressful, important, or confrontational events or issues
Attending both in-person or virtual meetings
Feeling rushed
And, if you’re a parent? Well then double or triple the mental and physical load regarding planning, schedules, and emotional labour.
This is why many Highly Sensitive People often prefer quieter jobs where they can set their own pace, incorporate flexibility into their day, and avoid some of the more draining facets of corporate life and working in an office.
Obviously freelance copywriting fits into this need nicely. This is not to say that freelancing is a magic bullet. It’s not. There are endless tasks and admin work when one is a freelancer. And some of these tasks involve expending more energy than full-time employees. More on this topic in another post…
However, when we hone in on avoiding exhaustion and overwhelm, freelancing from home or a remote location of your choice often makes more sense.
What do you think? Does setting your own schedule fill you with glee - or dread? Do you dream of waking up, grabbing a coffee, and walking downstairs to your “office” or does the isolation scare you? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Niche Freelance Opportunities
Senior Copywriter (courtesy of Freelancing Females)
Freelance Writer (Canadian Freelance Guild. Note that you’ll need to become a CFG member to see the full gig details)
Freelance Writer for Design Directive
Content Writer for Mercer-MacKay
Freelance Copywriter, Marcom (Marketing Communications) - Remote, US
—
Until next time, HSPs — stay real.
Lisa
I so agree about doing your own free lance work. I chose it years ago when I came to the conclusion I wasn’t cut out to fit anyone else’s mold. I’m not cut out to be an employee. I can’t show up to an office everyday prepared to be ‘on’. Multiple meetings in a day and those that drag on are draining. When my son was younger and I worked all day, I struggled hard to make it all work. Many says did I feel dysregulated and like I couldn’t cope. Wow, there’s so much to say on this topic. Working for myself suits me so much better. One day this week, I showered and hung out with my laptop cozied up in bed catching up on all my own things and some work. I spoke to no one. I didn’t feel like fully dressing so I didn’t. I burned candles in my space and gazed out the window when I needed. On another day, I worked on my laptop but took a long walk in the afternoon sunshine with my dog and raked leaves just so I could spend more time outdoors. I will never go back to being someone’s employee. I think you’ve got to embrace you. Nothing else will truly fit.