Why mental health matters more for freelancers.
Let's kick off with why. Simon Sinek would be proud.
I’m slowly rebuilding our resources section, in a more structured manner to make it easier for freelancers to understand the importance of mental health, find resources to tackle specific issues, and put things in place to take care of their own wellbeing.
I’ll be posting new resources, guides, topics and tools, which will eventually build into a full resource library, covering a broad range of topics. Sort of like a book, but that you get a new chapter every week(?).
If you’re subscribed now - you’ll get every chapter. If you join half-way-thru, you’ll be able to go back and browse the archives, or see the resources on leapers.co too.
We’ll also be including stories from fellow freelancers about their journey - so if you’d like to share, please get in touch.
Let’s begin with why this matters so much.
Why mental health at work matters even more when you're freelancing.
It won’t have escaped you that mental health at work has been a major topic over past few years.
Indeed, it is much needed - over 70% of sick days off are caused by work-related stress.
This focus is a good thing - more employers recognise that supporting their people to work well, benefits everyone - the individuals, the business, society at large.
But when you’re self-employed, there is no HR team running wellness events, there is no employee-assistance programme to help you out, there is no manager to support you, there is rarely a team to lean on, and we have minimal rights or protections in law.
And I would argue that mental health at work, when you’re self-employed, is an even more important consideration than when you’re in employment.
Without you, there is no business
YOU are the most important asset in your business. Not your laptop, not your adobe subscription, not ChatGPT, not your coffee machine, not your very beautiful clicky-keyboard (I’m loving the pastels though), and not your endless collection of notebooks - but YOU.
Without you, no work is getting done, no clients are having their problems solved, no marketing, no sales, no invoices, nothing. When you’re self-employed, it’s all about you (one of the rare times in life where it really is).
We remember to recharge our phones - because we know without that, we can’t work. We put our laptop in a bag, so it doesn’t get dropped or scratched. We pay for insurance should the worst happen.
Yet, for many, we neglect or don’t yet have a plan for recharging ourselves, protecting ourselves. Without having a plan in place to take care of our own mental health… we risk putting our entire business out of business.
In so many ways, our mental health is the missing chapter in our business plan. Without it, our business is not sustainable.
And whilst you can recharge a mobile phone or replace a dropped laptop - there’s only one of you.
To be continued…
Did you know, over 34% of freelancers chose to work in self-employment to find improvements in their mental health?
We want to share your stories - if you’re interested in being interviewed for an upcoming edition, or would like to share your experiences in self-employment, please DM me. I don’t bite.
For hirers:
Most businesses who rely upon freelancers recognise the value of having access to fluid talent - whether its to protect gaps in your resourcing, to scale up when you’re busy, or extend into new areas by accessing specialist talent.
But many businesses don’t realise that a lack of effective ways of working with freelancers leads to poorer productivity and poorer health for the people they lean upon to deliver work.
It doesn’t take much to be Freelance Friendly. If you’re interested in learning how - get in touch.
Background Reading:
Excited to see this tabled amendment by Lib Dem Work and Pensions minister Steve Darling, aiming to support the self-employed who are adopting children. Whilst I don’t expect the amendment to be included in the Employee Rights Bill - more noise around topics like this are essential.
That’s all for today
✌️ mk