Many of us are not strangers to freelancing; it’s just part of who we are, what we do, and how we make a living.

But it can be a serious burn and can lead to significant burnout if we’re not careful. It can even make some of our work in our 9-5 job really suck.

Here are a few ways that I’ve been able to manage freelancing without burnout…

1. Work Hours

By establishing reasonable work hours I’ve been able to stop burnout before it happens. As you know, the biggest factor of burnout is time and we simply spend too much time doing freelance work.

Set hours, stick to them, and then get it done. Be honest, reasonable, and realistic, and get some accountability to it! Schedule it out, make room for flexibility, and then commit.

2. Separate Ministry and Freelance and Home

It’s hard to separate and compartmentalize but it’s almost a necessity for your own sanity. Sure, a lot of what we do bleeds into nearly everything we do everywhere but the more we to be even more cautious and aware.

The biggest thing to stop burnout is making sure that your “home” is your “home” and that there’s a clear delineation, especially if you have a family. This enables you also to simply relax, which is a hard thing to do for a lot of us!

3. Charge Fairly

This can be tough but it’s one of the biggest things you’ll need to do: Charge what you’re worth and do it without shame or guilt.

It’s your responsibility to be a good steward of your time, resources, and bandwidth. Most freelancers in the ministry space that I know don’t charge nearly enough, and that’s sad. You’re doing yourself a disservice, the organization’s, and all the rest of us freelancers as well!