Self-Employed Freelancers & Small Businesses: How To Work Alone Without Feeling Lonely

by Donna Doyle

Ask free agents what they don't like about their job, and I bet one of their top complaints is dealing with the isolation one can feel when working from a home office. Cabin fever. No social outlet. Loneliness! Some people, in fact, find the isolation so uncomfortable that they just can't make the adjustment. They're usually the first of us freelancers to get back into a regular staff job. While you may not be able to trade gossip around the water cooler, it is possible to go solo and still feel connected to the outside world. Here are five tips for beating the isolation blues and enjoying the best of both worlds! 1. Take a Lunch Hour. Whether you're meeting a friend or associate for lunch, or even going grocery shopping, that midday break provides much-needed people contact while also helping you feel refreshed and ready to take on the remainder of the day. Getting away from that computer screen can also be the perfect way to beat writers block 2. Listen to Talk Radio. I was never a talk radio fan when I worked on staff. But when I decided to become a free agent, my friend Stu, who runs a Public Relations Agency from his home office, told me he turned on talk radio as a way to feel connected. So I gave it a try, and now I'm hooked. Not only does talk radio help me keep up with current events, but hearing human voices all day does give me a subconscious impression of working in a larger office atmosphere. 3. Exercise. I quickly discovered how easy it is to gain weight while working at home. Since you're not commuting to a job, running for a train, or walking up and down steps from meeting to meeting, the pounds pile on before you say "freelancer"! If possible, join a gym. Not only will it help keep away those creeping pounds, but it could offer a social outlet as well. Exercise also releases endorphins, those feel-good brain chemicals that help you manage stress and fatigue...and help you beat the blues and stay focused during the slow times. I find that my exercise break during also helps clear my head. It gives me a chance to think about something else rather than the blank screen in front of me. And once I return and ready to work again, my writer's block usually disappears. 4. Be Disciplined! Treat your at-home business like a staff job. I'm at my desk, showered, dressed and ready to start my day by 9:00 each morning. I usually sign off by 4:30. Work whatever hours are most comfortable and productive for you, but make sure you're accessible to clients during a normal business day. Remember that for freelancers, time is your most precious commodity. Try not to fall into the trap of doing household chores or running errands. While your house may become spic-and-span, you just probably just lost out on what could have been a productive, income-producing day! 5. Go Ahead--Make Personal Calls. That's one of the best parts about being your own boss. No one can stop you from making personal calls on business time! A short chat with a friend boosts morale and self-confidence. Creating your own telephone and e-mail support network of fellow freelancers is also an ideal way to share ideas, thoughts, even fears and career goals. But beware: Personal calls can also become one of your top time-wasters. A little bit goes a long way. Don't let it get out of control! Donna Doyle has been creating winning direct mail and advertising copy for over 15 years. A nominee for AWAI's 2006 "Copywriter of the Year", Donna is also a sought-after copy coach and consultant. Learn more about Donna, her clients, and her coaching services by visiting www.copybydoyle.com. You can also sign up to receive her fre* E-Report, 10 Success Tips for Freelance Writers.