5 Steps For Freelancers to Follow Every Evening

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Creating the perfect morning routine as a freelancer is so important – but it’s equally as important to follow a healthy evening routine.

As a freelancer, a lot of your work will likely take place at home, so you’ll need to find ways to fully switch off after a day of work.

Following the right evening routine can help you avoid burnout and feel excited to get back to your work the next day. Let’s dive in!

5 steps for freelancers to follow every evening

There are lots of ways to create the right freelance evening routine for you. I’ve put together 5 key steps to follow every evening, including:

1. Decide your finish time
2. Wrap up your work
3. Take a step away from your desk
4. Don’t check your emails
5. Create an effective bedtime routine

Let’s take a look at these steps in a little more detail…

1. Decide your finish time

Deciding your finish time is more than just picking an arbitrary time. Set yourself a final working time that works for you and your business – and avoid pushing work later and later into the evening.

A finish time can also keep you focused during the afternoon, as you know exactly how much time you have to complete your tasks for the day.

This is definitely an area of improvement for me. I tend to finish between 5 and 6 – but sometimes I push it to 6.30. Although I like to stay flexible, it’s nice to have a time in mind so that I can start to wind down in the evening.

2. Wrap up your work

You need to wrap up your work before you finish for the day. This can make sure you’ve finished everything you need – and you can take a step away from your desk without worrying about any ongoing projects.

However, wrapping up your work doesn’t mean finishing everything – that’s not possible. Whether you offer translation services or you write for a living, try finishing your train of thought and tying up any loose ends.

Check your emails one last time, decide what you need to finish today, and write your to-do list for the morning. All of these tasks will gently mark the end of your day.

3. Take a step away from your desk

If you work out of the house, you’ll have a more concrete way to mark the end of your day – but that doesn’t mean you can’t step away if you work from home.

I recommend physically leaving your desk or office – even if it’s just for a 10-minute walk. The act of actually getting up from your desk and walking away can help you mark the end of your day.

I go to the gym to take a much-needed break from screens, but you could go into your kitchen to make food, go in the shower or go into a different room.

You just need something that marks the end of your work day physically, otherwise you might be tempted to go back to your desk.

4. Don’t check your emails

Once you’ve decided it’s the end of the day, you need to stop checking emails and messages about work. For me, that includes checking LinkedIn and freelance forums, too.

Although it’s impossible to make yourself stop thinking about work, finding that separation between your work life and your personal life can help you maintain a healthy work/life balance.

Your brain needs a break to feel energised and ready for work the next day – and your evening routine should be geared towards giving yourself the rest you need.

5. Create an effective bedtime routine

Finally, every freelancer needs an effective bedtime routine. Everything revolves around your sleep. If you don’t get a proper night’s sleep, you’ll feel groggy and unproductive – and you’re more likely to make poor decisions the next day.

An effective bedtime routine means no caffeine or alcohol before bed. I like to follow a calming skincare routine before I go to sleep – but you could read or meditate to feel peaceful.

How do you create an evening routine that works for you? Do you have any tips for freelancers? What steps do you follow in the evening?

Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below 🙂

Happy reading x