I'm Self-Employed and Always Busy, but Here's How I Maintain a Healthy Work/Life Balance

Many freelancers will back me up when I say that when you work for yourself, it's hard not to say yes when a job opportunity comes your way. You never know when the next payment is coming, and some opportunities are too good to pass up. But remember to value your time and skills: there is no shame in saying no, especially if the pay isn't right, the job doesn't excite you, or you already have too much on your plate. Even if it's for a friend.

We work to a schedule for day-to-day duties, but it's important to schedule in some time for yourself, too. Pick a day each week where you can allot some much-needed time with yourself. No phone, no laptop, no TV, no people – just you. If you work from home, the lines between work and home often become blurred, so making this "date" with yourself a priority.

Being self-employed means you'll have to do a lot of drab stuff you probably don't want to do, like tax returns, accounting, and invoicing. Luckily, there are lots of tools out there to make the job easier. For invoicing, my personal favorite is Invoice Home. It creates all your invoices on the same template, so all you need to do is add in the details and download. It will also keep a record all your past invoices and crunch numbers, which helps with accounting.

Ending your day with a bit of reflection really helps you free the mind of all you've achieved that day, plus it will give you more head space to dream big. If you work from home, it's also a useful tool to get yourself out of "work" mode in a physical way. Put down your laptop or work tools, move to a different room, and take a breath.

When you're freelance, routine often goes out the window. Sometimes you don't know whether you're coming or going, or where you're going to be from one day to the next, so it's imperative you try to create a daily routine for yourself. I wake up at the same time every day, even if I'm working from home, and ensure I eat three meals a day and take a lunch break as I would if I was going into an office. It helps to maintain some structure.

Try to keep a different calendar for all aspects of your life so they don't become muddled. I have one for work, health, family, friends, and relationship. If you do this online and link them, you will see clearly in your week view which one needs more nurturing. If it's all work, maybe it's time to add some play too?

It's so easy when working from home to stay in your PJs all day; however, as stated earlier, you need to create a routine for yourself, and by getting dressed you're subconsciously getting ready to start the day, whether you're leaving your home or not. Even if it's just switching from PJs to leisurewear, it makes a difference.

I'm not great at meditating but one of my freelance friends suggested I incorporate this into my evening routine as a way to stay grounded after a busy day. It's definitely something I intend to work on!

Try and have a set, dedicated time for technology in the evenings: I call it a "techmo." During a "techmo," I spend an allotted time browsing through my email, scrolling Instagram, and do a bit of googling. But when the clock hits 9 p.m., I give my phone to my husband and don't look at it until I set my alarm for the following morning.

Try to schedule in some exercise during the week so you're releasing some endorphins. They'll give you the mood boost and motivation to be as productive as possible during work hours. Plus, exercise can help you sleep soundly at night.

Another must-do (apart from invoicing when you work for yourself) is your accounts. Leaving it all until the last few days before the tax return is due is the road to ruin. However tedious it may be, it must be done. There are so many apps and tools on the market today that help you to get your everyday accounts in order. Try Quick Books, or you could hire an accountant to do it all for you depending on your budget (a good accountant could make you more savings than they cost to hire).