Well hello to you my reader chums! It's nearly a year since I've been freelancing full-time, and despite enjoying the journey, I can't deny it's difficult, especially in the low periods. Freelancing is a constant learning curve and comes with its lessons and rewards.

One thing difficult about freelancing is the solitude and lack of colleagues you'd have in a regular 9-5 role. If you're a freelancer dealing with loneliness, here are my best tips on coping with that.

Join a local coworking group

I'm grateful that I have a local coworking group in Folkestone as they act as my 'colleagues' which I'd have in a typical 9-5 job. I love my coworking group as they're an incredible community of business owners and remote workers, and generally a bunch of awesome humans. I go to coworking multiple times a week in different cafes and it's a perfect part of my routine, joining others to work with. The best bit of coworking is it doesn't feel like work, it's always fun and we have social nights outside of our 'working' times together, such as pizza-making evenings and cheese nights.

Whatever town or city you're in, coworking groups and cafes are around you, you just need to search for them. If you can't find them, why not start your own? You never know what other business owners and freelancers you'll meet along the way. 

Join virtual meetups

A more accessible option is joining virtual meetups. I always see groups on Linkedin for freelancing meetups and coworking sessions together. Whether it's every week or once a month, getting together with groups of people online will immerse you into the freelancer community, allow you to meet others and stay social throughout your week.

Attend networking events

Networking events are the key to putting yourself out there in the freelancing world. It's where I've met clients, potential leads and other freelancers doing similar things to me. Networking has helped me grow my confidence, make friends in the freelancing world and find business. Research which networking events are on in your area and book them at least once a month or how often you see fit for your business. 

Book in regular social events with loved ones

Aside from socialising on a work basis, keeping social with loved ones is incredibly important for your mental health. Working alone can be beneficial but also detrimental to your mind and this is why I'd recommend booking regular events. Whether it's having a coffee with a friend, giving a relative a call or attending a club, whatever social events are for you, book them in as much as you can.

Work elsewhere than your home office 

Working at home 24/7 isn't great for your flow of creativity or productivity. It's good for you every so often to work in a different environment, whether that's a coffee shop or a co-working space. I love to work in coffee shops with my co-working friends but also independently. There are also plenty of co-working spaces on offer to hire out desks or office spaces to do your work. 

Connect with others on LinkedIn and invite them for a virtual coffee

LinkedIn is the best hub for connecting with other freelancers and meeting new people. If you're looking to learn more about people you connect with, invite them for a virtual coffee. It's the perfect opportunity to get to know someone and build a potential contact for collaborations or to recommend other services.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What other tips would you add?

Thank you for reading <3