Self-Care Buys for Freelancers to Kick-Start 2023
January can be a difficult month to sink into after the aftermath of Christmas, but it can be especially hard for freelancers. No office chit-chat to see you through those first few days, just new goals, deadlines, and pitches to be getting on with. Not to mention the looming HMRC deadline (don’t forget to mark that one in your calendar!)
So in a bid to make January go as smoothly as possible, we’ve popped together five of the best self-care buys for freelancers. From subscriptions to a little something to make you actually get away from your desk. Here are our top buys, picked by freelancers for freelancers:
Coffee subscription
Oh, coffee, the juice of productivity and positivity. It’s this month, especially that we must remember that not all coffee was made equal. We recently explored our favourite coffee brands, and it’s safe to say this is the month to treat yourself a little. Whether you invest in a big bag of your favourite beans, or perhaps even set the year upright with a coffee subscription (we’ve got our eyes on the Assembly one).
More of a coffee purchaser than a coffee maker? There is always a Pret subscription, right?
New headphones
Hands up who’s headphones are looking a little worse for wear? Now is the time to freshen up how you are getting your endorphin-producing sounds. We know everyone has their preferences, and the ease of the Apple AirPods is a draw, but equally, you cannot beat an over-the-head set of headphones (like these Sony ones) that not only cancel sound but double up as ear muffs, a true win-win situation.
Whatever you choose make sure to set yourself up with a good playlist, and maybe a new podcast listen? Our resident content genius, Ellie, has a great finance podcast, Money Unfiltered worth giving a listen.
Dose of vitamin D
The days are short, and the days with the sun are, well, infrequent at best. There’s no doubt that we all perform a little better, or at least feel much brighter with a good dose of vitamin D in our system. When we can’t get the sunshine, we bring the sunshine - why not try adding a sunlamp to your home office? There are so many to choose from, but this Lumie one has caught our eye.
Typically recommended for those suffering from SAD, however, as sunlight is how our skin produces the much-needed Vitamin D, it’s worthwhile for everyone in these grey winter countries to consider this self-care purchase!
Creative distraction
Sometimes the answer is to leave your desk and laptop behind. Perhaps you have (wisely) chosen a more gentle approach to the new year, with a lack of pressure/deadlines. In which case, what better way to kickstart your new year than with creative distraction?
The best way to get inspired is to move away from your typical subject matter and look elsewhere. Why not invest in a National Art Pass? The pass gives you 50% off to free admission into top museums, galleries, and even some cinemas.
Online community membership
You either thrive from lone working, or you just don’t, and that’s okay! Being a freelancer doesn’t mean that you need to spend the rest of your days alone, beavering away from your desk. Whilst some lucky souls work near fantastic co-working spaces or have a good coffee shop to head to. Others can be a little more remote, so what is one to do in this situation?
Perhaps it’s time to consider an online community membership. It only takes a quick google search to find how many amazing communities there are out there, from some very generic freelancing ones to those niche to your subject matter.
These are just a few ways to give yourself a much-needed treat in what feels like the longest month of the year. Remember to take it easy, prioritise setting yourself up for a good year, and don’t forget to get out for a walk, it’ll do you wonders.
This post was written by our Inner Circle member, Allie. If you’re in any need of Social Media advice or help, do be sure to book a 30-minute discovery call.
