How can freelancing and self-employment benefit your health?
However, despite it being tricky to care for your health in a very busy world - where life moves at a dizzying pace - studies have shown that switching from regular employment to self-employment can benefit your health massively.
Self-employment can actually help you work at your own pace and do something that you are passionate and knowledgeable about, boosting all types of health. Allowing for more freedom in what work you choose to do - which can provide a mental health boost - as well as being your own boss can really allow you to care for your own mental wellbeing and achieve huge levels of satisfaction in your work.
Physically, self-employment can allow you to spend less time commuting and more time outside, as well as socialising and taking time off for family and friend engagements, all things which can contribute to a positive health streak. Equally, for those with long term health conditions and disabilities, being your own boss can allow you to work around your condition - for example going to hospital appointments - without impacting on the work you can do, as well as allowing for you to avoid inaccessible travel.
Overall, then, self-employment is great for freedom and flexibility. This can come with its challenges, but also allows you to be less confined to one place and time, meaning you can make time for activities that can improve your health. If you work from home, this allows you to make sure you have regular access to snacks, and can make more full-bodied meals, whilst choosing to work in a self-employed shared space or a cafe can allow you to connect with others in the community and decrease the risk of feeling isolated and lonely - so there are ways to get the coffee corner feel without working in an office.
Dealing with minor illnesses and health issues if you’re freelancing
Even if you do everything you can to stop it, minor illnesses and health issues can creep up on you through no fault of your own. Making sure you have a backup plan - such as savings to cover your basic expenses whilst you get better - can allow you to bounce back from your minor illness without many complications which can then spiral and contribute to stress and more health issues. It’s also worth noting that regular rest and breaks for yourself are actually productive activities and should be scheduled into your daily workload. This will allow your body to keep fit and well to be in the best position to fight minor illnesses and health issues if they so arise.
Building an understanding client base can also be vital to dealing with minor illnesses. Having clients who respect you and your work will mean that delaying deadlines and focusing on your health will be both understood and encouraged, allowing for you to get back to work as and when you are ready.
It is also worth considering passing on work in an emergency if your clients need the work quickly. Building a network of freelancers who you can outsource to will enable you to be confident that, if needed, your client will not be harmed by short term illness, keeping your clients happy, helping you to build friends, and - you never know - you may get asked to cover work yourself in return!
Finding illness insurance if you’re self employed
Illness insurance can seem like an unnecessary protection when you’re fit and well, but it’s incredibly valuable if you fall sick. Knowing you’ll still receive an income even if you’re unable to work means you can focus on getting better rather than worrying about the mortgage, bills and looking after your family or other dependents.
IPSE membership can include up to £2,000 of illness and injury cover, but you also get access and discounts on a range of health insurance and wellbeing support via partners in the IPSE offers.
Obviously the exact cover and policy you need will depend on your individual situation. If you work in a dangerous industry with an increased risk of physical injury, or your ability to perform rests on your health, then you may want to invest in a higher level of insurance and protection..
You should also check that your policy covers you for any specific conditions which are likely to crop up. And some common issues, like stress or back pain, are usually excluded, so it’s still worthwhile to build up your savings as a safety net.
Some long-term insurance policies will cover issues such as cancers, heart attacks and strokes, and often pay out a tax-free lump sum if you’re diagnosed with a serious illness.
You should also think about dependents, such as your children or partner. Critical illness cover may not offer them a payment, so it could be worth choosing additional life insurance to ensure they’re taken care off in the most unfortunate circumstances
If you previously enjoyed good health cover as an employee, it can be worth checking who it was with, and getting a quote on an identical policy. But when you start freelancing or become self-employed, your needs and priorities are likely to change, so it’s still worth checking alternatives, especially with sizable discounts through IPSE offers for members.
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