The job, the juggle, and the headspace it needs.
There’s a moment, usually around the point when you’re in bed and trying to get to sleep when your brain won’t shut up. I’m guessing this hits every self-employed person at one time or another:
“How is it this hard… and no one even notices?”
Being your own boss sounds great. Until you realise that also means being your own marketing team, receptionist, sales department, creative director, financial controller, admin assistant, cleaner, courier and somewhere down the list actually doing the work you’re paid for.
It’s not a complaint.
It’s just… a lot.
🎩 The Many Hats (And You’re Wearing All of Them)
Let’s take a moment to list out the things self-employed folks juggle.
Feel free to tick them off like a bingo card.
- Find the work – Post on social media, attend networking events submit tenders. Refresh inbox. Hope something sticks.
- Answer enquiries – The “quick” replies that steal hours from your day.
- Talk to potential clients – Smile. Sound confident. Try to remember what you charge.
- Visit clients – Pack the car or the van. Show up on time, appear fresh and eager even though you may have been at work since 6am not had lunch or a break and it’s now 7pm…you can always see the kids tomorrow.
- Write quotes – Try and work out a cost that sounds fair but won’t leave you out of pocket or too expensive to get the actual work.
- Carry out the work – Which, ironically, is probably the only bit you really enjoy…and the only bit you actually get paid for.
- Chase payments – Send polite emails that scream “PLEASE PAY ME” in invisible ink.
- Pay others – Staff, contractors, suppliers. They need paying even if you haven’t been paid yet.
- Handle problems – No one else is fixing it. It’s just you. Could be cash flow, staffing, suppliers or quality issues.
- Switch off at home – Attempt to have a life while your brain replays the to-do list. (Easier said than done).
And repeat.
🧠 It’s the Thinking That’s Tiring
It’s not just the tasks. It’s the constant decision-making.
Do I reply now or later?
Should I chase that enquiry again?
Is my quote too high? Too low?
Will this client pay on time?
Will I be able to pay everyone else on time?
There’s no manager to reassure you.
No colleague to bounce an idea off.
No team to pick up the slack.
It’s you, your thoughts, and a lukewarm brew (if you have time to make one).
💸 When You’re Waiting to Get Paid (and the Bills are Due Tomorrow)
You might be doing everything right, delivering work on time, providing a great service, but still lying awake at night wondering when the invoice is going to clear.
And when it’s not just your money on the line?
You’ve got suppliers waiting.
A contractor who needs paying.
Maybe even staff to look after.
That’s a lot of responsibility and a lot of pressure that no one sees.
You’re juggling cash flow in your head, running mental spreadsheets at 2am, and hoping the next payment lands before the next bill does or you may be dipping into your families savings to pay the bills.
🙃 You Can Love It… And Still Find It Hard
Being self-employed can be amazing. You get freedom (in theory). Flexibility. A chance to build something of your own. It can be so rewarding but very lonely. Even the owners directors of successful companies have days where they absolutely dread going in to work.
You’re carrying everything the work, the risk, the reputation and still showing up with a smile.
✍️ This Is Where Writing It Down Helps
You can’t clone yourself (yet), but making space in your head may help ease at least some of the worries.
A simple daily to do list or journal can help:
- Prioritise what actually matters today
- Capture thoughts before they spiral out of control and you start catastrophising (we’ve done a blog on this)
- Track your effort (not just your results)
- Close it off at the end of the day, note down what the plan or to do list is for tomorrow then close the page and breathe.
🛋 Final Thought
If you’re feeling the weight of working alone, you’re not failing.
You’re carrying more than most people will ever see.
You don’t need to do it all perfectly.
You just need a way to manage the noise and remember a bit of kindness for yourself along the way.
Here’s a short list of some of our other posts that may help you if you’re struggling to get through the days.
A Pep Talk You Didn’t Ask For But Might Need
Routine Builds Resilience
The Reset Kit
And our favourite – Do Nothing On Purpose
👉 If you want to give journaling a go, take a look at our Get Stuff Done Daily Planner and Goal Tracker. There are no dates in this, you can dip in and out of it when you feel you need to.
GET STUFF DONE 
Leave a comment