How the Gig Economy Can Help Individuals with Mental Health Disorders
Guest Post by Melissa Howard, StopSuicide.info
Mental health disorders like anxiety and depression can affect every area of life. Sometimes, they can make working a traditional nine-to-five very difficult. However, understanding and utilizing the gig economy can reduce your mental health symptoms by adapting your work environment to meet your individual needs.
There’s More Flexibility
Whether you’re suffering from anxiety, depression, or other mental health disorder, a flexible work routine can help to bring balance to your life. If you’re an entrepreneur or are pursuing that path, there is the option to work from home instead of dealing with an exhausting commute or the stresses of day-to-day in-office routines. With greater flexibility, you have a tool that helps you to recharge and focus on stress reduction. In contrast, more traditional 9-to-5 jobs may not accommodate scheduling conflicts with a doctor’s appointment or a therapy session. Of course, there may be alternative solutions to fulfil appointments, but the gig economy could offer the freedom needed to better support one’s mental health.
Your Home Can Be Your Office
Working from home can be one of the best ways to improve our mental health. By using your house as your office, you save on rent and the costs associated with commuting. However, you do need to set up the space properly for success. Working from home requires maintaining a high-speed internet connection and regularly updating you hardware (computer, printer, etc.). Of course, you’ll need essential furniture as well, including a good working desk and a quality desk chair. Choose an interior design that you feel most comfortable with to help boost your mood and productivity while you work.
Income from Passions
Loving what we do can transform our sense of well-being. If we feel smothered by work, or dread going into the office, we may find that our mental health worsens. Thankfully, the liberty that comes with self-employment extends to what line of work you can choose. If you have a skill or hobby that you’re passionate about, you may be able to turn that into a job. For instance, you could teach languages online, or sell your own crafts on websites like Etsy—your options are endless. Ultimately, your mental health may be supported as you connect with something that helps you feel better.
Deciding Your Worth
Conditions like depression can seriously impact your self-worth. While there are no quick solutions, one benefit that comes with the gig economy is that you can begin building up your self-esteem by deciding your own rates. Even if you’re not experienced, you can gain enough income to comfortably support yourself on your own terms. Many freelance positions start at $15 an hour, if not more, allowing you to reduce your schedule in order to look after yourself. Then, you can begin to build your confidence as your base grows, which translates to rate increases and more leeway than you had before.
Managing Workloads
An intensive workload can be a stressor for many of us, leading to a range of mental health issues. Unfortunately, it’s a common feature of traditional jobs, and it’s not easy to deal with. While you could speak to your employer, there are no guarantees. On the other hand, as your own boss, you can manage your workload and break projects down into steps to prevent them from becoming overwhelming. With personal authority, you decide how best to tackle a plan, and do it at a pace that’s comfortable for you. This allows you more autonomy, especially if you need to take a mental health day here and there.
Taking care of your mental health will lead to better overall health. This means maintaining a good work-life balance, which can be achieved by diving into the gig economy. Whatever area you choose to focus on, plan carefully and take the steps necessary to see your dreams come true and your mental health improve.
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