I\u2019ve got a very new and uncomfortable conundrum \u2013 how to break up with a client. Given how much time I\u2019ve spent worrying about whether there\u2019d be enough work, there\u2019s a huge irony to this. And I think the conundrum is two-fold \u2013 it\u2019s a debate about whether I actually want to go through with ending the contract and if I do get to that decision, how on earth do I do it? I\u2019m incredibly nervous about doing it right so we end on good terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So it was quite accidental that I ended up with too much work \u2013 I took on a new client to fill the gap left by two contracts ending. But suddenly both of those contracts continued and I had more work than hours available. It was also an inability to turn work down when it was offered \u2013 yes, I knew it was going to be incredibly tight running all three contracts together but it was work, paid work, and from quite a prestigious charity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While I thought it was only going to be a diary clash for a few weeks – it turned into four months. I hugely underestimated the knock on effects to my work\/life balance, my stress levels, my sleep and my overall wellbeing. It\u2019s been a big lesson in how freelancing can be just as stressful as employment if you let it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My contact has recently talked about being involved in things coming up in another month or two\u2019s time, and it flagged in my brain that there\u2019s an expectation I\u2019m staying. I realised I needed to make a decision relatively quickly about what I was doing, and have the conversation as soon as possible. My three main options are agreeing to more work together, using the existing contract’s renewal as a natural break or cutting it short.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I know there\u2019s the offer of further work with this charity, and I find that really hard to walk away from. I also worry they\u2019ll be disappointed I\u2019m not continuing, and my people-pleasing brain has a hard time dealing with that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The bottom line though is I need to prioritise myself better. Talking it through with a colleague was really helpful \u2013 just recognising the impact by saying it out loud and giving myself some space to think what the ideal situation would be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Treading water time-wise and comfort zone-wise is exhausting and I\u2019ve done it long enough \u2013 I need to say goodbye. I\u2019ve been surprised by the improvement I\u2019ve felt just knowing that that decision is made. Already the balancing act feels a load easier to manage because there\u2019s an end point. The fact that there\u2019s a natural break, even if they didn\u2019t expect me to use it, is an opportunity to have the conversation. With any luck their feedback stays strong and I can say goodbye as easily as possible and chalk this one up to another life lesson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Photo by Marco Chilese<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I\u2019ve got a very new and uncomfortable conundrum \u2013 how to break up with a client. Given how much time I\u2019ve spent worrying about whether there\u2019d be enough work, there\u2019s a huge irony to this. And I think the conundrum is two-fold \u2013 it\u2019s a debate about whether I actually want to go…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":329,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[34],"tags":[13,11,12,21,25,10],"class_list":["post-328","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-contracts","tag-charity","tag-consultant","tag-freelance","tag-non-profit","tag-self-employment","tag-start-up-2"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t