In September 2021, my clever, creative, lovely mum unexpectedly, inexplicably, impossibly, died. She’d been diagnosed with cancer only six months before, just as lockdown restrictions were lifting. She was a wonderful mix of contradictions – as happy turning Deep Purple to maximum volume as painting delicate watercolours, forever patient but no-nonsense, unbeatable in a pub quiz and able to hit a baseball clean over the house with one hand, an avid reader and boundless traveller, mild mannered until she was watching the football, gentle but courageous, reserved but competitive, calm but occasionally a little wild.

Dr Matt Sutherland’s job title is Associate Professor in Marketing within Northumbria University’s Newcastle Business School.

But that doesn’t even begin to describe the role he plays.

Both within the university, and with roles with Knowledge Exchange UK, The Open North Foundation and on the management board of the Small Business Charter, Matt has carved out a niche for himself as a conduit for interaction between the worlds of academia and business.

Freelancing offers incredible freedom, but it also comes with its challenges. Alongside your creative work, you're managing finances, marketing, client communication, and all the behind-the-scenes tasks that keep your business running. Without a built-in support system, it’s easy to find yourself stretched too thin.

This is freelancer fatigue, and it’s more common than you think. The constant pressure to stay busy, meet client demands, and chase new opportunities can quickly lead to burnout. But the good news? You don’t have to sacrifice your wellbeing for success. Here’s how to break the cycle and build a thriving freelance business, without running yourself into the ground.