As editorial freelancers, we're encouraged to monitor "success metrics" such as income, client feedback and editing efficiency, but does the wellbeing of one's business always translate to personal job satisfaction, a sense of accomplishment and a healthy work-life balance? If we had bosses, it would be part of their job to check in with us about these things; since we work for ourselves, that responsibility – and that power – rests with us.
The following suggestions helped me transition from working in-house, where I not only had a line manager but also managed my own team of editors, to working for myself alone. If you're anything like me, you may find an extra layer of structure and accountability keeps you focused and motivated when the going gets tough.