Let’s talk about martyrdom.
Sounds a little dramatic, right? But in freelancing (and in fitness) it shows up more often than we think. Especially when people broadcast all the sacrifices they’re making to hit deadlines.
Honestly? I don’t think anyone really cares.
Fine. Your loved ones care. But your clients? Not really. They’ve got their own worries and deliverables. Whether you give them a long speech about how you stayed up all night to finish their project, or whether you suffer silently in hopes of some karmic reward, it’s really unlikely that it moves the needle on how they perceive you.
The myth of the overworked freelancer
There’s a common belief that in order to succeed as freelancers we have to prove we work the longest hours, that we’re always available, that we’ll put clients above our own health and family. But let’s be honest: clients don’t hand out brownie points for sacrifice.
No one’s giving you a medal for averaging five hours of sleep. No bonus points for posting selfies of yourself hunched over a laptop at the beach or at the playground while your kids are playing. Some people might click “like,” but they’ll scroll on and forget it a second later.
What clients actually care about is that the file lands in their inbox on time, with quality that meets or exceeds expectations. That’s it.
The cost of falling on your sword
Occasional late nights? They happen. But if working until 4 a.m. becomes your brand, you’re only creating exhaustion.
For freelancers working across time zones (voiceover artists like me know this all too well), it’s tempting to believe you have to be “always on” because it’s always 9 a.m. somewhere. But running on little sleep, skipping meals, or sacrificing family time is not a sustainable long-term strategy. Burnout doesn’t just hurt your health—it hurts your business, your creativity, and your relationships.
Sleep is not optional. Sleep is critical: for recovery, for focus, and for showing up at your best. I tell my teenagers they’ll know they’re real adults when they actually look forward to going to bed. And you know what? They’ll find out I’m right.
Personally, I’ve learned that I need at least 6 hours of sleep to function, and ideally 7-8. If I try to push through with less, I’m not more productive. I’m grouchy, unfocused, and not doing my best work. Clients don’t hire me to be a zombie. They hire me to bring fresh energy and creativity to their projects.
Professionalism ≠ martyrdom
Performative overwork is a trap. If your most productive hours are at midnight, fine. But ask yourself: what message are you sending when you make a show of it?
Many freelancers think “going above and beyond” will wow the client. But often, the client just assumes that level of sacrifice is your baseline…which sets you up for unrealistic expectations.
Look, we’re creative freelancers, not brain surgeons. We don’t need to be available 24/7. What earns repeat business and referrals isn’t suffering, it’s systems. Reliable processes. Clear communication. Consistent delivery.
So go play with your kids. Have dinner with friends. Get some sleep. Post about that if you want to share something. Clients don’t want martyrs. They want partners who can deliver good work over the long haul.
Instead of proving how much you endured, prove how enduring you work.
For music, exercise and business tips, listen to my podcast Freelance Fitness.
