
Freelancer in Marketing: A Highly Sensitive Approach
Have you ever heard of high sensitivity? It’s a unique trait of the nervous system, present in roughly 20% of the population. It was first described in 1996 by American psychologist Elaine N. Aron in her book The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You. Since then, the term “Highly Sensitive Person” (HSP) has gained recognition worldwide.
But why bring it up now? Because I want to explore what it’s like to navigate the fast-paced world of marketing as a freelancer with heightened sensitivity. Is this line of work suitable for highly sensitive individuals? What should they avoid, and what should they embrace?
The Right Job Makes All the Difference
Highly sensitive people excel at processing information deeply, noticing details, staying conscientious, and connecting dots others might miss. This makes them perfect for roles in marketing, such as brand building, copywriting, content creation for social media, UX, or web design. These areas allow them to leverage their sensitive brains and eyes – provided they set clear boundaries (more on that later).
Tailor Your Work Environment
An artificially lit open-plan office, buzzing with keyboards, ringing phones, and slurping beverages, is not the ideal setup for someone with high sensitivity. Too much sensory input can lead to overload and low productivity. In chaotic surroundings like this, getting anything done becomes nearly impossible.
A calm and stimulating workspace that supports focus and creativity is a must. Home offices, smaller coworking spaces, or private office rentals are ideal. If you enjoy being around people, look for smaller teams or alternate between working from home and going to the office.

Choose Clients Wisely
As a freelancer, dealing with clients is inevitable. For HSPs, finding new clients, presenting themselves, and communicating their needs and boundaries can be daunting – especially when it comes to negotiating fees or dealing with demanding clients.
Don’t let yourself be pushed into collaborations that feel draining or unaligned with your values. Listen to your intuition; saying no upfront can save you from burnout later.
Avoid Overwhelm
For HSPs, overstimulation can happen fast. Urgent tasks from multiple clients, year-end chaos, or overlapping deadlines can quickly spiral into overwhelm. Careful planning is key. Break down client tasks into manageable time blocks, and don’t be afraid to communicate delays if necessary.
It might also be worth reevaluating your rates. Are you undercharging, leading you to take on more work just to make ends meet? Adjust your pricing to reflect your value, and remember: a slower, balanced path to your dream clients and rates will help you stay grounded and aligned with your limits.

The Art of Saying No
Does a new client seem overly manipulative? Are they putting constant pressure on you? Is their product out of sync with your values? Learn to say NO when a project feels more stressful than rewarding.
While great pay is a powerful motivator, it shouldn’t be your sole driving force. The work you do should make sense to you on a deeper level—because the risk of burnout is higher for sensitive individuals.
Harness Your Strengths
If you sometimes feel like your sensitivity is more of a curse than a blessing, try reframing it. Recognize your strengths and use them to your advantage.
Your empathy, attention to detail, intuition, and creativity are assets in marketing. Whether it’s building marketing strategies, communicating thoughtfully with clients, or diving deep into quality-focused tasks like SEO, you have a natural edge. Lean into these qualities and maximize their potential.
Prioritize Self-Care
Good sleep, wholesome food, limited caffeine, regular exercise – these are basic self-care principles. But for HSPs, self-care is non-negotiable. Their bodies often react to stress before their minds catch up, making consistent self-care the cornerstone of their well-being.
Incorporate small moments of relief into your day – a quick stretch, a walk outside, a chapter from a book, or a power nap. Supplements like magnesium can also help: magnesium malate in the morning for energy and magnesium bisglycinate at night for restful sleep. Remember, needing more rest isn’t a weakness; it’s essential maintenance for a sensitive system.
Does This Resonate? Do you see yourself in this article? Perhaps you’re one of the 20% who are highly sensitive, even if you didn’t know it. If you’re curious, take this simple test from the Highly Sensitive Person project to find out more.
Got time for another read? Check out more fascinating posts on our blog 😊