METM26 presentation

Freelancing with a chronic health condition: challenges and strategies

Fiona Grace Peterson, Bologna, Italy

Chronic health conditions, such as depression, long Covid, arthritis and diabetes, affect around one in four adults globally. The percentage of freelancers coping with such conditions is generally thought to be higher, due to the flexibility that freelancing provides to work around the challenges of long-term ill health.

But how exactly can freelancing serve as a viable career path for people with chronic health conditions? And how might that path need to evolve to better support those people?

In this presentation, I will explore the intersection of freelancing and living with a chronic health condition, hoping to help those affected feel acknowledged and supported. The session will shed light on the unique challenges posed by this way of working, through the results of an online survey that I ran in 2025, articles and blog posts by freelancers with a chronic health condition, and my own experiences.

Specifically, participants will learn about:

  • the many different definitions of chronic health conditions and how this lack of consensus impacts people with chronic ill health
  • the unique challenges and opportunities that freelancing offers individuals with chronic health conditions
  • actionable strategies for managing health, finances and workload, both now and in the future

This session is designed for freelancers, particularly those who are directly or indirectly affected by chronic health conditions, and anyone interested in future-proofing their business by creating accessible and sustainable freelancing practices. Whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned professional, you’ll come away with practical ideas and a fresh perspective.

About the presenter

Fiona Grace Peterson Fiona Grace Peterson taught English as a foreign language before moving into translation and copyediting. Then, after completing a nursing degree, she began specialising in medicine, pharmaceuticals and healthcare. She lives in Bologna, Italy.