Can I Do Freelancing Along With A Day Job?

Yes, you can become a freelancer if you work full-time, but it’s important to remember that you don’t have to do everything at once.

No one becomes a successful freelancer in one day it takes time and patience to build your business, find your ideal clients and learn how to manage your time effectively.

That’s why I recommend starting slowly with freelancing while working full-time so you don’t overwhelm yourself.

Freelancing While Working Full-Time

Takeaways
Freelancing can be done alongside a day job, offering additional income and opportunities.
Time management is crucial when juggling freelancing and a day job. Prioritize tasks and create a schedule to balance both effectively.
Freelancing while employed requires setting clear boundaries and communicating with clients and employers to avoid conflicts of interest.
Balancing freelancing and a day job can be challenging but offers benefits such as diversifying skills and experiences.
Seeking guidance from experienced freelancers and exploring resources can provide valuable insights on successfully navigating freelancing alongside a day job.

Table of Contents

1. Set Clear Boundaries

Set clear boundaries with your boss (or in the case of a second job, the job that pays the bills).

Set clear boundaries with your family and friends. This is important so that you don’t feel guilty about not spending time with them when you’re working on a freelance project or if you need to take a day off for an audition or networking event.

Set clear boundaries with your clients/customers/people who want things from you for free on Etsy or other sites like that anyone who wants something from you via work or otherwise!

Finally, set clear boundaries with yourself so that this whole thing doesn’t get out of control and turn into an obsession where all hours of every day are spent working on freelance projects instead of enjoying life.

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2. Prioritize Your Tasks

Prioritizing your tasks is the most important thing you can do as a freelancer. It’s one of the biggest challenges that freelancers face.

To prioritize your tasks, there are two things you have to do:

Prioritize based on urgency and importance. Things that are both urgent and important should be done first. But as time goes on, some other items will become more urgent or important than others so you’ll want to re-prioritize accordingly.

3. Change Your Morning Routine

If you’ve ever woken up and said to yourself, “I have so much to get done today,” then you know how hard it can be to start the day with a clear head.

One of the best ways to set yourself up for success is by changing your morning routine so that it’s more focused on achieving your goals than just getting through the day.

Make sure that every morning starts with a healthy breakfast, exercise, and plenty of sleep so that you’re ready for whatever comes next in your day!

4. Create A Short-Term Plan

Create a short-term plan. Decide what you want to accomplish in the next three months, six months, and one year of your life. Write down these goals on paper and review them regularly so that they stay top of mind.

Set up a reward system for yourself. You may want to give yourself incentives as you move towards achieving your goals, such as buying new shoes or treating yourself to dinner out when you reach 50% completion on one of your projects at work whatever works for you!

The important thing is that it’s something fun, rewarding, and meaningful enough so that the thought itself will motivate you throughout the day when things get tough.

Start tracking all of your tasks using an app like Todoist.

This will allow me (and other users) access without having to share sensitive information like bank details with any third parties/organizations which could lead to potentially compromising situations later down the line if needed.

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5. Find Tools That Help You Work Better And Faster

Once you’ve come up with a good idea for a project, it’s time to find the right tools. Let’s say you want to write about how to be a freelance writer so that other people can become freelancers too.

First, make sure there isn’t already an article on the topic (you can use Google or another search engine). If there isn’t, then get started writing!

As you’re writing, ask yourself:

Am I working faster?

Am I able to complete more pieces because of this tool?

If not, change them! Try something else until you find what works best for you.

6. Tackle Your Biggest Tasks First Thing In The Morning When You’re Still Fresh, Energetic, And Motivated For A Successful Day Ahead

Once you’ve made your list of priorities, tackle your biggest tasks first thing in the morning when you’re still fresh, energetic, and motivated for a successful day ahead.

Not only are these tasks likely to take longer than others on your list, but they also require more energy and focus.

And while it may seem like they would be better left for later in the day when you could use those extra hours of rest and concentration remember that afternoons can often be filled with distractions that lead to last-minute emergencies or unforeseen delays on other projects.

If tackling one big task at a time seems impossible (or even overwhelming), break it down into smaller chunks by prioritizing only certain aspects of the project based on their relative time requirements and difficulty levels.

For example, You might need to research three different sources before presenting an argument; interview two people for feedback, or write three paragraphs about each topic before moving on to another one.

By breaking up larger tasks into smaller steps like this one, it makes them feel more manageable without having to worry about whether each step is relevant enough;

Whether there’s enough time left over at the end of your workday; or whether something slipped through the cracks along the way because all these things have already been addressed beforehand!

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7. Get More Organized To Meet Deadlines On Time And Without Stress

If you plan your work well, you will be able to meet deadlines without stress or anxiety.

You should use a calendar/planner to keep track of all the tasks you have to complete within a particular period and then make sure that you do them on time so that they do not get done too late or become “overdue”.

Also, having a calendar helps in keeping track of important dates such as birthdays, anniversaries, etc., which may be useful in personal relationships as well as professional ones.

8. Create Systems To Save Time And Money When Completing Repetitive Tasks

It’s easy to lose track of all the small details when you’re juggling multiple clients, projects, and deadlines. But having a system for every aspect of your business can make it much easier for you to stay organized and on top of things.

For example, I use Trello as an overarching project manager that organizes everything from my finances to my blog posts in one place (and it’s free!).

Once I set up this system, I was able to easily see how much money was coming in each month (and where it was going) without having to open five different spreadsheets at once.

If Trello doesn’t feel right for you, consider other software programs like Google Sheets or Asana both are easy-to-use apps with plenty of features that’ll help keep all those details straight so they don’t slip through the cracks!

9. Schedule Time Blocks For Focused Work So You Can Get More Done In Less Time

To be successful at freelancing, you need to set aside time for it each day. If your side hustle takes up a lot of your free hours, then this will be challenging.

But there are ways to make sure that you get enough done while still having enough energy left over to focus on other things (like spending time with friends or family). Here are some tips:

Block out distractions. Try using an app like Freedom or StayFocusd which blocks websites from distracting you and gives you alerts when it’s time for a break or other scheduled activity

Take regular breaks so that you don’t get burned out by too much work in too little time

Don’t expect perfection! It can be easy to become obsessive about working on your freelance job but remember which one is truly important here: earning money vs being creative

10. Block Out Distractions So You Can Be More Productive During Work Hours

Block out distractions so you can be more productive during work hours (which will give you more time to focus on your side hustle after work).

If there’s one thing that is common among freelancers, they can get distracted. Some of us are notoriously bad at staying focused on the task at hand, and our minds tend to wander when we should be working.

It’s hard to keep yourself from doing other things like checking your phone or watching Netflix when you have a few minutes between tasks, but they end up adding up and can make it harder for yourself in the long run if you don’t block them out completely.

I used an app called Freedom which blocked all my Internet access during certain times every day.

I would set my phone down in another room while I worked so that I wouldn’t even see any notifications pop up on its screen no Facebook notifications about birthdays or tweets about trending topics could distract me from my writing or research!

Nowadays, our phones follow us everywhere we go; but if necessary (i.e., if it helps boost productivity), try leaving them back at home where they belong once in a while so that nothing gets in your way of getting things done!

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11. Take Regular Breaks Throughout The Day So You Don’t Get Burned Out Quickly

We know it can be hard to find the time or energy to do anything, but you need to take regular breaks throughout the day so you don’t get burned out quickly or run out of motivation to keep going with freelancing while working a full-time job at the same time (trust us, it’ll happen).

If that sounds like you right now, here are some ideas for how to make sure you stay healthy and happy while working both jobs:

Take short breaks every hour. This might mean getting up from your desk and walking around the office area for a few minutes, grabbing something from the break room fridge (if they have one).

Stretching in your cubicle corner anything that gets your mind off work and gives your body a little exercise (even if it’s just in place) will help keep those endorphins flowing!

Take longer breaks every 2 hours. Whether this means taking an actual lunch break or spending some time outside during lunch hour (and possibly even sleeping through part of lunch).

Remember that not only does eating provide essential nutrition for our bodies but also prevents us from feeling too hungry during our next shift/project/commute home from work later on in life as well as maintaining good mental health now!

Make sure not all meals consist of fast food though since this type of diet leads toward obesity which may eventually lead to diabetes which could result in many complications later on down

12. Don’t Expect Perfection Because Even Smart People Make Stupid Mistakes Sometimes Due To Fatigue, Stress

As you embark on your freelance career, it’s important to remember that perfectionism can be a dangerous, if not a debilitating trait for freelancers.

Even intelligent people make stupid mistakes sometimes due to fatigue or stress and don’t even get me started on other factors outside of the freelancer’s control (like competing priorities).

To avoid this trap of perfectionism, focus on the result rather than the process.

If you’re working towards creating something great but find yourself getting stuck in an endless cycle of tweaking things that are already good enough, ask yourself where your process is going wrong and fix it!

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Conclusion

The bottom line is this: as long as you’re willing to put in the work, you can do freelancing along with a day job.

Keep in mind that it may be difficult at first and there will probably be times when you feel like quitting.

But if your goal is important enough for you to make the sacrifice, then do what it takes to make things happen.

You’ll thank yourself later for being persistent (even when others told you it wasn’t possible).

Now go out there and make some money on your terms!

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about freelancing along with a day job:

Can I freelance while having a full-time job?

Yes, it is possible to freelance while holding a full-time job. Many people choose to take on freelance work during their free time or outside of regular working hours to supplement their income or explore their passions.

How do I manage my time between freelancing and my day job?

Managing your time effectively is key when balancing freelancing and a day job. Prioritize tasks, create a schedule, and allocate specific time slots for both your job and freelance work. Setting boundaries and maintaining a disciplined approach can help ensure you fulfill your commitments without burning out.

What are the benefits of freelancing along with a day job?

Freelancing alongside a day job offers several benefits. It allows you to diversify your income streams, gain additional professional experience, build a portfolio, and explore new skills and interests. Freelancing can also provide a sense of fulfillment and flexibility in managing your career.

Are there any challenges in freelancing while working a day job?

Freelancing while having a day job can present challenges such as managing your workload, dealing with time constraints, and balancing competing priorities. It requires effective time management, clear communication with clients, and the ability to handle increased responsibilities.

How can I avoid conflicts of interest between my job and freelance work?

To avoid conflicts of interest, it’s important to review your employment contract and company policies regarding freelance work. Ensure that your freelance activities do not violate any terms or agreements with your employer. Maintaining confidentiality and being transparent about your freelance work can help mitigate conflicts and maintain professional relationships.

How Do I Start Freelancing?

To start freelancing, you need to get your name and skills out there. You can do this by creating a website and putting up your work on it to show potential employers what you can do.

If you don’t want to build one from scratch, there are plenty of free blogging platforms that will allow you to set up a site in minutes.

Just look for one that has what looks like a good editor so that it’s easy for clients (and other people) who visit your site to get an idea of what kind of services/products they’d be paying for if they hired you.

How Do I Find Freelance Jobs?

There are lots of ways to find freelance work: job boards like Craigslist or Indeed; networking with friends or family members who might know someone in need; cold-calling companies directly (though this is generally frowned upon).

If none of those things give results fast enough, consider using LinkedIn the professional social network has recently begun allowing users more control over their profiles than ever before, meaning it could be worth investing some time here in order

Costantine Edward

Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.