Can You Do Freelance Work While Working A Full-Time Job?

There are some great reasons to work on a freelance side hustle while working full-time. Freelancing can offer you a lot more freedom than you have at your current job, or it could allow you to use your skills in ways that you don’t get to at work. 

Maybe you see it as a way to gain experience and build up your resume, or maybe it’s just something fun for the extra money.

But no matter what gets you excited about freelancing, there’s one question that looms above it all: how will I fit this into my already jam-packed schedule?

If you’re working full time and want to start freelancing as well, then this post is for you. We’ll go over everything from why people choose freelance work all the way to how to make it happen without giving up your sanity (or your social life). Read on!

Takeaways
Successfully freelancing while working a full-time job is possible with effective time management and clear boundaries.
Balancing freelance work and a full-time job requires careful planning and prioritization.
Freelancing while employed can provide additional income and opportunities for skill development.
Time management, goal setting, and outsourcing can help maintain a healthy work-life balance.
It’s important to understand the legal considerations and potential conflicts of interest when freelancing while working a full-time job.

1. Prioritize Your Freelance Work

If you want to succeed in your freelance career while keeping a full-time job, you’ll have to prioritize your freelance work. It’s important that you don’t let your freelance work interfere with the work that pays the bills. 

Set aside time every day or even multiple times per week to focus on working on your freelance projects instead of worrying about other things, like friends or family members.

If you’re going to do this right, then it’s best if you set a schedule and stick to it. 

If this is something that will be beneficial for both yourself and others who rely upon your services. 

Then investing in some type of calendar may be necessary for tracking deadlines as well as updates from clients or colleagues who need help with their own projects too!

Building a successful freelance career requires dedication and determination. Discover the possibilities of freelancing as a full-time job in our article on Does Freelancing as a Full-Time Job Really Exist? and unlock your potential.

2. Don’t Let Your Boss Find Out

In order to keep your freelance work separate from your full-time job, you should not let your boss find out. This is a very important step in the process of starting a career in freelancing while working a full-time job. 

If they find out, they may ask questions about how much time you’re spending on it and maybe even try to stop it all together.

Do whatever you can to avoid this scenario! The best way to do this is simply by not telling them that you’re doing freelance work at all. 

They don’t need to know; they just think that when you’re at home working on something for one or two hours at night, perhaps doing some video editing for an online course (or even writing an article for [this website](http://www.upwork.com/)).

As long as there’s no evidence that proves otherwise, everything should be fine!

3. Plan Ahead

Plan your work in advance. Don’t just wait for inspiration to strike and hope it happens magically, or you’ll find yourself stuck in a rut of the same routine. 

Instead, plan out at least one project per day so that you can feel like you’re making progress on something without getting overwhelmed by too much work at once.

Don’t get stuck in the same routine. Once again: don’t be afraid to change your plans if they’re not working out! 

If you have an idea for a new project that could be even more lucrative or fun than what you originally had planned (or if something comes up and takes precedence), go for it! 

Just make sure that whatever changes are made are well-planned beforehand; there’s nothing worse than having no direction after spending hours working on something only to realize later that it wasn’t really worth doing after all because no one else wanted what they were offering either way.

Wondering if you can juggle freelance work alongside your full-time job? Find out the answer in our comprehensive guide: Can You Do Freelance Work While Working a Full-Time Job?. Learn how to balance both and make the most of your skills.

4. Work On Weekends And Holidays

You’ll have to find some flexibility in your schedule. If there is any time that you can work without disturbing anyone else, even if it’s just for a couple of hours on weekends and holidays, then that would be ideal. 

Some people don’t mind being disturbed at night if you’re one of them, sleeping all day will probably make your life easier.

If you’re not too busy working full-time or taking care of children, then it should be easy enough to squeeze in freelance work during the weekends or on holidays when other people might be off work as well. 

The caveat here is that most companies close during these times so they can spend time with their families and friends instead of working (and making money).

5. Work During Your Lunch Break

You can also use your lunch break for work. The key to being successful in this endeavor is to keep your tasks simple and not make them too time-consuming. 

You don’t want to get bogged down with a large project, because you won’t be able to focus on your actual job during the day. 

Instead, try doing something like reading through emails or making phone calls that don’t require too much attention (e-mailing clients).

You can also use this time as an opportunity to catch up on research if you find yourself lacking information needed for a particular task, or perhaps even start writing some content ahead of schedule so that it doesn’t take up too much time later on during the week.

6. Work From Home

Work from home. If you’re lucky enough to have a job that allows for some remote work, take advantage of it! It’s probably a little nerve-wracking at first, but it’s also very liberating. 

You’ll save yourself some time commuting and make your working hours feel more like “free” time you can enjoy them guilt-free, knowing that when you’re done with work, they’re over (or at least until the next day).

Work from a coffee shop. Many people prefer working in coffee shops because they provide an excellent chance of scenery without leaving their usual environment entirely behind plus there are lots of other benefits: 

Free wifi (sometimes), outlets everywhere (usually), plenty of space to spread out so you don’t feel cramped or distracted by others who might be around (almost always)…and let’s not forget those delicious scones!

Work from a coworking space. The idea behind coworking spaces is essentially the same as for coffee shops: 

Get out of your house/office/room-in-a-hotel room once in a while and do something else while still feeling productive and connected to others doing similar things nearby. 

But these spaces tend toward being more professional than residential types like Starbucks or Panera Breads; oftentimes they’ll even offer meeting rooms where one can host clients or employees who need face-to-face interactions with remote workers such as yourself!

Embrace the flexibility of freelancing! Explore the possibilities of working on the phone or online in our article: Can Freelancing Be Done on the Phone or Online?. Discover the convenience and freedom that comes with remote work.

7. Work At Night

Working at night is an excellent way to get your work done without disturbing anyone else. If you have trouble working in the daytime, try this method and see if it helps!

If you can’t work at night, there are other options. You could try working on the weekends or taking a vacation day every week so you can focus on your freelance efforts then.

If you don’t have a job and want to start freelancing full-time, try finding work that matches up with your schedule as best as possible. 

For example: If there are a lot of online tutoring opportunities available during evenings or weekends, maybe those would be best for you; 

If most of them are available during weekdays but require travel between cities, consider looking into something else (like writing articles).

8. Outsource Tasks That Take Up Too Much Of Your Time

To save time you can outsource tasks to freelancers, or you can use tools like Zapier to automate tasks.

Zapier is an automation tool that connects different applications so that they work together seamlessly. 

You can connect apps like Gmail and Trello so that when someone emails you a new task in Gmail it will automatically be added to your Trello board as well. 

This saves time because it eliminates the need for manually inputting data into multiple platforms, and also reduces errors since there’s only one place where the data is saved instead of several places across different programs.

Are you ready to take the leap and quit your freelance day job? Gain insights and valuable tips in our article: Time to Quit Your Freelance Day Job?. Learn when it’s the right time to transition and make freelancing your full-time gig.

9. Use Task Delegation Tools To Automate Some Of The Work For You

When you work for yourself, especially in the early days of your business, it’s tempting to take on everything yourself. 

After all, it’s easier than hiring someone else and more cost-effective so you can make sure things get done right.

But a new study found that people who use task delegation tools are happier and more productive than those who don’t.

Task delegation tools help you automate some of the work for yourself so that you have time left over to focus on what matters most: making money!

Examples of task delegation tools include:

• Todoist (a free app that allows users to set reminders and assign tasks)

• Trello (a free software tool used by businesses as well as individuals)

• How do I use task delegation tools?

10. Make Your Own Goals And Follow Them Strictly Until You’re Satisfied With The Result You Got In Both Areas Of Your Job​

As a freelancer, you will have the freedom and flexibility to work whenever and wherever you want. 

You can set your schedule, so you must make your own goals concerning your job. 

Make sure those goals are realistic, but also make sure that they are challenging enough for you to achieve them within the time limit specified by yourself.

Make sure that when working on both jobs at once, you are satisfied with each result which should be in both areas of your job (freelance and full-time).

You can do it, but it takes a lot of planning and discipline

Okay, so here’s the bad news: freelancing while working a full-time job is not easy. You probably already know that if you’ve ever had an after-work hobby, or started a side hustle. 

But it’s even worse when you’re trying to do both at once you have twice as much time to fill, twice as many responsibilities and obligations on your plate, and twice the opportunities for things to go wrong (and they will).

Nonetheless, if this is something you want to try then yes it is possible! Here are some ways that I believe can help:

Plan ahead and then plan some more

Be realistic about how much of your free time can be devoted to freelancing and make sure it fits into your schedule accordingly; also consider that factors like travel might reduce available hours even further. 

Make sure every hour counts by being disciplined about what projects get done when; don’t just work on whatever comes up first without thinking through whether or not it’s worth spending time on right now (or whether it could be handled later). 

Finally, remember that there may be times when other people need help with their projects be prepared with appropriate answers when these requests come in so as not to waste any working hours!

Seeking work-life balance between freelancing and a 9-to-5 job? Find out how it can be achieved in our informative guide: Can You Do Freelancing and a 9-to-5 Job?. Discover strategies to manage your time effectively and pursue both career paths simultaneously.

Conclusion

Most of us dream of one day becoming a freelancer, but it isn’t always an easy thing to do. It takes years of hard work, dedication, and planning before you can become successful enough to quit your job and work as an independent freelancer full-time. 

Even then there is no guarantee that this will happen, so you need to be prepared for failure just as much as success. However, with proper preparation and planning, you can increase the chances that it all works out well!

Further Reading

Here are some additional resources that you may find helpful:

Freelance While Working Full-Time: Learn valuable tips and strategies for successfully freelancing while working a full-time job.

Balancing Freelance Work with a Full-Time Job: Discover practical advice on how to maintain a healthy work-life balance when juggling freelance work and a full-time job.

Starting a Freelance Business While Employed: Get insights and guidance on how to start your freelance business while still being employed, ensuring a smooth transition and successful venture.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about freelancing while working a full-time job:

Can I freelance while working a full-time job?

Yes, it is possible to freelance while working a full-time job. Many people successfully manage both by effectively managing their time and setting clear boundaries.

How do I balance freelancing with my full-time job?

Balancing freelancing with a full-time job requires careful planning and prioritization. Establishing a schedule, setting realistic goals, and outsourcing tasks when necessary can help maintain balance.

What are the benefits of freelancing while working full-time?

Freelancing while working a full-time job can provide extra income, opportunities to explore new skills, and the potential to transition into full-time freelancing if desired.

How can I manage my time effectively when freelancing and working full-time?

To manage time effectively, it’s essential to prioritize tasks, set realistic deadlines, and create a structured schedule. Efficient communication and effective time management tools can also help streamline workflows.

Is it legal to freelance while working a full-time job?

The legality of freelancing while working a full-time job depends on various factors, including employment contracts, non-compete clauses, and local laws. It’s advisable to consult with legal professionals to ensure compliance and avoid any conflicts of interest.

What Are The Benefits Of Freelancing?

• It offers you the opportunity to work for yourself.

• It allows you to choose your work hours and location.

• You can set your rates, which is great for people who aren’t in a financial position where they can afford to work full-time for someone else.

What Are The Challenges Of Freelancing?

With no one managing your time and assignments, it’s easy to lose focus on what needs to get done and when. 

Without strict deadlines or guidelines on what needs to be completed before other tasks, it’s also easy to end up with a messy inbox full of unfinished projects that never see completion unless you’re disciplined enough not only to find time but also to prioritize these projects over other less pressing matters such as checking social media or watching TV shows online (or both!). 

If this sounds like something that would affect you negatively while working remotely from home then perhaps freelancing isn’t right for you!

If you have questions about freelance work, this article, or freelancing in general, we’d love to help.

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Freelancing While Working Full-Time?

Pros: You can earn extra income while working a full-time job, so you’re not relying solely on one source to pay your bills. 

This can help you build up savings for retirement or other financial goals, as well as give you more options in terms of where and how often you work.

Cons: The biggest disadvantage is that it may be difficult to find time for both work and freelance projects. 

You may also have less energy after a long day at work or on weekends when clients expect quick responses from their freelancers (because they don’t understand that real people need sleep too). 

If your employer finds out about your side gig and objects, it could lead to trouble with getting fired or being demoted back down into hourly wage territory.