How Freelancing Changed My Life For The Better

It’s been about a year since I started freelancing full-time, and it has been the best decision of my professional career. 

In case you’re not familiar with me, I’m Anastasia. (Hi!) I am a freelance writer based out of Toronto and I specialize in blog content for business blogs, which is why you’re reading this blog post today. That said, that was not always the case. 

Here are some reasons why leaving my 9-5 job to become a full-time freelancer has changed my life for the better:

Takeaways
Increased freedom and flexibility
Improved work-life balance
Personal and professional growth
Greater control over projects
Potential for higher income
Enhanced self-reliance and confidence
Opportunities for exploring new interests
Challenges and uncertainties of freelancing

I Don’t Have To Sit In Traffic Anymore

Working from home has been an amazing experience. I no longer have to sit in traffic, making me feel like a prisoner of my commute.

I also get to work from anywhere that has Wi-Fi, which means I can take my laptop anywhere and get things done. 

This is great for people who travel a lot or live in very remote areas where there aren’t any coffee shops nearby (or even if you just don’t fancy going out on the weekend). You could even go as far as working from the beach or on a park bench if you wanted!

Traveling the world while working on exciting freelance projects is a dream come true. Discover how freelancing gave me the gift of time and travel in my article on How Freelancing Gave Me the Gift of Time and Travel.

I Can Set My Hours

I’m sure you have heard of the term “set your hours” before, but what does it mean?. When you work for yourself and freelance, you have the freedom to set your hours and schedule. 

This means that you can decide when and how much time you want to spend on your business. You no longer have a boss telling you when to start work, or end work either.

Instead, when I started my freelance career I wanted to try something different with my schedule: I wanted my days off every two weeks instead of just one day per week (as is common with many other jobs).

While some people may think this isn’t possible because they don’t want their boss knowing they are working on their “day off” it’s not an issue at all. 

As long as they do their job well then everyone wins. Because there are no fixed working hours or days in this job title, freelancers can choose whether or not they want an extra job during certain times such as weekends or evenings without needing permission from anyone else first.

I Get To Switch Things Up Sometimes Because There’s Always A New Project Around The Corner

This is a great life lesson and something that I think we need to keep in mind as we move further into the future. As technology changes our lives, nothing is set in stone and that’s good! It means you can always learn something new and it means that you never have to be stuck doing one thing for the rest of your life.

This also means that freelancing can be intense and challenging at times, but if done right, it will make you feel more marketable (which is important), flexible (also important), adaptable (another one), valuable (yep), interesting (you betcha) and even relaxed about things like job security.

If I Don’t Like It, I Can Just Quit

The freedom of being able to take off at any time is hard to explain and just as hard to truly appreciate until you experience it.

If I don’t like the project, or if I think that there’s something better out there, I can just quit. There are no “rules” or “procedures” that require me to work on a project against my will (unless, of course, it’s an ongoing contract).

If someone doesn’t pay their bills on time or needs extra help with their marketing strategy and this happens more often than not I’m free to walk away and pursue other opportunities that better suit my skillset.

And because I have no boss telling me what tasks need to be done when I’m able to make decisions on my terms. For example: if one client starts asking for unrealistic deliverables less frequently over time (which happens), then I might take on another client who requires more consistent work from me each week (which also happens).

The result? More money in your pocket without having had to ask for a raise!

Freelancing goes beyond just financial rewards. It has the power to transform you personally and professionally. Learn more about how freelancing benefits your personal growth in my detailed guide on How Freelancing Benefits Your Personal Growth.

I Can Travel Without Losing Income Or Vacation Days

There’s no reason to be bound by your home office or a specific location, as long as you have access to the internet. With remote work and freelancing, you can travel wherever you want and still be earning money from your online business. 

As long as there’s an internet connection available, your work is accessible from anywhere. This means that if you don’t have time off for vacation days or paid time off (PTO), it’ll be easy for you to take a trip without having to worry about losing income in the process.

All Of My Work Is Now Done Using The Internet

If you’re new to freelancing, or simply haven’t considered it yet, the idea of working remotely can be intimidating. But there are many ways for people in your position to do so:

• You don’t have to work from an office. You can work from home, or a coffee shop with wi-fi, or from a library with a data plan and a laptop whatever works for you.
• You don’t even have to use the internet at all (although I would highly recommend it). I’ve been writing this article while sitting on my balcony enjoying nature.

I Have More Time To Spend With Loved Ones

If you’re like me, money is important but not as important as family time. I love my family, and I want them to be a part of my life as often as possible and they feel the same way!

When you’re working a full-time job, it can be difficult to spend much time with loved ones because you just don’t have the free time. When freelancing, though, things are different.

You get paid only for what you work on, so if someone needs extra help around the house or yard while they do some freelance work themselves (like me), then there’s no reason why we can’t both make some extra cash without sacrificing quality time together. 

And that’s exactly what happened in our case.

I’m Part Of A Growing Community Of People Who Are Choosing To Live Life The Way They Want To

It’s a choice that many people are making. They’re choosing to live life the way they want to, instead of following a traditional path. You may be one of those people. If you are, I want you to know that you’re not alone.

As freelancers, we have each chosen paths that lead us away from the standard career and lifestyle options most people follow today. And yet there are so many of us.

You’re part of an ever-growing community of freelancers who have made this decision and thrived on it because it suits their needs better than other choices would have done in their place (or might do in yours).

This trend will continue growing as more people realize that there is an alternative path available for the – one which allows them greater freedom over their work-life balance and allows them more time for things outside their jobs like family time or hobbies or travel!

Are you tired of the traditional 9-to-5 grind? Discover the freedom and advantages of freelancing over traditional employment. Explore the 11 reasons why freelancing is better than working for someone else in my article on 11 Reasons Why Freelancing Is Better Than Working for Someone Else.

People Like Me And Respect Me For Making This Change

There’s something about being self-employed that makes people respect you. There’s not much of a difference between being a freelancer, contractor, consultant, and full-time employee. But there is one thing that changes everything: You’re your boss!

When I was working in a corporate job, I always wondered why some guys had more authority than me even though we were all at the same level. They had less experience than me but somehow they were able to talk down on us for no apparent reason sometimes?.

It wasn’t until later when I started my first business as an entrepreneur that I realized why this happened: because people respect successful entrepreneurs and freelancers more than normal employees (who are just getting paid by someone else).

I have met many entrepreneurs who became successful because their peers respected them as leaders and experts in their field of expertise; When they spoke up during meetings or debates with senior managers everyone would listen (and sometimes follow) because they were seen as leaders within the company.

This is proof of how important it is to start something before you turn 30 years old so don’t wait any longer!

My Commute Is About Two Minutes Now Instead Of Over An Hour

If you’re a freelancer, you know that commuting is a big part of your day. It can either be a huge pain in the ass or it can be something that you enjoy doing.

I used to live about an hour away from my workplace and found myself spending hours every week stuck in traffic on my drive there. Since becoming a freelancer, I now work from home most days which means that my commute has been reduced to two minutes.

Not only is this more convenient but it also means I get to spend far less time in an enclosed space with other people who are probably not as awesome as I am (ahem).

People Will Now Pay Me What I’m Worth Instead Of Telling Me How Much Their Company Can Afford To Pay Me

This is probably the best part of being a freelancer.

When I was working full-time, and you would ask me how much money I made, I’d always get that feeling in my stomach where my heart beat faster and my palms began to sweat because I knew that what I was about to say wasn’t going to be something anyone wanted to hear.

I became very skilled at lying about my salary daily. And some days it worked. People would say “Wow! That sounds great!” But then when the conversation was over and they walked away, the look on their face told me that they felt guilty for thinking this way about someone who just told them their salary.

The freelance life may seem enticing, but it’s not without its challenges. Dive into my personal experiences and valuable lessons in The Freelance Life: Is It Too Good to Be True? 14 Lessons to gain insights into the reality of freelancing and how to thrive in it.

There Are Always Challenges And Learning Opportunities, So It Feels Like I’m Never Done Trying New Things

As a freelancer, you are constantly learning new things. You can learn new skills and languages. You can learn to use different technologies and software. You can even learn how to do certain tasks in a different way than what you’ve done before!

You might think that working as a freelancer would be boring because there wouldn’t be enough variety in your day-to-day life to keep your brain stimulated and engaged, but that’s not true at all! As long as I’m still learning something new every day when I go to work, then I never get bored or feel like my job is too routine or repetitive.

If Something Can Be Done On The Internet, I Can Do It Pretty Much Anywhere On Earth

If you’ve never done any freelancing before, it may sound like a dream come true. You can work whenever you want, wherever you want.

But there are some serious considerations to take into account when deciding whether to freelance or not. For example: How much time do I have? Can I afford health insurance? What happens if I get sick? I could go on and on and on with questions like these… but fortunately for me (and hopefully for you), those questions aren’t important anymore.

Balancing a full-time job and freelancing can be demanding, but it’s possible to make it work. Find out how I successfully freelanced full-time while working a job in my article on How I Freelanced Full-Time for Three Years While Working a Job.

Final Thoughts

I hope that reading about my experiences has given you some insight into what it means to be a freelancer. 

It might not be for everyone, but if you’re thinking about making this change in your own life, then I’d say it’s worth at least exploring. It takes some getting used to, but there are plenty of advantages and benefits that come with working remotely or from home. 

Plus, there are so many resources out there for people who want to try out the digital nomad lifestyle things like communities on Reddit and Facebook where others share their tips and advice. So if becoming a freelancer is what you want to do with your life, don’t let anything hold you back because there isn’t anything stopping anyone.

Further Reading

Here are some additional articles for further reading on how freelancing can change your life for the better:

How Freelancing Changed My Life – Discover personal insights and transformative experiences of freelancers who have experienced positive changes in their lives through freelancing.

Working as a Freelancer: Benefits and Challenges – Learn about the advantages and potential challenges of working as a freelancer, including tips and strategies for success in the freelance world.

People Share How Freelancing Changed Their Life for the Better – Gain inspiration and insights from real-life stories of individuals who have found fulfillment and success in their freelance careers.

People Also Ask

What Is Freelancing?

Freelancing is a way of making money from the comfort of your home. You get paid for tasks that you complete, and you choose how much time you want to spend working on each task.

What Do I Need To Start Freelancing?

All you need is a computer and an internet connection. Many people work from their laptops or their phones. You can also use applications like Google Docs or Microsoft Word to write up your work.

How Much Money Do People Make?

The amount that people make depends on what they’re doing and how much time they put into their work. Some people only make a few dollars per hour while others make thousands per month or even more than that! It all depends on what kind of work you’re doing and how much time you put into it.

How Did You Get Started Freelancing?

Well, I started by looking for work at a local library. I was able to find jobs there that was pretty easy to do, but they didn’t pay very much either. After about a year of working at the library, I decided to start my own business as a freelance writer. It has been a great way for me to earn money from home and help others at the same time.

What Are Some Of Your Favorite Projects You’ve Worked On?

One of my favorite projects has been working with an online pet store that sells pet supplies online. It’s nice being able to work from home and not have to go into an office every day like most people who work for other companies do these days.

It’s also nice because you can earn extra money on your schedule by doing freelance work whenever you want without having to worry about getting permission from your boss first (unless it involves something more complicated than what we discussed here today).

Why Should I Become A Freelancer?

There are many reasons why you should become a freelancer! In addition to gaining more flexibility in your schedule, you’ll also be able to choose your projects and clients. You don’t have to worry about office politics or having to do work that isn’t aligned with your interests.

Why Is It So Hard To Find A Job In Your Field?

When I was working in my field, I felt like there were never any jobs available. I would apply for positions, but I never heard back. It was disheartening and made me feel like no one wanted me.

Then one day, a friend of mine who was also in the same field told me about freelancing. He said that he had been doing it for a while and loved it, and he thought I would too. So I decided to give it a try. With freelancing, you can make your schedule and work from anywhere! You can even work from home if you want to!

What Do You Do When You’re Not Working?

After work, I usually spend time with friends or family. Sometimes we just sit around talking about life or playing board games or video games together whatever sounds fun at the moment!

What Do You Like Most About Freelancing?

The best thing about freelancing is that it allows me to work from anywhere, at any time. I don’t have to worry about getting stuck in traffic or waiting for the bus I can just hop on my laptop and get started. That flexibility makes my life so much easier.

What Are Some Of The Challenges Of Freelancing?

One challenge is keeping track of all your invoices and expenses it can be hard to remember what you’ve spent where.

Another challenge is finding clients who want to pay you fairly for your work. Some clients try to pay less than what they’re worth, but if you stand up for yourself and say how much you charge, eventually they’ll realize that good writing doesn’t come cheap!