How Freelancing Gave Me The Gift of Time and Travel

Freelancing is becoming more and more popular these days. It’s a huge part of the gig economy and represents 34% of the US workforce. 

No matter what it is that you do, freelancing can give you so many benefits, such as working from anywhere (home/coffee shop/beach); creating your schedule; setting your rates, and diversifying your income streams

The list goes on… But one of the main reasons people choose to freelance is for flexibility. By working for yourself, you get the gift of time.

This allows you to work when you want to work which frees up time for doing other things like traveling. Another perk as a writer is that I can travel where I want and then write about my experience afterward. 

If there are any aspiring freelancers out there who want to travel while they earn money, here are hacks on how freelancing gave me the gift of time and travel.

Takeaways
Freelancing can provide the gift of time and travel.
Embracing freelancing offers flexibility in managing one’s schedule.
Traveling while freelancing allows for new experiences and personal growth.
Freelancing enables individuals to work from anywhere in the world.
Balancing work and travel requires effective time management and organization.
Freelancing can open doors to unique opportunities and collaborations.
The freedom of freelancing can lead to a fulfilling and enriching lifestyle.
Prioritizing self-care and work-life balance is essential for sustainable freelancing while traveling.
Embracing the freelance lifestyle can bring a sense of adventure and freedom.
Freelancing allows individuals to design their own career path and pursue their passions.

Don’t waste time on non-necessary apps

I’ve been freelancing for a couple of years now, and it’s opened my eyes to how much time we waste on non-necessary apps. You know the ones: they’re free, they have a cool logo, and they seem like they might be useful… but then you use them, and they’re just not worth your time.

I used to spend so much time searching for new apps that I could download and try out but now that I’ve been freelancing for a while, I’ve realized that most of these apps are just not worth my time.

So instead of wasting hours trying out new things just because they look good or sound cool, I’ve been focusing on the essentials: things that help me make money and grow my business.

Mastering the right skills is essential for freelancers to thrive. Check out our guide on Top 10 Freelance Skills to Charge More to discover how you can enhance your expertise and increase your earning potential.

Don’t Kill Your Time On Social Media

Social media is a great way to keep in touch with friends, but it can also be a huge time-suck. You may find yourself spending more time scrolling through photos of other people’s lives than actually living your own. If you think you might have a problem with social media addiction, here are some steps to take:

• Limit the amount of time spent on social media each day. Try setting aside 30 minutes for browsing and then closing your laptop or phone until tomorrow’s morning session at work (or after work).

This will help prevent mindless scrolling from turning into hours lost in the virtual world!

• Unsubscribe from anyone who’s posting content that stresses you out whether it’s political news or celebrity gossip and replaces them with accounts that make you feel good about yourself instead.

It can be hard at first, but keep going until all those negative voices have disappeared… and be sure not to fall into their trap again later down the road!

Get More Organized

When you’re a freelancer and you have the freedom to work from anywhere, it’s easy to get distracted by all of your options. To maximize your time and take advantage of that flexibility, it’s important to keep yourself organized.

The organization allows you to be more productive and efficient with your work. It also enables you to focus on what matters most instead of getting caught up in tasks that don’t move your project forward (or just make life difficult).

Here are some hacks for staying organized as a freelancer:

• Organize Your Work Space
• Organize Your Email Inbox
• Organize Your Calendar And Tasks List(s)
• And Other Lists And Plans

Thinking of diving into the freelance world? Explore the realities of freelancing and gain valuable insights from our article on The Freelance Life: Is It Too Good to Be True? 14 Lessons. Learn from others’ experiences and prepare yourself for the unique challenges and rewards of freelancing.

Choose The Right Tools For Your Business

Not all tools are created equal, and not every tool will help you achieve your goals. If a tool makes your life easier, saves time, and helps you work smarter and faster or more efficiently that’s the one to use.

Tools can be anything from productivity apps that keep you focused on what matters most (like Toggl) to travel planning tools like Tripit Pro which helps find cheap flights and plan itineraries.

Always Be Ready

In the last few decades, one of the biggest changes in the world of work has been an increased focus on collaboration and communication. Collaboration tools like Slack, Trello and Google Docs have been around for a while now but more recently we’ve seen an explosion of remote work opportunities as well.

This means that even if you’re not working from home on a freelance writing gig or blogging project, your professional life may involve communicating with people who aren’t in your office every day.

I love this because it means I get to travel more – but life isn’t perfect! If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years (and there are many), it’s that things don’t always go according to plan… which leads me right into my next point:

Get Automated

Automate your work: tools such as Zapier and IFTTT allow you to automate the process of doing certain tasks, such as sending follow-up emails, creating content for social media, or scheduling posts.

Automate your social media: apps like Hootsuite and Buffer let you schedule all of your future posts in advance so that they don’t take up too much time when it comes time to do them.

Automate your email: Google Inbox has many features that help you manage incoming emails by separating them into categories like “Done” or “To Do.” 

You can also set reminders for yourself based on the date and time of an email so that you don’t forget about it later on down the line when it becomes relevant again (for example, setting a reminder when an invoice needs paying).

Automate travel planning: Tripit allows users to organize their travel itineraries into one place so they know where they need to go next without having to worry about missing out on anything important along the way (this also includes uploading tickets from airlines directly into Tripit!).

Freelancing goes beyond financial gains—it can also foster personal growth. Discover the transformative power of freelancing in our comprehensive piece on How Freelancing Benefits Your Personal Growth. Uncover the ways freelancing can enrich your life and unlock new opportunities for self-development.

Create A Great Workspace

When you’re working from home, it’s important to have a workspace that inspires you and keeps you motivated. Whether you find this in a coffee shop or at home, there are some basic principles for creating the ideal environment for getting stuff done.

Your workspace should be clean and organized not only does it feel good to work in an orderly space, but it also helps keep distractions at bay by making things look intentional instead of messy.

A cluttered desk can lead to distractions (and procrastination), so try keeping your desk clear as often as possible so that when inspiration strikes, all necessary materials will be within reach (or easily accessible).

Also consider how comfortable your workspace is: if something makes it difficult for you to get into a flow state or causes physical discomfort like back pain or wrist strain then consider changing things up.

You might need ergonomic tools like wrist guards or keyboard covers if spending hours on end typing causes pain; having an adjustable chair could also help reduce fatigue if sitting still all day gets tiring.

If these adjustments don’t help enough then maybe try relocating where ever possible such as moving closer to sunlight coming through windows during those long winter days when darkness sets in early!

Get Yourself A Mentor Or Coach

While there are many resources for finding a mentor, I would suggest going through an organization like The Creative Collective. This is because they have a wide network of creatives who are available to be mentored/coached.

They also take care of all the logistics and paperwork so that you can focus on learning and growing your business in this new way of working.

Another thing I want to mention about mentors is that although they’re great for advice and guidance, you shouldn’t expect them to do all the heavy lifting for you. You should still research on your own or ask questions when needed!

Have A Morning Routine And Get Rid Of Procrastination Habits Right Away

The first thing to do is to create a morning routine that’s very clear and easy to follow. If you’re not an early riser, then your morning routine must include a time when you have to get up at the latest, as well as a time when you are supposed to call it a day. 

This way, your brain will know when it’s time for bed and also when it’s time for work. For example:

6 am – Wake up; Get out of bed immediately after waking up and drink some water while making yourself breakfast (or tea or coffee). You can start working right away if your schedule allows it; otherwise, take some time off before starting working on tasks at hand (like checking emails or going through messages).

8 am – It’s lunchtime; Set aside 30 minutes in which all you do is eat lunch and relax with friends/family members if they’re around during this period.

Efficiency is the key to success in freelancing. Streamline your workflow and reclaim your time with our collection of 17 Time-Saving Tools to Streamline Your Freelance Workflow. From project management to productivity boosters, these tools will help you work smarter and achieve more.

Use Your Free Time Optimally And Get As Much As Possible Done In One Day/Time Slot

When you have more time to yourself, it’s important to not waste that time. It’s easy to get distracted and lost in the seemingly endless ways you can spend your free time. There are many ways you can use this extra free time optimally:

Make sure to have some downtime every day this will help you stay productive and happy overall. Try something like yoga or meditation, or just reading a book on the couch with nice music playing in the background.

Don’t procrastinate; if there’s something that needs doing, do it as soon as possible! If there are tasks that take longer than others (like an article for work), break them up into small chunks so they’re easier to tackle day by day.

Don’t multitask; it might seem like a good idea at first glance but has been proven to be ineffective when done frequently over long periods (and even less effective when done while trying other things at once). 

Instead of trying too hard or being lazy about getting things done quickly instead of slowly, dedicate yourself fully whenever possible so progress becomes faster overall with less need for rework later on down the line.”

Work While You Travel – Invest In Devices That Help You Do So

Use a laptop to stay on top of your work. Even if you’re traveling solo, having your laptop with you is great for staying in touch with others and keeping up with projects at home.

If you’re working remotely, then this is especially important since it can help keep you connected to the office during those times when you’ve left the building and need access to files or email. I use my MacBook Pro almost daily while traveling (and even more so while working from home). It’s an essential part of my travel toolkit!

Invest in devices that make it easy for traveling specialists like yourself – VPNs are particularly useful for accessing company networks securely from outside locations.

• Portable hotspots enable employees to connect multiple devices simultaneously without eating up all their cellular data
• Portable chargers let them charge their devices easily throughout the day or night. 
• Printers allow people who need hard copies of documents at any given time can print them out wherever they happen to be instead of waiting until they get back home again before being able to do so.
• Scanners let professionals scan documents on-site rather than going through each one manually at another location later down the line (or worse yet – having someone else do it!).

The landscape of work is evolving, and freelancers are at the forefront of this transformation. Learn about the rise of freelancing and how it can shape your career in our thought-provoking article on Why Freelancers Are the Future of Work and What That Means for You. Explore the opportunities, challenges, and potential impact on the future of work.

Invest In Travel Gear, If It Saves You Time

Invest in travel gear, if it saves you time – how about a compact GoPro, or travel Smart luggage, such as Bluesmart? I’ve got this bag and it has been worth every penny! It is so convenient. 

You can charge your phone from the inside of the bag, use it as a power bank for other devices (like your laptop), get notifications about flight info and check-in status via Bluetooth on your phone, and much more.

In addition to saving time at destinations like airports and train stations where you might have to wait hours for a delayed flight or late train arrival – packing smart ensures that everything is easily accessible when rushing through security checkpoints with kids in tow, etc.

Utilize Free Resources Online That Can Help You Become More Efficient

Utilize free resources online that can help you become more efficient, such as this online course on freelancing or these useful tips from Inc magazine here

Find a mentor to help guide you through the early stages of your business and answer any questions you have along the way

Take weekly breaks to relax and recharge your mind and schedule time for yourself every week, even if it’s just an hour

Learn To Say No To Things That Aren’t Good For You

I’m not saying put yourself on a pedestal, but if there’s one thing that I’ve learned from my time freelancing it’s this: don’t sell yourself short. You’re awesome at what you do and people want what you have whether they know it or not.

If someone asks if they can barter with you and offer something in exchange for your services, think about what the value of the service is and then ask them how many hours of work they’d be willing to do for it instead of a monetary payment.

If someone offers you free tickets, just because they like your writing style or whatever reason, take those tickets. That’s pretty cool.

And if someone asks you if they can pay less than what other people are charging for their services? Yes! Go with them.

They’ll appreciate your expertise all the more and probably give more repeat business down the line when their clients love them as much as their previous ones did thanks to working with someone who understands how valuable their time is.

Final Thoughts

If you work hard enough and find a solid niche, you can get the life you’ve always wanted. Whether that means traveling all over the world or simply spending more time with your family, anything is possible.

Further Reading

Here are some additional resources to explore related to freelancing and its impact:

Freelancing and Travel: A Comprehensive Guide: Discover how freelancing can offer opportunities for travel and the steps to combine work and exploration.

How Freelancing Changed My Life for the Better: Read personal stories of individuals whose lives were positively transformed by embracing freelancing as a career path.

Surviving the Holidays as a Freelancer: Explore strategies and tips to navigate the holiday season successfully while maintaining a freelance career.

People Also Ask

How Did You Get Started With Freelancing?

I started freelancing when I was in college, and I was working on a project for a website. I realized that there were no people who could do what I could do, and so I started helping out with projects for different people. Once I graduated from college, I decided to leap into full-time freelancing, and it’s been great!

What Are Some Of The Benefits Of Being A Freelancer? 

There are so many benefits to being a freelancer. For me, one of the biggest has been being able to travel more often I love traveling and seeing new places, but it can be hard to take time off when you’re working at an office job.

Being able to work wherever and whenever is great because it means that you don’t have any restrictions on when or where you can work. It also allows me to spend more time with my family since we live far away from each other (we’re spread out across different states).

The freedom of working from home has been great for my mental health as well especially since it allows me to avoid getting stuck in traffic every day.

How Did You Find Clients?

People found me through my website or social media accounts. They would send me messages asking for help with their projects, and then we would work together via email or video calls until they got what they needed. It was really fun talking with all kinds of people from all over the world about their projects and learning about their lives too!

What are the advantages of freelancing?

Freelancing offers numerous advantages, including flexible work hours, autonomy in decision-making, the opportunity to choose clients and projects, and the potential for higher income.

How can freelancing enhance work-life balance?

Freelancing provides the flexibility to create a customized work schedule that aligns with personal priorities. It allows individuals to have better control over their time and achieve a healthier work-life balance.

What skills are in demand for freelancers?

In-demand skills for freelancers vary across industries but often include expertise in areas such as web development, graphic design, content writing, digital marketing, and project management.

How can freelancing lead to personal and professional growth?

Freelancing offers opportunities for personal and professional growth by challenging individuals to continuously learn new skills, expand their network, take on diverse projects, and develop entrepreneurial and business management capabilities.

What challenges should freelancers be aware of?

Freelancers may face challenges such as fluctuating income, irregular workloads, self-motivation, managing client relationships, and handling administrative tasks. Developing effective strategies to overcome these challenges is crucial for long-term success.