How Freelancing Is Redefining How We Work

Freelancing is becoming an increasingly popular option for people looking for work. But even if you’re a freelancer by choice. 

You may be dealing with the same issues that come across all kinds of jobs: maintaining motivation to keep working at it and finding ways to stay productive when there’s no boss looking over your shoulder. 

So how do you overcome these challenges? There are lots of things you can do, but here are some tips that have worked for me as I’ve built my own freelance business from the ground up:

Takeaways
1. Freelancing is transforming the traditional workplace by introducing flexible work arrangements and remote opportunities.
2. The gig economy is a driving force behind the rise of freelancing, offering both challenges and benefits to individuals and businesses.
3. Successful freelancers exhibit key traits such as self-discipline, effective time management, and strong marketing skills for their services.
4. Embracing freelancing can provide companies with access to a diverse talent pool and cost-effective workforce solutions.
5. Technological advancements play a crucial role in the growth of freelancing, enabling remote collaboration and seamless communication.

Think Of Freelancing As An Opportunity To Be Your Own Boss

One of the best things about freelancing is that it gives you the freedom to work from home, or from wherever else you want to work. 

When you’re not chained to an office schedule, you can get up and go whenever you want. You don’t have to wait for your boss or coworkers to get off their asses before starting your day you can start working when YOU are ready! 

And once again: pajamas!

When I started freelancing full-time two years ago, I was still living at home with my parents. 

They were completely supportive of my decision (and proud as punch), but they did have one caveat: they wanted me out of their house by 10 PM every night. 

The deal was that if I wanted a room there, I had to be quiet after 10 PM and keep my room tidy so Mom wouldn’t find out how messy it really was (she totally would have freaked out).

I didn’t like being confined by those rules and always felt like a child who couldn’t do anything without first asking permission from Mommy or Daddy…which got old fast! 

So instead, I decided that I would take over our garage/basement area which wasn’t being used at all at the time. 

And convert it into an office for myself so no one could tell me when or how late I could stay up working on whatever project needed finishing next in order for us all not starve in our old age. 

Because we couldn’t afford food anymore due solely because all money went toward supporting my creative pursuits instead of paying bills since there weren’t any jobs available locally anyway…so yeah…long story short: now

Freelancing has transformed the way we work, opening up new opportunities and challenges. If you’re curious about the impact of freelancing on the modern workforce, check out our article on How Freelancing Is Redefining How We Work to gain valuable insights.

Freelancing Can Lead To New Opportunities

Freelancing can lead to new opportunities. You might find a job that you never thought you could do, or learn new skills that help you grow your business. 

You may even discover that freelancing is something you want to do full-time and if that happens, great!

You’ll work with clients from all over the world. This means that you get to meet and collaborate with people from different cultures and backgrounds than where you live. 

It also gives them an opportunity to hire someone who’s local, which everyone likes because it makes communication easier and builds trust faster than working remotely from another country!

You May Find Yourself With More Control Over Your Schedule

When you’re working at a traditional job, the company controls your schedule. They decide how many hours you work each day and how much time off you get. 

They also dictate when and where you do your work.

If you’re a freelancer, however, the rules change. You can control your own schedule and determine how much or little time off is necessary to recharge your batteries. 

You might choose to work full-time one month but then take an entire week off in another period of time; 

This flexibility gives freelancers more control over their lives and allows them to balance their personal lives with their professional ones more easily than someone who works for someone else does (or as well as if they were self-employed).

The gig economy has revolutionized the employment landscape, and freelancers have a unique perspective to share. Discover firsthand accounts from freelancers about the gig economy in our article, Freelancers, What Can You Tell Us About the Gig Economy?.

Your Commute May Become A Thing Of The Past

One of the great benefits of freelancing is that you have more control over your time. If you live close to where you work, this can mean that your commute becomes a thing of the past. 

Additionally, if you don’t live close to where you work and have to take public transportation or drive there (which is not recommended unless absolutely necessary). 

It’s important to be aware that many cities have zones within which people who work in one zone can travel for free within their own zone and also across other zones with reduced fares. 

This could save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars every month!

The freedom granted by this flexibility is especially beneficial for those who want more flexibility in where they live but still want access to opportunities in different cities and neighborhoods.

Rethink How You Use And Set Boundaries Around Your Time

When you’re a freelancer, your time is your currency. You have to be strategic about how you use and set boundaries around it.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when there are so many things vying for your attention every day. The key is to be mindful of the importance of each task, and then ruthlessly cut out anything that doesn’t bring value in return.

Don’t waste time on things that don’t matter: if someone else can do something better than you, let them handle it; 

If a project isn’t moving forward quickly enough or isn’t as fruitful as expected, drop it and move on (but keep track of what happened so next time won’t be a repeat experience). 

Don’t let other people’s expectations dictate your use of time if they want something done immediately. 

But it’s not urgent for them, tell them no; if they tell you “that can wait until tomorrow,” say yes instead! Lastly, don’t feel guilty about using your time for yourself you must recharge!

Explore What Being A Successful Freelancer Really Means To You

Now that you’ve chosen to become a freelancer, it’s time to figure out what success means to you. Think about all the things that make up your definition of success. 

Maybe it’s earning enough money to pay rent and buy groceries for yourself and your family, or maybe it’s having enough free time to pursue other interests like music or cooking or both! 

Maybe when you think of success, you think about opportunities for growth within the business itself: taking on new clients and projects. 

Being able to afford training courses and conferences that will help improve your craft a better understanding of marketing techniques could be really helpful in landing bigger clients down the line!

But whatever it is that makes up “success” for YOU as an individual person with unique skillsets and interests (and goals), I recommend setting some specific metrics by which we can measure our progress toward achieving those goals whether they’re monetary or otherwise. 

For example: if one goal was earning $3k per month so I could pay off my student loans faster than expected (which were due within two years). 

Then each month I would need at least $300/month from freelance work alone (not including any side hustles).

The future of work is rapidly shifting towards a freelance-dominated environment, and it’s essential to understand the reasons behind this transformation. Dive into our piece on The Future of Work Will Be Freelance: Reasons to explore the factors driving this change.

Have A Plan For Dealing With Setbacks And Disappointments

Even the most successful freelancers can have setbacks. In fact, there are several ways a freelance career could be derailed:

• You could lose your clients or they might stop paying you.

• You could get sick or injured and have trouble working at all.

• Your clients might change their minds about what they want from you, which means you need to find new customers fast in order to stay afloat.

It’s important that when these things happen (and they will), you know how to deal with them effectively so that your freelance business doesn’t flounder too much before picking up again. 

While it may seem obvious how one should react after suffering a setback after all, everyone has heard of “pick yourself up by the bootstraps” that doesn’t always work out so well in practice.

Think About What You Get From Work That Doesn’t Have A Price Tag Attached To It

In a traditional office setting, you might be able to take advantage of the following perks:

Work on your own terms. Freelancers are able to decide when they want to work and how much they want to work. 

They can choose what projects they’ll take on and how much time they spend on each one. This flexibility makes it easier for freelancers to balance work with other activities in their lives (such as family, friends and hobbies).

Work on things that interest them most. When you’re working for yourself, you can choose which types of projects or clients are best suited for your skillset whether that means taking on more creative tasks rather than strictly administrative ones; 

Focusing more on long-term projects rather than short-term ones, or even just taking some time off if need be!

Work at their own pace: For example, many people dream about vacationing during the winter months but prefer not taking an extended absence from work altogether because they’d miss out too much in terms of opportunity cost (i.e., paying rent). 

Freelancers have no such concerns since most don’t pay rent anyway! Instead, if something is interesting happening somewhere else besides our current location then why not go see it firsthand?

Take Care Of The Administrative Aspects Of Running Your Own Business

Freelancers have to worry about the same things that any other business owner does: accounting, taxes, and legal issues.

In this section, we’ll talk about how to keep track of your income and expenses as a freelancer. You can also use these strategies while you’re still working for an employer. 

It’s never too early or too late to start keeping good records!

Why should freelancing be considered as a viable option for everyone? Let’s explore the advantages and benefits of freelancing in today’s world. Check out our article, Why Everyone Should Be a Freelancer, to find out how freelancing can fit into different lifestyles.

Remember That Networking Is Important When You’re Freelancing, Too

In addition to the hustle, freelancers need to be able to network.

Networking is a skill that can be learned and honed over time. It’s one of the most important skills when it comes to freelancing. 

Unless you’re lucky enough to work in a field with no competition or entry barriers (like becoming a unicorn on Instagram), you’ll need other people in your corner if you want your business to thrive. 

Networking can help you find clients, jobs, and collaborators; it can help develop those relationships into lifelong friendships. 

And it can provide mentors who are ready and willing to help out when things get tough for your business or even just give advice when something happens outside of work hours (like running out of office supplies).

Remember That Freelancers Don’t Have To Be Alone All The Time

In today’s climate, it can seem like you’re working alone. But the truth is that freelancers don’t have to be isolated all the time. 

There are plenty of ways to make connections and build relationships with other professionals in your industry, both online and in person.

There are many networking groups out there that offer opportunities for freelancers to meet people face-to-face. Some groups focus on specific industries (like marketing), while others focus on specific cities or regions. 

You can also find local events in your area through Meetup or Eventbrite and attend them as a way to meet other professionals who might be able to help you with freelance work or refer you to clients.

If you’re looking for a good place online where you can connect with other freelancers, check out sites like Elance, Upwork, and LinkedIn Job Search they offer lots of opportunities for finding new contracts or potential partnerships with other companies!

Build In Time For Professional Development And Improvement For Yourself And For Your Business

Professional development is important for any freelancer, but it’s especially critical for those who want to grow their business. There are a lot of ways to become better at your craft and more efficient as a business owner:

Keep up on trends and technologies. This means staying abreast of the latest news in your industry, reading blogs and magazines (both online and offline), joining groups on LinkedIn and Facebook, following people who are leaders in their fields, etc. 

You could even try learning new skills by taking classes or attending conferences where you can meet other professionals in your field.

Take advantage of resources that will help you improve as a freelancer. 

For example many colleges offer programs specifically designed for freelancers who want to learn more about marketing themselves or managing their finances effectively; 

Some cities have support groups specifically aimed at assisting creative types like writers and graphic designers; 

Online communities exist where people share tips about how they manage time efficiently so that they can get more done per week (and yes this means not just browsing social media).

Focus On Creating A Work Environment Where You Feel Productive And Happy

Creating a work environment that is productive and comfortable is essential to staying happy while freelancing. Here are a few things to consider:

Have a quiet place to work. 

You can get more done in less time when you’re not distracted by noise or music. When you need the help of others, use your headphones so they don’t hear your music or video calls.

Have a comfortable place to work that inspires creativity and motivation. If your desk chair makes your back hurt. 

Buy an ergonomic chair or invest in some yoga mats for stretching out during breaks from sitting at the computer all day long (and/or getting up for standing meetings). 

If your lighting setup isn’t flattering on any given day, invest in lamps that create the right mood for each project type (like bright fluorescents for typing up novel manuscripts versus dimmer incandescent bulbs when working on photo editing).

Look Into Options For Health Insurance And Retirement Savings If They Were Provided By Your Employer In The Past

If you have been working for a company that provided health insurance and retirement savings plans, it’s time to think about how those benefits will be handled in the future.

If you are self-employed, likely, your employer wouldn’t offer the same degree of coverage and benefits as if you were still with an employer. 

You’ll need to take some steps on your own:

Find Out What Options Are Available For Health Insurance Coverage During This Transition Period And Whether It Makes Sense For You Financially

Talk with an expert about any retirement plan options (such as 401(k) plans) before making any decisions about how best to handle them during this transition period.

Don’t worry if success takes longer than you anticipate or expect it to take; keep working toward your goals at your own pace, not someone else’s.

When you’re freelancing, it’s easy to feel like you’re constantly being compared to other people. 

And that’s okay comparing yourself to others is a great way of keeping your standards high and motivating yourself to put on your game face every day. 

But it can also be discouraging if someone else’s success makes you feel like you’re not doing enough or working hard enough at your own goals.

There are plenty of things in life we can’t control: how other people think and feel about us; the weather; how quickly our business grows (or doesn’t). 

That said, there are quite a few things we can control: how well we take care of ourselves physically and mentally; our attitude toward challenges; how diligently we follow through on tasks and projects. 

In other words, focusing on what’s in our control will help us stay positive about our work and that helps us succeed!

Do you wonder why freelancers sometimes earn more than traditional employees? Uncover the reasons and factors contributing to this phenomenon in our article on Why Are Freelancers Paid More Than Employees?.

Freelancing Can Be Its Reward If You Make It Something Positive In Your Life

As a freelancer, you’re your boss and that can be a powerful thing. You’ll have the freedom to work from wherever you want and set your schedule, which means more flexibility in your daily life and less stress than if you were tied down by someone else’s demands.

When I first became a full-time freelancer, I was worried about the loss of structure that comes with having an office job. 

But now that I’ve gotten used to working at home, it feels great! 

Days are far less predictable than they once were and sometimes my coworkers’ schedules are as unpredictable as mine (if we weren’t all freelancers). 

The unpredictability is something that makes me feel more relaxed and able to enjoy life without worrying about being late or missing an appointment or meeting. 

Because my job isn’t tied down by an office building full of people who don’t share my values and priorities, I can devote myself fully when needed while still enjoying the freedom of doing what I love most: writing articles like this one!

Conclusion

With that in mind, it’s still important to take practical steps to make sure you’re not going off the rails when it comes to your working life as a freelancer. 

Taking care of administrative details like health insurance, retirement savings, and your taxes may seem tedious, but they’re important for making sure you can keep working well into the future. 

In addition, take time to build relationships with other people who are also freelancing even if this happens virtually. There’s good evidence that having people you can rely on for support is an important part of staying happy and healthy at work. 

Remembering these things will help ensure that your freelance work is as successful as possible!

Further Reading

How Gig Economy Is Redefining the Workplace: Explore the impact of the gig economy on traditional workplaces and how it’s reshaping the modern workforce.

What Successful Freelancers Do Differently: Learn about the habits and strategies that set successful freelancers apart in their careers.

We Studied Freelancing for Five Years: Here’s How Work Is Changing: Delve into a comprehensive study on freelancing and how it’s transforming the nature of work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I Be Able To Find Work?

Yes! There are thousands of jobs available, and the more you build your profile, the more opportunities will open up for you.

How Much Money Can I Make?

The amount of money you can make as a freelancer depends on how much time and effort you put into your work and how much demand there is for your services. You can make as much or as little as you want!

What Is Freelancing?

Freelancing is an exciting way to work on your terms, from anywhere in the world. You can choose to work as a full-time freelancer, a part-time freelancer, or as an occasional freelancer.

What Are The Benefits Of Freelancing?

There are many benefits of freelancing including working from home, being your boss, and having more flexible hours.