How Freelancing Saved My Life

I used to be a mess. Working at a 9-5 was dragging me down, making me miserable and unproductive. My life felt empty and meaningless. I needed a change, but I wasn’t sure what it would be or how I’d get there.

As it turns out, the answer was easier than I thought: freelancing changed my life and gave me the freedom to work on what I wanted even if that’s just binge-watching Netflix all day (in bed). Here are ways freelancing saved my life:

Takeaways
1. Freelancing can provide a lifeline and transform lives by offering flexibility, autonomy, and new opportunities.
2. The freelance lifestyle can bring positive changes to personal and professional well-being.
3. Freelancing offers a chance to escape the constraints of a traditional job and pursue a fulfilling and self-directed career.
4. Freelancing can provide financial stability and the potential for higher earning potential.
5. The challenges and obstacles faced in freelancing can be overcome with determination, adaptability, and strategic planning.

You Can Work From Anywhere

freelancing allows you to work from anywhere. You can work from home, a coffee shop, on the beach, or even on a mountain top. But freelancing is not just about where you choose to work. It’s also about how much flexibility you have in your schedule.

Some jobs may require you to be at a specific location at a certain time, but more often than not, work is available around your schedule.

Building a successful freelance career requires understanding why US freelancers charge higher rates than others. Learn more about the factors influencing freelance rates in our article on Why Do US Freelancers Charge Higher Than Others?.

You Can Work Anytime

You can work anytime, anywhere, and in whatever way is most productive for you.

• You can work during your peak hours. Some people are morning people and some are night owls. If your brain is most active between 1 AM and 3 AM, go ahead and schedule those hours for writing or coding projects that require more focus than others.
• You can take breaks when you need them. If a project becomes overwhelming to complete in one sitting, don’t feel obligated to keep working on it until the next day take a break.

Grab some coffee or tea (or maybe even wine), head outside for some fresh air, read an article on your smartphone… whatever helps you relax enough so that when you return to your task at hand later on in the evening after everyone else has gone to bed (or earlier if needed).

• It will be easier and less frustrating than before because now all the ideas have been floating around freely inside your mind while it was otherwise occupied doing something else fun but different from what was required just earlier this afternoon when getting started would’ve seemed like torture instead of playtime.”

You Are Your Boss

Freelancing means you are your boss. You have complete control over what projects to take on, how much to charge, and when you want to take a break or even stop working altogether.

This is one of the most attractive benefits of freelancing, especially for those who have never been self-employed before. It’s also why many people find it hard to become freelancers even though they are seeking greater freedom in their work lives.

If this is an area where you struggle, remember that being your boss isn’t easy but as we’ve seen above, there are plenty of other great reasons why freelancing will help improve your life overall!

Are you a Gen Z freelancer looking for job ideas? Check out our list of 13 Freelance Job Ideas for the Younger Generation (Gen Z) to explore diverse opportunities in the freelancing world.

You’ll Be A Lot Happier

You can work on your terms, including the hours you want to work. You can pick and choose which clients to take on and set up your schedule.

This means that you’ll be working with people who are similar to you in taste and values, making them more likely to work with you again in the future. If they like what they see from you, they might even recommend their friends or family members as potential clients too. Also, love being able to start my day at a time that works best for me even if it’s afternoon or evening. 

And while this may seem obvious (after all, everyone needs more money these days), it’s worth noting that many jobs don’t allow this kind of flexibility because there’s always some sort of rush hour traffic jam or last-minute meeting scheduled during our normal working hours (not unlike most major cities). But when freelancing…

Freelancing Allows You To Be Creative

In the same way that freelancers can choose their hours and work from anywhere, they also have a lot of flexibility when it comes to how they do the work itself. 

If you’re someone who struggles with routine or hates following instructions, freelancing might be perfect for you and if not, still consider diving into the world of work-from-home jobs: they offer all kinds of opportunities for creativity and flexibility.

Whether you’re working as a copywriter or graphic designer or editor, there are plenty of ways for your personality and style to shine through in your day-to-day projects.

Freelancing Means Financial Freedom, Without Any Limits

When you become a freelancer, your income will no longer be limited by the hours you work. You can work as much or as little as you want.

You are also free to choose what projects to take on and for how long. For example, if a client is asking for too much time or money (or both), it’s up to you whether or not to accept the job. You don’t have anyone telling you when and where to work it’s all up to what makes sense for your budget and schedule.

You Get To Choose Who You Want To Work With

As a freelancer, you get to choose the clients you work with. You get to be selective about who you want to work with. That’s an incredible power that can change your life!

When I first started freelancing, there were a few things that were very important for me:

• I didn’t want to work with people who weren’t respectful or honest.
• I didn’t want to work with toxic people.
• I didn’t want to work with anyone who wasn’t a good fit for my business or personality (and vice versa).

So while I did take on some jobs as they came along and worked hard at building up my portfolio, when it came time for me to start seeking out new clients more actively to set up my own full-time freelance business.

I decided not just try any potential clients but rather put together a list of criteria and qualities that would help me determine whether or not I’d be a good fit for their company or project before going ahead with any discussions about the job itself:

Freelancing Opens Up New Opportunities For You

You get to work with different people and learn new skills when you freelance. You have the opportunity to work on different projects and learn new things. You can also work with a range of clients, which allows your business to grow in ways that may not be possible if you were working for just one company.

When it comes down to it, the more experience you have as a freelancer, the easier it will be for you to land jobs and make money from them.

Freelancing Allows You To Work On Things That Interest You The Most

In the past, I worked at a job where I was expected to do things that were boring and didn’t interest me. My work would have been more fulfilling if it had been a hobby or passion of mine. Freelancing allows you to choose what you want to do for a living and make money doing it!

While you might be tempted to take any job that pays well, remember that it will be much more satisfying if the work interests and excites you. For example:

• If your skill set is in accounting, but all your friends are graphic designers who love making beautiful images with photoshop filters and color palettes, then why not go into design?
• If writing about home décor gets old after 8 hours per day for weeks on end when all you want is something new every day (like fashion or technology), then why not freelance as an editor for TechCrunch?

The point here is that there’s no reason not to try something different because “life” doesn’t allow us this kind of freedom anymore…or does it?

Crafting a compelling portfolio is crucial for freelance success. Discover valuable tips and strategies in our guide on How to Make a Portfolio That Gets You the Job to showcase your skills and land exciting freelance projects.

You’ll Be Surprised How Much You Can Learn Through Freelancing

When you freelance, you are exposed to a world of knowledge that can help grow your skillset.

Let’s say you decide to work with a new technology or software for the first time. By doing so, not only will you have access to new skills and expertise, but also an opportunity to network with other freelancers who are already well-versed in that area and can offer guidance on how best to get started working with it yourself. 

This is possible because freelancers tend to be more open about their experiences when working online than office workers or even employees of large companies due to the nature of the jobs involved in freelancing they tend not only

to enjoy sharing knowledge but also having conversations about topics like business models and productivity tips that may otherwise remain closed off at work due out of fear of losing one’s job if they offer too much advice outside their department (and even worse: if they were wrong).

Considering a transition from a traditional job to freelancing? Before you make the leap, read our article on 13 Things to Consider Before You Quit Your Day Job to ensure a smooth and informed career shift.

There’s No Limit On How Much You Can Earn.

There’s no limit on how much you can earn. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying that the sky is the limit. It’s true.

The only limits are your imagination and hard work. I’ve seen freelancers make six figures with their online businesses, and I’ve seen people start from scratch and build up to seven figures in less than a year. If you have a good idea and work hard, there’s no reason you can’t reach that level of success as well.

There’s Always Room To Grow And Improve.

It’s amazing how much you can learn and improve in a short period when you are willing to put the work in. 

As I mentioned, before I became a full-time freelancer, I was working as an intern at an ad agency where they had a mentorship program. 

This meant that every new employee would be assigned an “old-timer” who had been there for quite some time; this person was there to help guide them through their first few months on the job and assist them with any questions or problems they ran into while doing their job. 

The old-timers also helped by giving useful tips on how they went through similar situations when they were just starting in their careers. I still use those same tips today!

Freelancing doesn’t have to be a constant struggle. Discover the moments when freelancing becomes effortless and enjoyable in our post on The Moment When Freelancing Isn’t Hard at All and find inspiration to thrive in your freelance journey.

Final Thoughts

The most important thing I’ve learned from freelancing is that there are only two things you need to be successful: the desire to be successful, and the willingness to learn.

If you don’t have those two things, then you will never make it as a freelancer. But if you do have them, and if you can persevere through all the bumps in the road, then there’s nothing stopping you from having your own success story.

Further Reading

Here are some additional articles you may find helpful to explore further insights on how freelancing can change lives:

How Freelancing Changed My Life: Discover a personal story of how freelancing transformed one writer’s life, highlighting the benefits and challenges of the freelance lifestyle.

How Freelancing Can Save Your Life: Explore a scientific perspective on how freelancing can offer a lifeline in certain circumstances, providing flexibility, autonomy, and opportunities for personal and professional growth.

People Share How Freelancing Changed Their Lives for the Better: Gain insights from real freelancers who have experienced positive transformations in their lives through freelancing, and learn about the various ways it has made a significant impact.

People Also Ask

What Is Freelancing?

Freelancing is a way of life that allows you to work from home and set your schedule. You can choose from many different types of jobs, including writing, coding, designing, and more! You can make money while working the hours that fit your lifestyle.

How Can I Get Started As A Freelancer?

There are many ways to become a freelancer you can learn the skills you need by taking classes at local community colleges or online in your spare time, or you can start by doing simple tasks for friends and family members who know what they want to be done but don’t have the time or skills to do it themselves.

Once you’ve learned how to complete these projects successfully, you’ll be able to find more complex work with businesses and other professionals who need help with their projects.

What’s The Best Way To Get Started As A Freelancer?

When you’re just starting, it can be hard to know where to begin. There are so many different ways to make money freelancing and so many different ways of doing it. 

But the first step is always the same: find your niche. You can’t be good at everything, so what are you passionate about? What do you have experience in? What do people tell you they need help with?. Once you’ve figured that out, then it’s time to start looking for clients!

How Do You Find Clients Or Customers?

I started by putting up ads on Craigslist, but now most of my business comes from referrals from past clients and word-of-mouth.

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Freelancing?

The pros are that I get to set my schedule, work in my pajamas if I want to, and do whatever I want with my time (within reason). The cons are that there are no benefits or insurance benefits like there would be if I had a traditional job but luckily I’m young enough that I don’t need those things just yet.

What Are My Options If I’m Not A Great Writer Or Designer?

If writing isn’t your thing, or if graphic design isn’t your jam don’t worry! There are so many other skills that people look for when hiring a freelancer. 

Here are just a few: web development; coding/programming; customer service; sales/marketing; data analysis; research and analysis; project management; audio/video production; social media management; event planning; design consulting. 

The list goes on and on. If there’s something in particular that interests you, search for “freelance skill jobs” and see what comes up!

Is Freelancing For Me?

If you’re looking for something flexible, rewarding, and challenging yes. It’s for anyone who wants to take control of their career path and make money doing what they love (or even just make a little extra cash).

Do I Need Any Special Skills Or Training?

No! Most of our jobs are open to everyone because we want everyone to have an opportunity at earning extra income while working from home.

How Long Will It Take Me To Find A Job?

It depends on the type of job that interests you, but we encourage you not to give up if one doesn’t come along right away. We have thousands of clients who are always looking for new talent and we want you.

Do You Like Being Your Boss?

I love it! I get to work from home and set my schedule and hours, which is perfect for me because I’m always available for last-minute appointments. The only downside is having to pay for things out of pocket when things go wrong like when a client doesn’t pay on time or doesn’t pay at all.

I Have A Full-Time Job And Want To Start Freelancing On The Side

No, they can’t fire you for it. However, if you’re leaving your full-time job to pursue freelancing full-time, then yes, it’s possible that your employer could let you go for that reason. 

If that’s what you want to do, then make sure to communicate with them about your plans first. Try saying something like: “I’d like to leave my current position and pursue freelance work full-time.