Are you thinking about going freelance, but feel intimidated by the idea of working from home? Don’t worry! I’ve got some tips that might help you overcome these fears, so keep reading.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| The gig economy is reshaping the perception of freelancing as a viable and attractive career option. |
| Freelancers are increasingly seen as valuable contributors to the workforce, bringing specialized skills and flexibility to businesses. |
| The gig economy offers opportunities for individuals to find work-life balance and create their own career paths. |
| Technology plays a crucial role in facilitating and connecting freelancers with clients and job opportunities. |
| The gig economy challenges traditional employment norms and calls for a reevaluation of labor regulations and social safety nets. |
| Embracing the gig economy can open up new avenues for personal and professional growth. |
The Gig Economy And Freelancing-What’s The Difference?
So, what is the difference between the gig economy and freelancing? While both are ways to make money on a short-term basis, there are some key differences.
Freelancing is a type of gig economy that can be done remotely and/or from home.
The person doing the work is also known as an independent contractor or freelancer.
If you’re looking to make money on your own terms, without having to commit to any one employer or company, becoming a freelancer may be right for you!
The gig economy is revolutionizing the way we work, and freelancing is at the forefront of this transformation. Discover how freelancing is shaping the job of tomorrow in our article on How Freelancing Is Changing Work.
1. Embrace Your Creative Side.
Embrace your creative side. The gig economy is all about being creative and expressing yourself in new ways, so embrace that!
Whether you’re writing a blog post or designing a new website, focus on communicating in a way that feels natural to you.
It’s okay to try something new and then iterate on it it’s part of the creative process!
Be yourself and find your style, whether that means tweeting as often as you want or only posting once per week (or every other week).
The key is finding what works for you so that your content remains authentic and relatable for your audience.
You don’t have to be perfect at everything right away; just do what feels comfortable for now!
2. Learn To Say No
Have you ever been given an opportunity that didn’t fit into your current schedule or wasn’t a good match for your skills?
How did you turn it down? In an email? On the phone? In person or over the phone. It’s important to have a system in place for turning down work.
The best way to do this is through some sort of communication method (email, text message, etc.) that allows clients and freelancers to contact each other at any time without feeling as though they are inconveniencing someone else with their questions or concerns.
Contrary to popular belief, freelancing is not just the future of work—it’s the present reality. Find out why freelancing is becoming increasingly prevalent and how it’s reshaping traditional work structures in our insightful post, Freelancing: Not the Future of Work, the Present.
3. Master Time Management
The gig economy changes everything about the way we work.
Your schedule is more flexible and you have the opportunity to work for yourself, but that also means it’s up to you to manage your time effectively. Here are some strategies for success:
Keep a task list with deadlines and priorities in order of importance. Try making this into a spreadsheet or just writing down all your tasks on paper it doesn’t matter where, just so long as it gets done!
Make sure you’re focused at all times, even if there’s nothing specific for you to do at that moment.
This will keep your mind sharp and help prevent procrastination later on when something needs doing right away instead of being put off until later (and sometimes forgotten).
It also helps with productivity overall since less brainpower is wasted while looking around aimlessly or trying not to get distracted by something else happening nearby (like a friend calling).
Stay motivated! Find ways that motivate others besides money; perhaps there’s something else that keeps them going like their dream job or aspirations in life outside their career path (such as traveling abroad).
4. Find Your Focus
The gig economy has changed the way people think about freelancing. You no longer have to feel tied down to a traditional 9-to-5 job and can be your own boss by working for yourself.
If you’re interested in trying your hand at freelancing, here are some tips on how to get started:
Focus on what you can control.
Rather than stressing out about things that might go wrong or worrying that the economy is too unstable for you to start a business, focus on what is in your control:
Finding clients and maintaining positive relationships with them.
Set goals for yourself.
Whether it’s building up an existing client base or creating more business cards, setting realistic goals will help motivate you during periods of uncertainty and make sure that nothing falls through the cracks when things get busy (or slow).
Be prepared when dealing with clients who are used to traditional office experiences.
Such as having face-to-face meetings every week or two weeks throughout their project delivery cycle instead of just talking over Skype all day long every single day without fail until it’s done so that there aren’t any surprises!
The future of work is already here, and freelancing is leading the way. Discover the profound impact of freelancing on the evolving work landscape and explore its implications in our thought-provoking article, The Future of Work Is Here, and Freelancing Leads the Pack.
5. Set Up A Workspace You Can Thrive In
The final way you can start to thrive in the gig economy is by setting up a workspace that makes you feel comfortable, relaxed and ultimately ready to work.
A good workspace has the following elements:
Ideally, it’s quiet enough for you to focus on your tasks without distraction. If there are people around or other noises that keep coming at you from all directions, this may be difficult.
If so, make sure your space is private enough that it doesn’t disturb others and if that sounds like asking too much from your place of work (or office), then maybe look into finding another job where there are fewer distractions.
It’s not too hot or too cold; there’s just enough natural light so that when the sun shines through your window during lunch breaks or after hours of working indoors in artificial lighting takes its toll on those tired eyes;
It’s not messy you want everything within arm’s reach so everything feels orderly and organized; lastly, but most importantly: You feel comfortable here!
6. Work From Somewhere Other Than Home From Time To Time
Working from home is great, but it has its drawbacks. For one thing, you can’t escape the temptation to check email or answer the phone.
And if you don’t have a dedicated space with a door that closes (like an office), it might feel like your boss is always waiting for you to finish up so they can ask what you did all day as soon as they walk in the door.
So while working from home is convenient and sometimes even necessary please remember that occasional face time with other humans who aren’t related to us by blood or marriage is important for our mental health and wellbeing.
So in addition to having a backup plan in case of emergencies, having a quiet space away from distractions where we can think clearly without worrying about being interrupted by family members or roommates will help make sure we get work done efficiently and on time!
Curious about how freelancers achieve six-figure incomes? Gain valuable insights and strategies from successful freelancers in our informative piece on How Freelancers Like Me Make Six Figures. Learn from their experiences and take your freelancing career to the next level.
7. Start With A Clean Slate Every Day
The gig economy is a great opportunity to start with a clean slate, every single day.
If you’re working as an independent contractor with no set schedule, there’s no reason to bring any problems from the office home with you or vice versa.
If your boss asks for help on the weekend, try to be flexible and provide support but don’t let it interfere with your family time off-site.
If he needs something done at 2 AM on Sunday because he’s been up coding all weekend long, that’s his problem, not yours!
Don’t bring personal problems into the office either: no one wants to hear about them or deal with them while they’re trying to get shit done too!
And whatever happens, don’t bring negativity into work:
If something happened in your personal life that negatively affected how productive you were today (e.g., maybe someone broke up with their significant other), then take tomorrow off instead so everyone else doesn’t have to deal with it!
8. Set Boundaries Around Work And Personal Life, And Stick To Them!
One of the most important things you can do is to set clear boundaries between what is work, and what is not.
This will help you avoid burnout by ensuring that all aspects of your life are balanced. You don’t want to be getting texts from a client at 3:00 AM because they had a bad dream about their project.
Make sure that your personal space doesn’t end up becoming an extension of your workplace – people who overwork themselves tend to get sick more often as well.
9. Nurture Your Relationships With Family And Friends Who Support You On Your Freelance Journey, And Seek Out Others Who Do As Well
If you’re working on your own, you must cultivate relationships with family and friends who support your freelance journey.
They can be a great source of advice, feedback, and encouragement. They can also help you get out of a rut when things aren’t going as well as they should be going.
And don’t forget about other freelancers! If you find other freelancers just like yourself, share what’s happening in your business and ask for advice from them too.
The more people with whom you surround yourselves who understand what it feels like to be an entrepreneur working from home (or anywhere), the better off both parties will be!
10. Make Sure You Have A Solid Network Of Business Contacts, Mentors, Peers, And Colleagues Who “Get It”
Having a mentor has proven to be one of the most effective ways for freelancers to learn. If you can find someone who’s already doing what you want to do (or has done it before).
They’ll be able to help you avoid mistakes, develop your skills and make connections that will help build your career or business.
Mentors don’t always have to be people older than us; sometimes they’re peers with whom we share common interests or values.
Either way, having someone who understands what we’re going through makes all the difference in our personal growth as freelancers.
11. Block Out Time For Exercise And Take Care Of Your Mind And Body In Other Ways Too (Meditation, Lots Of Water, Etc)
This is a no-brainer, but it’s worth mentioning. When you’re busy hustling and working on the go, sometimes the idea of taking care of your health can get lost in the shuffle.
Exercise is important for your body and mind and so is meditation, getting enough sleep, drinking lots of water, eating well (no fast food at every meal), etc.
When you’re freelancing full-time as a gig worker or contractor in an independent capacity it’s easy to feel like these things aren’t as important as they should be because there’s so much work to be done!
But we must take care of ourselves too; our physical health affects our mental health just as much if not more than our mental health affects our physical wellbeing.
12. Know That Even If You’re At Home You Need To Get Dressed Every Day Like You’re Going Into An Office!
It’s a hard truth that dressing the part is an important part of being successful. If you’re at home, but still want to look like you’re going into the office, then get dressed every day as though you are.
Dress in business attire and make sure everything is clean and pressed, even if it’s just a pair of jeans or a t-shirt.
Dress for success; dress for how you want to be perceived by others; dress for how you want to be perceived by yourself!
How people respond to us can change if we change our presentation just slightly with something as simple as wearing a tie over an open-collar shirt instead of untucked with no tie at all.
Freelancing has been a lifeline for millions of individuals, offering flexibility, financial stability, and opportunities for growth. Discover inspiring stories and learn about the transformative power of freelancing in our captivating article, How Freelancing Has Saved Millions of People. Explore firsthand accounts and be inspired to embark on your own freelancing journey.
13. Get Advice From Other Freelancers Who’ve Been There Before
Asking for help, advice, and support from others who have been there before you is a great way to get started.
If you are new to freelance writing, ask someone more experienced in your field if they would be willing to sit down with you and discuss their career path as well as any lessons learned along the way that might be useful for your business growth plans.
If this sounds like an awkward request at first glance, keep in mind that most successful freelancers love helping other people succeed!
And if they don’t know much about what it takes yet themselves…maybe that’s because they didn’t ask the right questions when they were just starting either?
Conclusion
Now we know what you’re thinking-all these tips seem pretty daunting. But don’t worry! We have a few more tricks up our sleeves that should help ease your mind:
If all else fails, remember these two words: “Freelance” and “Work.”
There is no right or wrong way to pursue this profession; rather than focusing on one set path, embrace the possibilities and opportunities that come with being a freelancer!
Find out what others are doing to get ahead of the curve when it comes to finding new clients, and negotiating rates/contracts/deadlines successfully.
Ask your friends how they got started as well so you can learn from their experiences too!
You’ll discover some great tips along the way if you keep an open mind about listening (and implementing!) things outside of just hearing yourself speak all day long… Trust us on this one 😉
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources to explore the gig economy and its impact on freelancing:
What Is the Gig Economy and Why Is It the Future of Work?: Learn about the concept and significance of the gig economy in shaping the future of work.
The Biggest Benefits of the Gig Economy for Freelancers and Businesses: Discover the advantages that the gig economy offers both freelancers and businesses, and understand the opportunities it presents.
The Gig Economy: A Closer Look: Dive deeper into the gig economy and gain insights into its dynamics, impact, and various facets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Gig Economy?
The gig economy is a new way of working where people can work on short-term projects, rather than full-time jobs.
This has allowed people to have flexibility with their schedules and work for themselves.
How Does It Differ From Traditional Freelancing?
While freelancers have always been able to do this type of work, gig workers are more likely to be working for companies and not other individuals.
This means they are often paid hourly or by task completed.
What Is The Difference Between An Independent Contractor And An Employee?
An independent contractor puts forth their own risk when working on a project, whereas an employee’s job is given by someone else (like their employer).
How Is The Gig Economy Changing The Perception Of Freelancing?
The gig economy is a term that describes how people can find jobs, sell products, and get tasks done through online platforms. It’s not just about freelancers!
Instead, it’s about businesses that allow you to sell your skills or services directly to consumers.
The gig economy is changing the perception of freelancing because it allows people who are looking for work to find their ideal gigs more easily than ever before.
Not only that but also, it gives them more freedom in terms of where they work, when they work, and what they do while they’re working.
What Companies Are Included In The Gig Economy?
Uber and Lyft are two rideshare companies that allow people to make money driving others around town. Airbnb lets people rent out their homes or apartments as vacation rentals.
TaskRabbit lets users hire other people to help them out with odd jobs like cleaning or moving furniture around their home or office space.
Other popular examples include Zipcar (car rental), Handy (home cleaning), Lyft Line/Uber Pool (ride-sharing), Instacart (grocery delivery), GrubHub Seamless (food delivery), Postmates
Why Is It Called The Gig Economy?
The gig comes from the word “gigabyte,” which measures how much information can fit in a computer’s memory.
The term gig was coined by Wired magazine in 1995 to describe a small piece of software that could be downloaded quickly over the internet.
Since then, “gig” has been used as shorthand for anything that can be bought or sold in small amounts like ridesharing services like Uber or Lyft, or other online platforms where people can offer their services for short periods (for example Fiverr).
Is It Legal?
Yes! According to current labor laws, employees are required by law to receive minimum wage and overtime pay for any hours worked over 40 per week (see U.S Department Of Labor).
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.