How To Do Freelancing Full Time While Working A Job

This is a guide for people who want to be freelance writers. The first step is to take on side jobs (contracts) when you don’t have enough work. 

You can still use your full-time job as your main source of income and the contracts will help you pay off debt or save money for when you do freelance full time.

How-To: Freelance While Working a Full-Time Job – YouTube
Takeaways
Balancing freelance work and a full-time job requires effective time management. Prioritize tasks and create a schedule to allocate time for both commitments.
Establishing clear boundaries between work and personal life is crucial for maintaining a healthy work-life balance while freelancing and working full-time.
To avoid burnout, recognize your limits, delegate tasks when possible, and prioritize self-care through regular breaks and stress-reducing activities.
Communicate your availability and deadlines effectively to clients by establishing clear communication channels and setting realistic expectations.
Handle potential conflicts of interest between your full-time job and freelance clients by being transparent, maintaining confidentiality, and avoiding the use of company resources for freelance work.

Take A Good Hard Look At Your Finances

First things first: you need to know what your monthly income is. The reason for this is that, for a freelancer, there’s no such thing as an annual income. 

You only have the money from this month, and the next month is an unknown quantity something that can potentially be even lower than last month because of factors like traffic on your site or whether or not anyone liked your Facebook content.

To figure out what your monthly income might be, start by adding up all of your sources of revenue (or subtracting out all of your costs). 

If you’re currently employed full-time, then list how much money you make per week or per month depending on how often they pay their employees; 

If not then just use whichever number makes sense based on how long it takes them to pay their contractors or suppliers. 

If you’re a Gen Z freelancer looking to achieve success in today’s freelance economy, our comprehensive guide on 15 tips to help Gen Z achieve success in the freelance economy can provide you with valuable insights and strategies to thrive in this competitive landscape.

Once Done With That Part We’ll Go Into Further Detail Later In This Article!

If there are any other sources of income besides those mentioned above such as savings accounts interest payments credit cards etc., then add these amounts as well so we can get a better idea where we stand financially overall.”

Try To Work For People Who Are Willing To Let You Work Flexible Hours

If you want to be a full-time freelancer, look for clients who are open to flexible hours. If you can’t work flexible hours and still get the job done, then your employer will have no choice but to hire someone else who can work during regular business hours. This means that if your boss doesn’t let you telecommute, then it’s time to find another job that does!

The key here is being clear with potential employers about what hours you will be able and willing to work. 

You don’t want them in the dark about this; otherwise, they’ll assume that any time of day is fair game (and they may end up calling at 11 pm).

Try To Work For People Who Need More Than One Hour Of Work Done At A Time

Make sure the job is worth your time and effort, and that you are being paid well for the work that you do.

Make sure you are not being exploited by someone who wants to pay less than minimum wage or otherwise take advantage of their position to get free or cheap labor from you (and others like you).

Make sure the company treats its employees well with respect and dignity and does not overwork them beyond their limits or underpay them unfairly (or even legally).

Discover how freelancing is revolutionizing the way we work and offering new opportunities for professionals. Our article on how freelancing is changing the way we work explores the shifting dynamics of the modern workforce and the benefits of embracing freelance work.

Work With People Who View You As An Asset

To make freelancing full-time work, you need to do it with people who see you as an asset. They must recognize the value of your skills and the time it takes to acquire those skills.

These are people who will allow you to work flexible hours, but they also need more than one hour of work done at a time (which is why my previous employers have been so great).

They can’t expect you to be available 24/7 because then they won’t be able to get anything done if every single task requires your presence at every single moment for it get completed correctly.

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Have A Realistic Picture Of How Much You Can Get Done On A Given Day Or Week

If you are working a full-time job, it is important to have a realistic picture of how much you can get done in an average day or week. 

A lot of freelancers try to do too much, which leads to burnout and also results in them missing deadlines. 

If you have other obligations as well as freelancing work, then you must be productive and efficient with your time.

The goal should be building up enough momentum so that eventually all your work comes from freelancing clients. If this is not the case yet, then it will still be necessary for income stability purposes (and because life just doesn’t stop).

Make Sure That You Know Your Value And That You’re Not Being Exploited

A lot of people don’t know how to price their time properly. They think they are worth a lot more than they are, while others undervalue themselves and accept too little for their skillset. 

It’s important to understand what you can charge based on the work you do, so that way if someone says “I’ll pay $10/hour” and then offers $15/hour at the last minute, it’s okay! You can say “Thanks but no thanks”.

This is an important step because freelancers tend to be paid less than full-time employees due to being considered independent contractors rather than employees with benefits like health insurance or 401Ks (401Ks are retirement plans where employers contribute money towards them). 

This makes freelancers vulnerable and susceptible to exploitation from clients who may feel entitled to paying less because they have no control over what their employee does outside of their job description. 

But this isn’t true! We all need fair wages for our time spent working hard for someone else’s benefit; 

Otherwise, there would never be any incentive for us all together as human beings in society 🙂

If you have a passion for writing and an interest in the renewable energy industry, our article on how to become a freelance writer in the renewable energy industry is a must-read. Learn about the opportunities, skills, and steps you can take to establish yourself as a successful freelance writer in this exciting field.

Re-Evaluate When Necessary

If you’re not making enough money, you need to find a way to make more. If you’re not able to work the hours you want, you need to find a way to work more hours. 

If your current clients aren’t fulfilling your needs or expectations, find new clients that will.

Look at the big picture: are there other things that could be better? If so, re-evaluate them and make adjustments accordingly.

It might be possible, but there are some important things you should consider first

If you want to make freelancing full time while working a job, it’s important to consider the following:

You need to be able to afford to live on your own. If you are paying 50% of the bills, that means that your income needs to be twice as much as what you currently make. 

It might not be possible for everyone.

You need to be able to afford all of your bills. Depending on how much debt you have and how much money is left over each month after paying off those debts, this may or may not work for you.

You probably will not have health insurance through a job if you take this route, so factor in how much it would cost for insurance for yourself (and any dependents) when considering whether this will work for your family financially.

If retiring early is important for your financial well-being at some point in life (or if retirement isn’t but saving up a large emergency fund is). 

Then making enough from freelancing alone could be very hard without having another source of income besides. 

Freelancing to contribute more savings toward building up an emergency fund or whatever else happens with money when people aren’t worried about paying their rent every month

Developing essential skills is crucial for every freelancer’s success. Explore our article on freelance skills every freelancer should have to gain insights into the key competencies required in today’s freelance landscape. Discover how to enhance your skill set and position yourself as a valuable and sought-after freelancer.

Conclusion

Freelancing full-time while working a job is entirely possible, but it’s also not for everyone. You need to be extremely disciplined, and you’ll have to make some sacrifices along the way to get it all done. 

Don’t expect it to be a cakewalk, but if you’re able and willing to do what it takes, then you can succeed at freelancing and stay employed as well!

Further Reading

Here are some additional resources on balancing freelance work with a full-time job:

How to Balance Freelance Work: This article provides practical tips and strategies for effectively managing your freelance work while working a full-time job.

Balancing Freelance Work and Full-Time Employment: Explore this insightful blog post that offers advice on maintaining a healthy work-life balance when juggling freelance projects and a full-time job.

Freelancing While Working Full-Time: This resource dives into the challenges and opportunities of freelancing while simultaneously working a full-time job and provides guidance on successfully navigating both.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about balancing freelance work and a full-time job:

How do I manage my time effectively between freelance work and my full-time job?

Balancing freelance work and a full-time job requires effective time management. Prioritize tasks, create a schedule, and allocate specific time slots for both work commitments.

Is it possible to maintain a healthy work-life balance while freelancing and working full-time?

Yes, it is possible to maintain a healthy work-life balance by setting boundaries, practicing self-care, and managing your time efficiently. It’s important to establish clear boundaries between work and personal life.

What are some strategies for avoiding burnout when freelancing and working full-time?

To avoid burnout, learn to recognize your limits, delegate tasks when possible, take regular breaks, and practice stress-reducing activities such as exercise or meditation. It’s crucial to prioritize self-care and establish boundaries.

How can I communicate my availability and deadlines effectively to clients while managing a full-time job?

Establish clear communication channels with your clients and ensure transparency about your availability and timelines. Set realistic expectations and inform clients about your working hours and potential limitations.

How do I handle potential conflicts of interest between my full-time job and freelance clients?

It’s essential to be transparent and honest with both your full-time employer and freelance clients. Avoid conflicts of interest by maintaining confidentiality, not using company resources for freelance work, and ensuring that there are no conflicts in terms of clientele or competition.

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