I Can Do Freelancing Along With A Job, Right?

While the idea of working two jobs at once can sound overwhelming, it’s possible to coexist with your full-time job and your freelance side hustle.

It may require some slight schedule rearranging, but having a second income source is worth it for many freelancers.

If you’re ready to explore how to freelance and work a 9-to-5 job, take a look at these essential tips!

Takeaways
1. Freelancing can be pursued alongside a full-time job with effective time management and planning.
2. Balancing workload and setting priorities are crucial when juggling freelancing and a job.
3. It’s important to be aware of the challenges of freelancing alongside a job, such as maintaining work-life balance.
4. Understanding employment contracts and company policies is essential to navigate any potential conflicts of interest.
5. Transitioning from freelancing alongside a job to full-time freelancing requires careful planning and financial stability.

One Of The Best Strategies For How To Freelance And Work A 9-To-5 Job Is To Get Organized

One of the best strategies for how freelance and working a 9-to-5 job is to get organized. Here’s why:

• Organizing your time can help prevent burnout and make sure you’re working at peak efficiency.

• Organizing your workspace prevents distractions, which leads to higher focus levels. This can help reduce stress levels as well as improve your overall performance.

• Organizing finances means that you’ll always know where all of your money is going, which will allow you to save some money for later (if necessary). It will also help take some stress off of things like tax season or unexpected expenses that come up now and then throughout the year.

• Organizing workflow means making sure everything runs smoothly during each day so there’s less room for mistakes or oversights in general – this will ultimately lead to increased productivity over time!

Building a successful freelance career requires dedication and determination. Discover the possibilities of freelancing as a full-time job and explore the advantages and challenges of pursuing freelancing as a full-time gig.

Start With A Schedule Grid

This is the most important part of freelancing, so you need to make sure you have a schedule before you start. It’s hard enough to keep track of all your freelancing responsibilities while working full-time, but if you don’t plan out your freelance schedule ahead of time and commit to it, then it can be even harder.

The best way to do this is by creating a schedule grid or calendar with all of your work obligations (commutes, lunches/breaks at work).

Then write down when you’re available for blocks where no one else has booked time with them (and don’t forget about weekends!). You should also try to include some free time in your schedule based on how busy those blocks are you’ll need downtime for everything else to balance out!

Once this is done and everyone has committed themselves publicly through their calendars or grids (for example), then there’s no more “if”s about whether or not someone will show up at their appointment times: They have made an agreement that they will do so unless there are drastic circumstances involved.

Discover Your Peak Productivity Hours

Now that you have a better idea of what your ideal work schedule looks like, it’s time to figure out when those hours will be.

In my experience, peak productivity is not necessarily the same as peak creativity. For example, I find myself most energized in the first couple hours after waking up but that doesn’t mean my most creative ideas come then. Some of my best ideas arise when I’m winding down at night or have a few minutes before bedtime (or even during naps!).

Consider Your Energy Levels

If you’re finding it hard to manage your time, take a look at how many hours of sleep you’re getting. If you’re tired, get some rest and allow yourself to catch up. 

If you are feeling stressed and need a break from work, go for a walk or get some fresh air. If you are feeling anxious and unable to focus on the task at hand (or just generally unhappy), try taking deep breaths.

Count slowly as you inhale and exhale. This should help calm your nerves and improve focus on the task at hand by allowing thoughts time to properly settle in rather than distracting yourself with them right away when they pop up in your head (which happens often when we’re anxious).

If hunger strikes, make sure that it is addressed as soon as possible. Eating helps us feel better overall but also increases our energy levels so that we can accomplish more throughout the day if needed without getting too drained by mid-afternoon when everyone else is starting their afternoon slump around 1 pm EST/10 am PST after lunchtime snacks!

Can you balance a regular job with freelancing? Find out how to effectively manage both worlds by exploring the options of doing freelancing and a 9-to-5 job. Discover strategies for time management, setting priorities, and maximizing your potential in both spheres.

Arrange Self-Care Around Your Peak Hours

It’s important to take care of yourself, but it can be difficult to make time for that when you’re juggling multiple jobs and responsibilities.

The key is to find ways to include self-care in your schedule without disrupting the course of your day. If you have a 9-5 office job, surround it with time for leisure activities like working out or playing sports that way, even if an unexpected thing crops up (like an overflowing toilet), you’ll still have some downtime built into the schedule.

Or maybe there’s somewhere relaxing to go during lunchtime a park or coffee shop? If so, plan on taking breaks there regularly so that when something stressful comes up unexpectedly (you know how it goes), those moments don’t completely derail the rest of your day!

And remember: sometimes all we need is 5 minutes away from our desktops/phones/clocks. A quick walk around the block can do wonders for keeping us focused on work without having too much time lapse between each break from staring at screens…

Make Each Weekend Count

When planning your weekend, think about what you want to get out of it. Do you want to relax and unwind? Do you want to catch up with friends and family? Or do you just feel like doing something productive that will help grow your business or career?

You can make the most of each weekend by planning out all of this beforehand. Again, if you’re working full-time during the weekdays, then the weekends mustn’t be wasted on things that don’t benefit your life in any way. Instead:

• Make sure there’s time for relaxation and rejuvenation (for example, going for a walk).
• Make sure there’s time for catching up with loved ones (for example, spending time with family or friends).
• Make sure there’s time for personal growth (for example, reading an article or listening to a podcast).

Use Morning Hours And Evenings For Side Hustle Projects

You mustn’t let side hustle projects take over your life. You can only be productive if you are taking care of yourself first. This means getting enough sleep and eating well so that you have the energy to work on the side hustle project or multiple projects at once.

If you’re not a morning person, then make sure that after dinner time, or even during dinner time sometimes, depending on what time zone you live in and how busy family members are around the house…you find an hour or two each night where nobody needs anything from anyone else for a few hours at least – set aside for working on side hustle projects!

Many professionals are interested in exploring freelance work while maintaining a stable income. Learn more about the possibilities and strategies for doing freelance work while working a full-time job. Discover tips for finding the right balance and leveraging your skills for additional income.

Make A Meal Plan And Shop Efficiently Every Weekend

One of the best ways to save money is to plan your meals and shop efficiently.

• Make a list of what you need: Before you go shopping, make a list of what’s on it. This will help you stay focused while making sure that nothing is forgotten when going through checkout.

• Use coupons: Coupons can be found online or in newspaper inserts (or even just by asking at the register). They can save some serious cash if used properly and they’ll also let you buy things that are otherwise outside your budget without feeling like a cheapskate about it.

Try clipping coupons for those items that fit into your meal plans anyway; this helps keep costs down without feeling like an extra burden on top of everything else.

• Shop at a store close by If possible, try sticking with one store for most of your shopping needs instead of going from place to place looking for bargains that way there’s less wasted gas and time spent driving back and forth across town trying to find prices lower than those offered elsewhere nearby locations.”

Utilize A Calendar App Or Wall Calendar Whichever You Prefer And Commit To It

The first step in ensuring your success as a freelancer is to set up an online calendar that you can refer to daily. This way, it’s easy for you to keep track of possible work opportunities, deadlines, and even personal events.

You can use any app or software tool available on the market. Some people prefer Google Calendar because they have access to it no matter where they are or what device they’re using; others prefer Evernote because it is cloud-based so their data will never be lost if their phone gets stolen or damaged.

Regardless of what tool you choose, make sure that it allows you to:

• Schedule assignments and meetings
• Set reminders for important dates (e.g., monthly client meetings)

Set Up A Schedule That Works For You, Not What Everyone Else Is Doing

It’s important to remember that you’re the only one who can decide what schedule will work best for you and your life. 

Don’t make the mistake of assuming that a freelancer’s schedule looks like someone else’s, even if they have similar jobs or are in similar fields. Everyone has different needs and situations, so it’s up to you to find out what works best for you.

First things first: figure out how much time you need every day (or week) to get everything done. Do some research on other freelancers what do they do with their time? What times are the most productive? How often do they tend to work on a project before moving on to another one?.

Once you’ve got some ideas about how others manage their schedules, try using them as guidelines for yourself but remember that these will only be helpful if they fit well within your lifestyle and goals!

Wondering if freelancing can be done remotely or over the phone? Find out more about the flexibility of freelancing in our informative article on Can Freelancing Be Done on the Phone or Online? and explore the possibilities of remote work in the freelance industry.

Consider Using Standing Desks When Working At Corporate Jobs That Require Sitting Down All Day

Standing desks can be a great way to increase your productivity and health while working at a corporate job.

• Standing desks are good for your health.
• Standing desks are good for your productivity because they make you more focused (which allows you to get more done in less time).
• Standing desks also make it easier to be creative, because they keep your brain active throughout the day (which is especially important when you’re working on assignments or analyzing data).

Take Advantage Of Technology To Make Administrative Tasks Easier So You Have More Time To Focus On Freelancing

You can take advantage of technology to make administrative tasks easier so you have more time to focus on freelancing. Here are some tools you should consider:

• CRM (customer relationship manager) – An app that tracks all contact information, notes, and files relating to your clients. This is a must-have tool as it will help you stay organized and keep track of who you’re working with. 

There are many options available, but here are a few we recommend: Salesforce, Zoho CRM, and Hubspot Sales.

• Task manager – This integrates with your calendar so that when an appointment is scheduled into the calendar it automatically adds an event in the task manager as well. 

This way, if a client needs something done during an appointment but didn’t mention it beforehand or if something comes up after the meeting has ended then it can be easily noted down without too much effort so nothing gets forgotten about later on down the line when trying to find out what happened during that particular meeting/call etcetera 

The one I use personally is Asana because it’s free! Other popular options include Trello and Wunderlist

Get Yourself Some Audiobooks And Podcasts

• If you commute to work and can’t take advantage of your employer’s training opportunities, then get yourself some audiobooks and podcasts so you can learn while you commute to and from work, or even while working out at the gym or driving home from the office.
• Some podcasts are free and others are not, but if you do a bit of searching around it should be easy enough for you to find some good ones that are relevant to your interests.
• If there is one topic on which I am an expert, it would be my love for podcasts. There’s just something about listening to someone explain something in detail that really resonates with me it just feels like they’re talking directly at me.

Cross-Train Your Skills By Learning New Ones During Any Downtime You Have At The Office

A lot of people think that learning new skills is not possible or too difficult to do while working full-time. So they just don’t try it and stay with their old job.

However, learning new skills is probably one of the best things you can do for your career. It doesn’t matter whether you’re doing it during your lunch breaks at work or outside of work hours as a part of your freelancing routine the more you learn, the better off you’ll be.

If you want to stand out from all other freelancers, there are two ways: One is by providing great quality services, and another way is by providing unique services that no one else has ever done before or which simply have a higher value than what others offer. Learning new skills will help significantly in both cases!

Freelancing can offer flexibility and financial independence. Explore the potential of freelancing as a full-time gig and learn how to turn your freelance work into a fulfilling and sustainable career. Discover tips for building a client base, managing your finances, and embracing the freelance lifestyle.

Final Thoughts

I hope you enjoyed this article, and that it gave you some helpful tips on how to freelance while working a 9-to-5 job. If you found these tips helpful, please share them with your friends who might benefit from them as well!

Further Reading

Here are some additional resources for further reading on freelancing alongside a job:

Can I Do Freelancing Along with a Job?: Explore this discussion thread on Freelancers Incubator to gain insights and perspectives on whether it’s possible to balance freelancing with a full-time job.

Starting a Freelance Business While Employed: This guide by Paul Maplesden provides practical tips and advice for individuals who want to start their freelance business while still being employed.

How to Balance Freelance Work and Full-Time Employment: Half Half Travel offers insights and strategies for finding a balance between freelance work and a full-time job. Learn how to manage your time effectively and optimize productivity.

People Also Ask

What Are The Benefits Of Freelancing?

Freelancing is great because it allows you to do what you love and make a living doing it. You also have more flexibility in your schedule, which means you can take time off to take care of yourself or others, or even just to travel. If you’re looking for more structure and full-time employment, however, freelancing isn’t the best option.

How Do I Get Started As A Freelancer?

First, find something that interests you. Then, look at similar jobs on Upwork and see what skills they want from candidates. 

If you don’t have those skills yet, consider taking classes or learning about them on YouTube or elsewhere online. Finally, apply for jobs that look like they might be good fits for your talents!

How Much Can I Expect To Make As A Freelancer?

Your income will vary depending on your skills and how many projects you take on at once. Some clients pay more per project, while others offer a flat rate for an entire project.

How Do I Find Clients?

There are plenty of online platforms that connect clients with freelancers who have the skills they need (for example Upwork). There are also local meetups where people can share what they’re looking for and give each other advice about how to get started as a freelancer.

Can I Still Get Health Insurance If I Work As A Freelancer?

Yes! You can get health insurance through an employer or the marketplace, depending on your income and family size.

If you’re a freelancer and don’t have an employer-sponsored insurance plan, you can buy your coverage through the marketplace and possibly even get help paying for it. There are also options if you have a pre-existing condition.

Is It Possible To Freelance While Working In The Same Field?

Absolutely. Many people do this, especially if they enjoy their day job but want to pursue something else on the side.

This can be particularly helpful if you’re just starting as a freelancer because it gives you time to build up your portfolio and get more experience on smaller projects before taking on larger ones.