Reasons Freelancing Is The New Social Norm

We live in the digital age, where everything is connected and anything is possible.

The world has changed; it’s more open than ever before. Social norms are changing too – people don’t want to work for other people anymore.

In fact, most want to work for themselves! As an entrepreneur or freelancer you not only have the freedom to choose how and when you work but also who you work with and how much you get paid.

This is how to become a freelancer | Upwork

Takeaways
1. Freelancing is becoming the new social norm in the workforce, with more people embracing independent work.
2. The flexibility and autonomy offered by freelancing appeal to individuals seeking a better work-life balance.
3. Technology and digital platforms have facilitated the growth of the freelance economy, making it more accessible than ever.
4. Generation Z and millennials are leading the way in adopting freelancing as a preferred career option.
5. The future of work is being reshaped by freelancers, challenging traditional employment norms and fostering a gig-based economy.

Table of Contents

You Are Your Boss

The first and most important of these reasons is that you are your boss. As a freelancer, you have the freedom to set your schedule and choose who you work with.

You can also choose what kind of work you want to do: from writing to editing, graphic design to marketing the options are endless!

And because there is no contract or job description in this line of work, your creativity is only limited by your imagination. This means no more sitting at a desk for eight hours straight without having any say in what tasks need doing or when they need doing them.

When I think back on my time as an employee, it was always such a relief when I could finally leave my desk at 5:30 pm after finishing all my assigned duties for the day (which usually weren’t even mine).

When I started freelancing full-time almost two years ago now though, I realized how much wasted time went into those last few hours before leaving each night;

Not only were they spent checking email threads but also scheduling meetings with clients or brainstorming new ideas for upcoming projects with other colleagues who were still working through lunch breaks!

The future of work is rapidly changing, and freelancing is at the forefront of this transformation. If you want to secure your place in the evolving job market, our comprehensive guide on how the future of work is changing provides valuable insights and strategies to adapt and succeed.

You Can Work From Anywhere

A few years ago, working from home was considered a luxury something only the most privileged and lucky of us could do. But now it’s become the new norm.

More than half of North Americans are expected to be freelancers by 2027.

That means you don’t need a 9-to-5 anymore; you can work whenever and wherever you want!

You can work from anywhere: your house, a coffee shop on vacation, even your hotel room while traveling for business or pleasure (bonus points if it’s by the pool). The possibilities are endless!

You Can Work Anytime, Without Limit

One of the best things about freelancing is that you can work whenever you want, wherever you want.

If you’re a morning person and prefer to start the day early, then set yourself up with coffee and get down to business!

But if staying up late isn’t an issue for you and allows more time in between clients, then go ahead you can sleep in until noon if it works better for your schedule.

The freedom of setting your hours also allows people who have demanding jobs as well as personal obligations like school or family commitments to balance them all without sacrificing their income.

For example, someone might need to take care of his/her kids during their normal working hours but still want an active social life outside of those hours;

Freelancing would allow him/her this flexibility while still being able to provide for his/them her family.

You Can Work Through The Holidays, Or Take Them Off

For many freelancers, the holiday season is a time of year when they have to work longer hours than normal. But for those who are self-employed, things are different.

If you decide you want to take some time off during the holidays, it’s entirely up to you what that looks like.

If your company needs more help and offers more money during this period, perhaps it would be worth considering taking on some extra projects or clients until January rolls around again!

The truth is that if your schedule allows for it (and if there isn’t anything specific coming up), then why not take advantage of those few weeks?

You may even find yourself loving having weekends off who knows!

As a freelancer, mastering time management is crucial for maintaining a healthy work-life balance and ensuring productivity. Explore our top-notch tips and techniques in time management for freelancers to enhance your efficiency and make the most of your freelancing journey.

You Can Travel And Live Abroad For Years At A Time

Many freelancers are location independent and work remotely. This means that, with a laptop, internet connection, and some basic equipment, you can work from anywhere in the world.

You can travel wherever you want to go and live there for as long as you like without having to worry about getting a job within an office environment.

You don’t have to split your time between two different jobs; instead, use this time wisely by working on projects that interest or excite you.

You don’t even have to set aside hours of your day for work! Work when it suits you and never answer emails on holidays or weekends again!

You No Longer Have To Worry About The 9-To-5 Grind

This is a big one. In the traditional workplace, your hours are proscribed and dictated by management, so you’re on their schedule, not yours.

That can be good if you need to get up early and leave somewhere at 5 pm every day (which is rare, but not unheard of).

But it’s also not great if you have kids or other commitments that require you to work flexible hours or weekends.

There are a few ways freelancing allows you to work around this issue:

You can choose your hours
You can take time off when you need it (and when they don’t)
You can take time off when they don’t expect it

You Don’t Have To Worry About Getting Fired

There are a lot of reasons why freelancing is the new social norm. One of the biggest reasons why is that you don’t have to worry about getting fired.

If you don’t like your job, fire yourself! No one can take away your freedom to decide whether working on a project is worth it or not.

You’re in charge of your destiny, and if you want to quit before someone else fires you, go right ahead! You can find another project quickly if needed.

On the other hand, if you love what you do but don’t like who’s paying for it? That’s OK too; just find another client or company who suits your needs better!

If you’re considering using Upwork as a platform to showcase your freelance skills, understanding how it works is essential. Our comprehensive article on how Upwork works for freelancers will walk you through the platform’s features and functionalities, helping you make the most of your freelancing opportunities.

If You Get Bored With Your Clients, You Can Find New Ones

You don’t have to be stuck in the same place forever. If you feel like the work is getting stale and unfulfilling, it’s time to move on.

There are plenty of opportunities out there for freelancers who want them: networking events or Chamber of Commerce meetings, job fairs at local colleges and universities, and industry conferences such as SXSW or TEDxAustin (which are free).

It also helps to have a good social media presence so that people know about your work and can refer business your way.

The World Is A Big Place; There Are Always New Opportunities And Potential Collaborations On The Horizon

You might think that you’re limited to working with the clients and projects that are right in front of you. You see the same people, day after day, and get stuck in a rut. But if you’re a freelancer, the world is your oyster!

You have endless opportunities to work with new clients from across the globe who are looking for designers.

You can travel all over the place, meeting people from different cultures who speak different languages and have different values and beliefs than yours.

And even if they speak English or another language that you do understand (or perhaps not), there will still be differences in how we approach things.

You can learn about those differences by reading through their designs carefully and thinking about them as an outsider would when reading them for the first time.

You Can Move Up In The World

Working as a freelancer means you get to choose your career path. You can focus on the kind of work that interests you, even if it’s not necessarily in line with what other people are doing.

If you’re at the beginning of your career and want to start with something small, great go for it!

If you figure out that this is something that fits well with your skills and interests but isn’t making enough money for you to live on or isn’t giving enough meaning in its current form, then try something else.

There’s no rulebook saying “this is how things have to be.”

Generation Z is embracing freelancing as a viable and rewarding career option. Our insightful freelancing guide for Generation Z sheds light on how this young generation can leverage their unique skills and characteristics to excel in the freelancing world.

There’s More Flexibility Than You Might Think

The ability to work from anywhere and at any time is a big part of the appeal of freelancing. And yes, you can do it all from your own home, but there are plenty of other options too:

Freelancers who want to avoid sitting in front of a computer all day often choose “co-working” spaces where they can share an office with other freelancers and entrepreneurs.

These locations are popping up all over the country and even the world!

So if you’re looking for somewhere that has an environment conducive to collaboration and productivity (or just some people-watching), check one out.

Cafes have long been popular as places for writers and artists to get their stuff done; now they’re becoming more common spots for freelancers too.

If you need some quiet time away from home or your desk, but still want access to free wifi and coffee, this might be the perfect option for you!

Recently an airport lounge opened its doors specifically for business travelers who don’t want to waste their precious vacation hours waiting around at LAX or JFK (and who doesn’t?).

This space offers private rooms where travelers can work uninterrupted while enjoying complimentary food service 24/7!

If A Client Isn’t Treating You Right, You Can Fire Them!

If a client is being disrespectful towards you or your work, you can fire them. This isn’t something you should do without careful consideration.

But if it’s appropriate to do so for any reason (including safety), then go for it.

The thing about firing clients is that most of the time, they’ll understand and even appreciate your candor.

If they don’t take their behavior seriously after having been told so politely why it’s unacceptable, then they’re probably not going to change anyway so it would be better for everyone involved if you simply moved on.

But firing a client isn’t the only option: sometimes the best approach is simply leaving an uncooperative person behind in exchange for new opportunities with people who are more appreciative of your skillset and talents!

The important thing here is that there are no hard-and-fast rules about how to handle bad clients; there’s no one way or single method that ensures success at every turn! That said…

Freelancing Doesn’t Mean Being Lonely Or Anti-Social Anymore

No matter your personality type, freelancing is going to be a little different from what you’re used to.

If you’re the type of person who has always had a nine-to-five job, working for yourself might seem like an alien concept.

But it doesn’t have to be. Freelancing isn’t about being lonely or anti-social; it’s about having freedom and flexibility in your career that was never before possible for most people.

Here are some common concerns about freelancing answered:

I’m going to be alone all day! How will I ever meet anyone?
I’m not good at networking! What should I do?
What if there aren’t any jobs out there? How will I make money?

It’s Fashionable! The Best And Brightest Want To Be Freelancers These Days – It’s The Cool Thing To Do…And For Good Reason, Too!

You’d be hard-pressed to find a millennial who doesn’t want to be a freelancer. Why? Because it’s the new social norm, that’s why!

It’s not just hipsters who are doing it either – even the best and brightest want to be freelancers these days – they’re making their way and creating their opportunities, which is something we should all respect.

It’s not easy being an entrepreneur at any age, especially when you’re young and inexperienced (and probably poor).

But these folks are doing it anyway and proving that working for yourself can be a viable option for anyone with a willingness to learn how things work.

The freelancing industry is causing a profound shift in the way people work and earn a living. Discover the transformative power of freelancing and its impact on traditional employment in our thought-provoking article, Freelancing is Causing a Fundamental Shift in the Way We Work. Embrace the freelance revolution and pave your path to success in this new era of work.

Freedom To Choose Which Projects And Clients You Want

Being a freelancer means you get to choose which projects and clients you want to work with.

This can be a huge relief if you don’t necessarily like every project or client your boss assigns to you.

When an employer assigns work, they’re limiting the range of options available for the employee because they have strong opinions on what should be done and how it should be done.

However, when working as a freelancer, there’s no one telling you where to go or when you get to decide that for yourself!

The ability of workers in traditional positions of employment (such as at big companies) is limited by their bosses’ ideas about how things should be done;

But when it comes down to creating opportunities for oneself via self-employment (or “freelancing”), this limitation is gone.

There are many benefits from being able to choose which projects/clients one wants instead of having them.

Just handed over regardless of whether or not it aligns with one’s interests or preferences because now individuals themselves are free from bureaucracy based solely upon employer demands alone which result in greater autonomy overall due partly due to too increased choice but also due partly due to decreased control imposed by management itself

Conclusion

I hope that this post has made a compelling case for why freelancing is the new normal. In today’s world, we have a lot more freedom than we once did.

There are so many ways to make money and support yourself if you’re willing to think outside the box.

And not only that, but it’s also a great way to get ahead in your career! The key takeaway here should be that while freelancing isn’t perfect, it’s an option worth considering if you want more control over your life.

I hope this post has shed some light on what makes freelancing such an appealing choice for people who want work-life balance or just don’t like being tied down by one company for too long.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Freelancing?

Freelancing is the practice of working for yourself, rather than working for an employer. You can choose to freelance in a variety of ways: as a digital nomad, full-time freelancer, or side hustler.

Who Are Digital Nomads?

Digital nomads are people who have chosen to work remotely and travel the world while doing so.

They usually earn their living through their computer, but they can also do it with other things like voice-over work or writing gigs.

You can be a digital nomad if you’re a writer and want to get away from your desk for a while; you might even be able to finish up some work while you’re on vacation!

How Do I Become A Full-Time Freelancer?

You’ll need to figure out what kind of job you want to do, whether it’s writing or designing websites then find clients who need those services!

You should also make sure that your skills are up-to-date so that you can provide quality work for your clients.

How Much Money Can I Make Freelancing?

The amount of money you make freelancing will vary depending on what type of work you do, where you live, and the time of year.

If you’re just starting, you’ll likely be making less than other full-time employees. As time goes on and your skills improve, though, the amount of money you earn will increase.

What Kind Of Skills Do I Need To Get Started Freelancing?

You don’t have to be an expert at anything just like in any job, the more skills and experience you have, the better off you’ll be in freelancing too!

But if there’s something specific that comes up often in your day-to-day life (like photography).

Then it might be worth looking into taking some classes or reading some books about that topic before getting started with freelance work so that clients know what they’re paying for when hiring someone for those services

Why Do I Need To Be A Freelancer?

Freelancing allows you to choose your schedule, and decide how much or little you want to work. You can work as much or as little as you like, and you can set your rate.

How Do I Get Started?

Many sites offer platforms for freelancers to find work, such as [site name].

You can also go through your social media contacts and email people you know in your industry to see if they have any leads on clients who might need help with their projects.

What If I Don’t Know How To Code/Design/Etc?

You don’t have to have any special skills to get started as a freelancer!

There are plenty of people looking for help with projects from various industries and fields, so there are lots of opportunities out there for both beginners and experts alike.

Costantine Edward

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.