What's A Day In The Life Of A Freelancer Really Like?

What’s a day in the life of a freelancer really like? Read on to learn about a typical day in the life of an entrepreneur and freelancer.

You may be wondering what it’s really like to be a freelancer. The idea of working for yourself, being your own boss, and having the flexibility to work from anywhere is enticing. But what’s it really likes?

I have been a full-time freelancer for over two years, and I’m here to tell you that it isn’t always easy, but it is rewarding. Here’s how my typical day breaks down:

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Takeaways
1. A freelancer’s day can vary depending on their industry and projects.
2. Time management is crucial for freelancers to effectively balance client work, self-promotion, and administrative tasks.
3. Finding clients involves networking, online platforms, referrals, and showcasing a portfolio.
4. Freelancers must handle financial aspects like taxes, invoicing, and tracking income and expenses.
5. Resilience and problem-solving skills are important for overcoming work-related challenges and setbacks.

Table of Contents

My Daily Routine As A Freelance Writer

Here’s my typical day-in-the-life as a freelancer:

7:00 AM – Wake up

I usually wake up around 7:00 AM (sometimes earlier if I’m feeling particularly ambitious). I don’t have set hours so I’m always flexible with my schedule.

7:30 AM – Breakfast/Coffee

I prepare my breakfast and drink to feel more energized and every morning I eat oatmeal, fruit, and yogurt. This breakfast is energy efficient which keeps me going throughout the day.

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8:30 Am – “Get Ready” For Work (Shower, Dress Appropriately)

Showering and getting dressed is one of the most important things I usually do when working from home. It helps create a separation between home life/and work-life and gets you in the mindset to do your job.

9:00 Am – Do Some Admin Work

Check email (quickly) to make sure there are no urgent issues.

Respond to emails that I didn’t get to the day before. I try to minimize my time in this inbox and only check it a couple of times per day.

Update my daily project management system with what I did yesterday and what I’m working on today. I use Asana, but there are tons of great apps out there including OmniFocus, Trello, and many others.

Go through my project management system and identify the most important tasks for the day. It’s tempting to just jump into the first thing that pops up but this is a terrible idea. The first thing that pops up is usually not the most important thing.

Identify smaller tasks that can be completed in chunks of time in between calls or meetings (ex: returning phone calls)

Take a minute to think about how much time I have available for each task and set a timer when necessary so that I don’t overcommit myself or waste too much time on one particular task.

9:30 Am – Start Actual Work Tasks (Writing)

I usually have a handful of different projects that I’m working on for clients, so this is when I usually start in on whatever’s the highest priority for the day. Depending on what state the project is in, this could mean writing some copy, editing some copy from a ghostwriter, putting together an email sequence, or even just doing some keyword research for an upcoming blog post.

12:00 Pm – Lunch Break

Lunch break, I prepare my food and eat while watching Game of Thrones or The Walking Dead.

1:00 Pm – Work On Tasks

Back to work! This is when I start to feel a bit fatigued, so it’s important to switch things up and focus on other tasks that don’t require a lot of thinking.

4:00 Pm – Prep For Tomorrow

I spend about 60 minutes making sure everything is ready for tomorrow. That means checking my calendar, reviewing what’s on tomorrow’s agenda, and making sure I have everything completed that needs to be completed today.

5:00 Pm – End Of Workday

While I’m certainly no stranger to the midnight oil, I’ve found that a regular workday is much more sustainable than a marathon of hours at my laptop. That’s why I try to get all my tasks done by 5 o’clock so that I’m free to go to the gym, run errands, or just sit on my couch and binge-watch Netflix. Of course, this isn’t always possible in practice, but it sure is a nice goal!

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What To Expect Being A Freelancer

Here are just a few things you can expect when working as a freelancer.

1. You Will Have More Control Over Your Time

As a freelancer, you’re the one in charge of your daily schedule. You set your hours, and you decide when you’ll work and when you won’t (within reason).

This means that if you’ve got an appointment on Thursday morning or want to take an early Friday afternoon off for a happy hour with friends, then it’s up to you to make sure that your projects are on track for those days. It’s a great feeling, but it does require a lot of discipline. You’ll be able to create your own routine.

2. You Will Be Your Own Boss

One of the most appealing things about freelancing is that you get to set your own schedule and work on your own terms. But being your own boss also means making sure you get all of your work done on time, meeting with clients, and keeping track of things like taxes and invoices. It can be overwhelming at first, but there are lots of resources out there to help you get started!

3. You Will Have To Hustle For Jobs

You won’t always be working, so keep in mind that this won’t be an easy way to earn money. If you want to stay busy or find new clients, you’ll have to hustle for jobs by networking and marketing yourself! And if something does come up that needs immediate attention, make sure it doesn’t interfere with any current work commitments before taking it on—you don’t want to burn bridges!

4. You Will Be Responsible For Your Own Taxes

If you’re used to having someone else take care of the details of paying your taxes, then this is going to come as a surprise. But when working as a freelancer, it falls to you to keep track of how much money you’ve made through freelancing and pay any taxes that are due on that income.

5. You Will Have More Flexibility In How You Work

When you work for yourself, you get to set your own schedule. There’s no longer any need to arrive at the office by 9 am so that you’re not marked tardy, nor do you have to stay until 5 pm if all of your work is finished. You can choose when and where you want to complete projects as long as you meet deadlines. If that means working from home in your pajamas with Netflix playing in the background, so be it!

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6. You Will Have To Market Yourself

If you don’t already have a client base, you’ll need clients in order to start freelancing. That means marketing yourself as someone who can do the job well enough to justify charging for it and then finding companies willing to pay for your work.

7. You Will Need To Be Disciplined About Sticking To It

As much as I love freelancing, sometimes it can be hard to stay on task. There are always so many other things that seem like they need to get done right away, and it can be easy to put your clients’ needs aside in favor of doing those things instead.

It’s important to be disciplined about sticking to your schedule, whether that means turning off the TV or choosing not to check Facebook until after you finish your work.

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8. You Will Get Lonely

It can be nice to know you’re always on your own schedule, but when you’re working from home or at a coffee shop, you’ll miss having people around. Eventually, you’ll need some human interaction.

So make sure to schedule time for breaks throughout the day so you can meet up with friends or go for a walk. You may also want to consider joining a coworking space or looking into other opportunities in your area that will help you meet other freelancers or like-minded professionals.

9. You’ll Have To Fight Distractions

As anyone who has ever worked from home knows, there is nothing more distracting than your own house. The siren song of “just one more episode of The Witcher lures you into a false sense of security: “After this one, I’ll get to work!” And then the next thing you know, it’s four hours later and you haven’t gotten anything done yet.

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Final Thoughts

Hope you enjoyed this little peek into the world of freelancing. If you have any questions about freelancing, or about starting your own business, don’t hesitate to ask us in the comment below!

Freelancer Life – FAQs

What Is Freelancing?

Freelancing is a form of work that allows you to be your own boss and choose your own projects. You might do freelance work as a graphic designer or an accountant, for example.

How Do I Become A Freelancer?

The first step toward becoming a freelancer is to decide what kind of work you want to do on a freelance basis, then build up your skills and expertise in that area until you feel confident offering it as a service to potential clients!

Does It Matter How Much Experience I Have?

Nope! All we care about is your passion for writing. You don’t need to be an established writer or have a degree to apply; we are looking for people who are excited to learn and can write consistently on the topics they love.

How Do You Stay Motivated?

It’s easy to stay motivated when we get paid for every word we write. We also love the freedom and flexibility that comes with being a freelancer, so that keeps us engaged!

Do You Ever Just Not Want To Work?

Well sure, but then again that’s true of most people who have jobs. The difference is that as a freelancer, you get paid to do something you’re good at doing, so it doesn’t feel like work.

How Much Free Time Do I Get?

It depends on your schedule—if you’re looking to make money as a freelancer and support yourself full-time, you’ll need to put in the hours. But if you’re passionate about what you do, it won’t feel like work!

Do I Have To Go To An Office?

Nope! As long as you have a computer and internet access, you can work from anywhere.

What Kind Of Schedule Does A Freelancer Have?

Freelancing is all about flexibility. You can work full-time, part-time, mornings, evenings, nights—it’s all up to you!

What Does A Day In The Life Of A Freelancer Really Look Like?

Working as a freelancer is about more than just having a flexible schedule. It’s about taking control of your future, your finances, and your happiness, and being able to do it on your own terms. Every day is different (one day you could be writing for a cosmetics company; the next, you could be ghostwriting for an emerging rapper!), but it’s never boring. Plus, you have no one but yourself to answer to—you can choose who you work for and how much you work.

Do You Have A Schedule Or Routine?

A. Yes! I get up every morning at 6 am and make myself breakfast and then head to the gym for an hour before starting work by 9 am. My afternoons are usually spent on client calls and more focused tasks like writing copy or coding, which requires more brainpower than answering emails or doing research on the internet, both of which I tend to do earlier in the day when I’m feeling more energetic and alert.

What’s One Thing You Know Now That You Wish You Knew When You Started?

To not be afraid of failure. The first few months were really hard, but it got better.

What Is Your Favorite Part About Being A Freelancer?

I love that I get to decide my own schedule. If I don’t feel like working one day, then I don’t have to. Some days I only work for an hour, and other days I’ll work for 14 hours straight all because I feel like it! The flexibility is great and it lets me balance my work with my personal life.

What Is Your Least Favorite Part About Being A Freelancer?

The most frustrating part for me is when someone pays late, or not at all. It’s so frustrating because people think that since we’re not working in an office setting that our deadlines aren’t as important or that we don’t need to be paid on time. This can be especially hard when you’re first starting out because you need every penny you can get!

Can I Work Full-Time As A Freelancer?

Yes, it’s very possible to make a living as a full-time freelancer. However, you need to be aware of the pros and cons of freelancing. If you want to be a full-time freelancer, start by reading our article From 0 to Profitable freelancer in less than 6 month?

What Are Some Examples Of Things That I Could Do As A Freelancer?

There is a long list of services that freelancers can offer. Some of the most popular and in-demand skills include graphic design, copywriting, web design and development, social media management, and video editing.

How Much Money Do I Need To Get Started As A Freelancer?

In order to get started, you will need money saved up to cover the amount of time it will take you to find paying clients. This can be anywhere between 3-6 months. If you have $3,000-$5,000 in savings, this should be enough to get you through that period.

How Much Money Can I Make Freelancing?

The answer varies. As a freelancer, you’ll earn what you’re worth. Since you can set your own rate and work as much or as little as you like, that amount could be anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few million.

What Should I Charge?

There are a lot of resources online that can help you figure out what market rates are in your industry and skill level. You might also consider looking at what other freelancers are charging for work similar to yours (even just look at the rates they post on their websites), which will give you an idea of what the going rate might be. Just remember: don’t undercharge! You’re worth more than you think.

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.