Why I Stopped Freelancing and Started Liking My Job

There’s no denying that freelancing is a dream job for many people. I was one of them, for a while. In the beginning, it was great: the freedom to work from anywhere in the world, no boss breathing down my neck, taking all the vacation days I wanted.

But then it got harder. It started to feel like I was always working but not really getting anything done and also not making much money. That’s when I realized that this freelancing gig might be too good to be true. So I faced reality and found a job with an actual salary and benefits, and you know what? It wasn’t so bad! 

At first, it felt weird having someone tell me what to do again (and pay taxes!), but now that I’ve been at it for a while, some things make me appreciate my full-time job. 

Read on for reasons why quitting my freelance career and getting a 9-to-5 saved my sanity and maybe even made me happier:

Takeaways
Quitting freelancing and transitioning to a job can be a positive career move.
Discovering job satisfaction and fulfillment is possible even after leaving freelancing.
Finding a work-life balance and stability are common reasons for stopping freelancing.
Understanding personal preferences and career goals is essential in making the transition.
Embracing a regular job can provide financial security and opportunities for growth.

It Was Getting A Bit Lonely

If you’ve been a freelancer for any length of time, you know that it can get lonely. You’re working at home or in your apartment alone and the only people you see are customers who come to your door. You might have some friends who do something similar, but there’s still no one else in your immediate vicinity doing what you do (or so it seems).

So I started missing some of the social interactions I had with my old job. I missed having lunch with coworkers and being able to chat with them about their lives outside of work. I missed being part of a team everyone trying to get things done together whether they were on-site or remote.

And most importantly, I missed having regular human contact!

While transitioning from freelancing to a regular job, I realized that freelancing gave me the life I always wanted. It provided me with the freedom to work on my own terms and pursue my passions.

I Wasn’t Doing What I Love (Or What I Thought I Loved)

It wasn’t until I was freelancing that I realized what I really loved was writing. But it wasn’t until after a few months of freelancing that I realized that the thing about writing is that you get to do it for yourself and that it’s something you can enjoy without having to call someone else at the end of every day and get their approval.

Freelancers live in constant fear of rejection: from clients, from editors, from anyone who might have an opinion about our work or our character. 

And when you’re a freelancer for long enough (and depending on your personality), your self-worth becomes tied up with how well your career is going your self-worth becomes tied up in whether or not people are paying attention to what you’re doing and saying no when they don’t want to pay attention anymore.

And if this sounds like fun? You’re not alone! It was fun while it lasted…and then one day I woke up feeling like my life had become some kind of chore because everything felt so much more stressful than before: 

My writing wasn’t as good as it used to be since all my time was spent working on projects just so they’d give me more assignments

My social life became nonexistent because most people only want friends who aren’t always busy working.

Even though I’d gotten better at accepting rejection over time (because rejection is part of the job), there were still times when someone would say no and all those feelings came back again anyway because there’s still nothing worse than being turned down by someone else especially if their reasons seem unfair…

Travelling Meant Less Time To Work

One of the most obvious reasons I stopped freelancing and started liking my job is because it meant I didn’t have to travel. Travelling is expensive, time-consuming, and not conducive to working. Traveling can be fun and rewarding, but it’s not always relaxing or exciting it can also be stressful and dangerous.

Traveling took away from my ability to work on projects that were important for me at the time (such as freelance writing). It takes money for someone like me who doesn’t own a car or have access to public transportation.

If you’re willing to spend your money on flights then there’s no reason why you shouldn’t spend more money on hotels so that there are more opportunities available in terms of things like sleep cycles (which are essential when working remotely). If you don’t want those sorts of responsibilities weighing down your shoulders then consider staying put instead!

In an era where freelancing is becoming increasingly prevalent, it’s crucial to understand how freelancing is shaping the future of work. Embracing the gig economy can open up new opportunities and redefine the traditional employment landscape.

Freelance Rates In Some Countries Are Very Low

When it comes to freelance rates, some countries are better than others. While there’s no denying that many freelancers can earn more by doing what they love in the United States than they would if they were working a traditional job, there are places where it’s even more lucrative to be a contract worker. 

Rates are lower in some countries because of the cost of living and doing business there but on the flip side, these same factors that make for higher expenses also make for more opportunities for those who want them.

My Main Client Was Hard Work To Get On With

They had different views on how things should be done, and they were very demanding. They were also slow to pay and slow to respond to emails, so it took an age for you to get paid.

And even when you did get paid, the money would come in small amounts – £250 here, £400 there – but not enough for me to start my own business again.

It was hard work trying to get hold of them too: sometimes it felt like getting in touch with them took a year itself!

I Wanted A Job Title That Made Sense In The Real World, Not Just Online

I wanted a job title that made sense in the real world, not just online.

In the past, I had always worked for myself. I was an independent contractor for various projects, which meant I didn’t have an office or a boss to report to. Instead, I filled out a T4 form and paid my taxes each year. 

But when it came time to apply for jobs at traditional companies with full-time positions, none of these freelancer-sounding titles were going to cut it anymore.

A job posting would say they were looking for someone with experience as an “interaction designer” or “front end developer.”  Those are all fine skillsets but if you don’t have any experience using those terms on your resume? You might as well be dressed up as one of those little monsters from Monsters Inc.

Trying to convince anyone who looks at you that you’re a kid despite looking like the kind of monster who would eat children instead of scaring them away from their bedrooms while they sleep at night (aka Boo).

My Non-Freelance Friends All Had Jobs, And It Was No Fun Being The Odd One Out At Dinner Parties

As you can see, freelancing is a lonely life with little structure and many challenges. You’ll be working with clients who don’t know what they want, and when they finally do, it’s often too late to make changes. You’ll have to learn how to use new tools every day and deal with clients who think that software is magic rather than code run by people.

If you’re lucky enough to find a good job as an employee (and there are jobs out there), make sure you’re happy with the work environment before you sign on the dotted line.

I Wanted To Be Able To Do Finance Stuff Like Getting A Car Loan Or Mortgage Without Worrying About My Income

I’ve been looking for a new car loan, and I can’t get approved because I only have one source of income. If my wife was a stay-at-home mom or if we had joint accounts with the same employer’s name on them, then it would be fine. But she works at a different company and I freelance on top of that.

As someone who values their freedom and wants to control their destiny, this lack of control over our finances is frustrating!

While some may argue that freelancing isn’t a sustainable choice, it’s essential to weigh both perspectives. Discover the reasons why people choose to quit freelancing and transition to a regular job for a more stable career path.

Sometimes It’s Good To Be Thrown Into Something New And Figure It Out As You Go Along. You Learn A Lot That Way

Sometimes it’s good to be thrown into something new and figure it out as you go along. You learn a lot that way. You can learn new skills: I was used to working by myself, but I learned how to work with other people in teams and got better at communicating with them.

You can learn to be more flexible: When I first started temping, my boss told me not to expect any consistency or stability in my schedule as they were so busy at the time. I had no idea what this meant or how she could know that her company would remain so busy for so long but she did! 

And it turns out being flexible is a great skill for temps because we don’t always know when our next assignment will begin (or end). We have no say over when those assignments start either – we just have our schedules emailed us each week without warning.”

The dynamics of work are shifting, and freelancing plays a significant role in this transformation. Discover how freelancing is changing the job landscape and gain insights into the future of employment in a rapidly evolving digital age.

Having A Regular Day Job Means Regular Working Hours

Regular working hours. If you are working for yourself and freelancing, there are no set hours. You can work whenever it suits you and the client. This means that sometimes you will have to work evenings and weekends, but sometimes it’s fine to just take a break and go home at 5 pm.

More time to travel and relax. If I’m working for myself, I have no real reason not to take a few days off now and then even if I’m busy with projects or clients because my business is growing well enough that it won’t suffer if I don’t do anything for a while!

More time with family/friends/whatever else makes up your life outside of work (and they’ll probably be happier too!). You may think this isn’t important but it is – having regular hours means less stress on relationships as well as better mental health overall (which also benefits productivity).

Working Full Time Means There’s More Budget For Travel Adventures, Win-Win

Here’s an example: When I was working full time, my travel budget was $0. Now that I’m full-time freelancing, my travel budget is $5k a year. That’s right five grand! And it includes everything from plane tickets to hotels to food and even some entertainment expenses like museums or concerts.

Even if you’re not interested in traveling yourself, this kind of flexibility makes your job more enjoyable for everyone else who does want the freedom of taking off whenever they want.

Don’t get me wrong I love working from home as much as anyone else does (maybe even more). But spending less than 20 hours per week at a desk doesn’t mean that you should have no life outside work whatsoever.

We all know how important it is to maintain a balance between our personal and professional lives; find that balance by getting away from your computer screen every once in a while—far away enough that you need three different passports to visit all the places on your bucket list!

Curious about the earning potential of freelancing? Learn how freelancers like me make six figures by leveraging their skills and entrepreneurial mindset. Freelancing can offer financial success and independence.

Final Thoughts

So there you have it – 20 reasons to stop freelancing and start thinking about settling into a full-time job. It’s not for everyone of course. But I think having this experience has made me a better freelancer now than I was before. 

I’ve learned how to be more efficient with my time, how to delegate tasks down the chain of command (something which isn’t possible in a solo freelancing business!), and how important it is to ensure your business does what you want it to do by hiring the right people.

Further Reading

Here are some additional resources that provide different perspectives on quitting freelancing and transitioning to a job:

5 Reasons Why I Quit My Job and Started Freelancing: Discover the personal reasons why one individual decided to leave their job and embrace the world of freelancing.

Quitting Freelancing and Taking a Job Offer: Gain insights into the experiences and considerations of freelancers who made the decision to transition back to traditional employment.

I Left My 9-5 Job for Freelancing and Now Leaving Freelancing: Explore the journey of an individual who initially left their corporate job for freelancing but eventually decided to return to a different career path.

People Also Ask

What Is Freelancing?

Freelancing is a way of working that allows you to do the same kind of work you would do in a traditional job, but on your schedule and for yourself. You can find gigs through sites like Upwork and Fiverr, or you can use your website to showcase your skills.

Why Would I Want To Freelance?

You might be interested in freelancing because you want more flexibility in your schedule or because you have a passion for doing something specific that traditional jobs don’t offer. If any of those sound like you, then freelancing could be a great way to make extra money while doing what you love!

How Much Do People Generally Make As Freelancers?

The amount of money that people earn as freelancers varies widely depending on their skill level and the types of projects they’re working on. Some people earn around $10 an hour while others make well over $100 per hour!

How Did You Stop Freelancing And Start Liking Your Job?

I started as a freelance writer, but after a few years of that, I decided to do something else for a while. I took some time off and spent it with my family. When it came time for me to go back to work, I realized that I wanted something more stable than freelancing.

So instead of just jumping back into being a freelancer, I started applying for jobs in the same field that I had been working in before and as soon as one opened up, I jumped on it! 

What Made You Decide To Stop Freelancing And Get A Job?

It was time for me to make a change. I had been freelancing for about ten years, and I was feeling burnt out like the creativity and passion that had originally driven me had started to fade. I wasn’t sure what would happen if I stopped freelancing, but I knew that if I didn’t do something different, it would be the end of my career as a writer.

How Did You Know It Was Time For A Change?

It wasn’t easy. I’d been freelancing for so long that it felt like there were no other options available to me.

But then one day, when I was feeling particularly frustrated with my career, someone said something that resonated with me: “You’re working harder than ever and getting fewer results.” That’s when it hit me I needed to make a change before things got even worse!

What Is The Difference Between Freelancing And Working A Full-Time Job?

You can read more about it in our blog post, but at a basic level, the main difference is that when you’re freelancing, your clients are the ones who set your schedule. When you work for an employer, it’s the other way around: they set your schedule and pay you for your time.

How To Make The Transition From Full-Time To Freelancing?

You can’t just switch over and expect to get paid for it. You need to build up your reputation and brand and be willing to work hard at marketing yourself. It’s a lot of work, but you’ll find that it pays off.