How to Balance a Full-Time Job While Freelancing

So, you’ve landed a freelancing gig and you’re ready to begin firing on all cylinders. Picking up freelancing work in addition to your 9–5 is a great way to build your skillset, earn some extra cash, zone-in on your passion, and establish an additional level of job security. However, side gigs can become taxing as the workload of your day job ebbs and flows. While there’s no foolproof formula for success when balancing a freelance gig with a full-time job, there are a few things you can consider to make the extra work a worthwhile, lucrative addition to your life. Let’s dive in.

Make a schedule, and stick to it.
With any job, it’s important to balance your workload through effective time management practices. One of the best ways to juggle a full-time job and freelance work is mapping out a realistic schedule that accommodates both obligations. Danielle Small, a seasoned freelance writer for publications like Refinery29, VentureBeat, and Fast Company, suggests trying out different schedules at first to find your creative flow.

“Structuring your day is as much about how and where you work as it is when you work. Knowing my peak creative hours helps me produce good work under deadline because I’m not fighting against motivation,” she says.

Perhaps you’re most productive on Saturday mornings after the workweek is over. Or maybe you’re a night owl who catches a second wind around 8pm. Meeting deadlines and delivering quality work should remain your top priorities for freelancing, so it’s important to build out a consistent schedule that allows you to efficiently complete both your 9–5 and freelance work, and still have time for your personal life.

Be upfront and transparent with your boss.
It’s not uncommon for full-time employees to pick up side jobs to earn and save extra money. In fact, “moonlighters,” or professionals with a primary job who also take on freelance work, make up 25 percent of the independent workforce, with 13.5 million professionals taking on the challenge. Despite the fact that freelancing work adds experience and value to your existing skillsets, some employers may be wary that your side gigs will affect performance.

Depending on the industry you work in, and the terms of your employment contract, you may be legally required to consult your boss before taking on side projects that utilize the same skills you need to do your day job. There is a chance that your contract contains clauses that prohibit you from working in direct competition or on work that could bring the company into disrepute. When approaching your employer or manager, emphasize that your career with the company is still your top priority and that your work will not as a result of your freelancing gigs.

Don’t bite off more than you can chew.
First-time freelancers can be quick to take on every project that comes their way in fear that clients will turn to another source due to unavailability. Whether it’s a peak season at your full-time job or a difficult time in your personal life, to stay sane, you must recognize your limits and know when to say “no” to projects that are not feasible with your existing workload.

To quote Robert Williams, freelance influencer and founder of Workshop,

“As a freelancer your biggest advantage is that you only need a handful of clients to succeed. Most companies need to find thousands of customers. You only need to find one at a time.”

When you’re spending upwards of 40 hours in an office each week, it’s important to prioritize the freelancing projects and clients that benefit you most and help you achieve your overall goal for freelancing.

First time freelancer? Consider these do’s and don’ts:

- Do set a schedule for yourself, and manage your time by using project management tools like Asana.

- Do track your hours as you work by using time tracking apps like Due Time Tracking or AND CO.

- Do remember never to work on your freelance business during company hours.

- Don’t use company resources or tools for your freelance projects.

- Do prioritize projects and clients that deliver the greatest value to you

- Don’t be afraid to turn down projects when you’re too busy to put in your best work.

Picking up freelancing work on top of your current job can be rewarding — if you’ve put in the appropriate groundwork. Loom takes a freelancer-first mentality to the on-demand services economy to ensure that freelancers get the opportunity to build quality products they can stand behind. Turn your passion into more than a side project by exploring the many projects looking for contract work today.