Before You Take the Plunge: Is Freelancing Right for You?
The idea of throwing off the oppression of the nine-to-five working day, along with the freedom of setting your own schedule, and potential for higher earnings, can make freelancing seem very enticing indeed.
But there are downsides to making your own way in the world. Freelancing might not be the best approach to work for everyone, and anyone who does fit the freelancer mold is going to have to make some sacrifices while chasing their dream.
Here are a few questions you ought to think about to make sure that freelancing is right for you before you take the plunge.
How Well Do You Handle Uncertainty?
Freelancing is a risky business — money doesn’t always come in when you’re hoping for, clients disappear in an instant without warning, and it’s not always easy to predict when a rough patch will appear, and, crucially, when it will end.
Are You Okay With Selling Yourself?
Job hunting can be a tedious and soul-crushing experience, so it’s important to remember that freelancing means constantly being on the lookout for new work opportunities: even in times when things seem relatively stable, freelancers need to keep seeking out new work to avoid being caught unawares.
Of course, some people thrive on this process — not being tied to a single job means doing a lot of different projects, and that can be significantly more rewarding than getting stuck in a predictable daily grind. It’s up to you whether you can handle not always knowing where your next paycheck is coming from.
Can You Be Strict With Yourself?
The other factor that should influence your decision to take on a new freelancing role is how comfortably you are with structuring your own time. As wonderful as it can be to no longer be compelled by an employer to work solidly throughout the day, it can be dangerously easy to get into bad habits while working for yourself, and you can see plenty of time slipping away when you’re not careful and working to a rigid schedule.
How Much Do You Value Your Downtime?
Similarly, you might find freelancing a struggle if you’re not sold on working at weekends and during evenings. Many freelancers find themselves working longer hours for clients than they would have done in regular employment, and you also need to find time for accounting and admin, which can eat into your downtime.
For this reason, one of the essential skills to freelancing is the ability to set limits and to structure your day: if you’re capable of being disciplined, the freedom to work unusual hours can be a fantastic blessing that helps you to get more out of your work. Besides, the nice thing about working freelance is the opportunity to do work you care about, rather than being assigned projects from on-high.
There’s no easy way to determine how well you’ll do at freelancing before you take your first few steps into client work. If you’re a good self-starter and capable of keeping a cool head amid uncertainty, though, you’ll naturally have an easier time of things.
Freelancing is an absolutely fantastic, incredibly rewarding experience. Saying goodbye to regular employment and forging your own path can be unnerving, but there’s definitely a great reward waiting for anyone who’s willing to sacrifice to make it happen.
