I've been a freelance content writer for nearly five years now, and one of the most common things people say to me when I tell them I work for myself is how lucky I am.
And I guess I am in a way. There are many benefits to freelancing - being able to juggle both your professional and personal lives, not having to ask for a day off, not answering to a boss, being able to work in your PJs etc. etc. But then, my usual response is to grimace and say, "To be honest, it's really hard". And I'm not lying - it is. There are as many disadvantages to freelancing as there are benefits, but no-one really mentions them. You might be able to be more flexible, but this can mean trying to do everything and succeeding at none, working at nighttime after the kids are asleep, and fervently tapping away at the computer during the school holidays instead of actually playing with your kids. You can, of course, take time off, but any day you don't work means you lose money. And as your wage changes month to month, you end up working stupid hours to make up for those times you might have less work on or you have other plans. While you don't have an employer, every freelancer will know that their client is their boss. They are answerable to whoever has commissioned them, and this can be difficult when you are juggling a number of projects at once, and there is a quick turnaround of jobs. Don't get me wrong. For me, for now, it fits in great with my family life. I couldn't bear the idea of not being around for my children when they are so little, but I also struggled with the notion of not working at all (as our bank balance would as well!). So I bust my guts, work as hard as I can, and when I'm not working I'm squidging play doh between my palms, baking cakes, and dancing around at Baby Ballet, practising my pirouettes. If you are considering a freelancing career, it may be worth looking at this interesting post that someone reading my website alerted me to (thanks, btw!). Have a read and find out what self-employment is really like before you make any drastic decisions. You might decide, like I did, that the price to pay to freelance is, however difficult, still worth it. The Ultimate Guide To Starting Your Freelance Career
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Natasha Al-AtassiRead my thoughts and ideas on the latest search engine updates and copywriting trends that could improve your business marketing plans. Archives
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