The best things about being a freelancer

Having worked for myself for around seven years now, I cannot imagine working in any other way and if you’re also a freelancer, you might feel the same. 

But if you’re not currently self-employed and you’re considering making a change and becoming a freelancer, you might not be aware of all the benefits of working for yourself. 

So I thought I’d share with you some of the best things about being a freelancer and why it is hands down one of the best decisions I ever made. 

It’s so much more flexible

One of the best things about being a freelancer is the freedom to set your own schedule. You don’t have to work the typical 9 to 5 days unless you want to, that is. Instead, you can work the hours that suit you and your lifestyle best. 

This can really help with productivity, for example, if you work better early in the morning or later in the evening you can work when you’ll be most effective. 

Of course, you may still need to manage emails, take calls or attend meetings during traditional working hours. But for the most part, you have the flexibility to set your own schedule and work as and when you want. 

You can achieve a better work-life balance 

Following on from this last point, the flexibility to manage your schedule means freelancing can offer you a better work-life balance.

For example, it makes it much easier to fit your work around your personal life, which can be great when you have family or other commitments to attend to. 

For me, it usually means that I go for wonderful dog walks and visit areas of Cornwall that we tend to avoid during the busy summer months. It also means I can work my life around my husband, visiting family and seeing friends that work shifts. 

You can also prioritise your personal time and you don’t have to put in holiday requests and wait for these to be approved (although you do have to let clients know when you’re going to be off). 

Variety is the spice of life

You know what they say, variety is the spice of life! And freelancers often have the opportunity to work on a diverse range of projects for different clients. This variety can make your work feel a lot more interesting and stimulating.

Because, let’s face it, conducting the same activities day in and day out in a traditional role can quickly become boring. 

But when you’re a freelancer, you can go after the projects you really enjoy, in your preferred industries, and when things get a little mundane, you can shake it up by taking on new projects and exciting new clients. 

You can prioritise personal fulfilment and wellbeing 

Another great thing about being a freelancer is you get to be your own boss and you can see the direct impact your work has on your clients. This can be extremely fulfilling. 

Not only that, but you can watch your business grow and feel a tremendous sense of pride each time you reach one of your goals. All of which can be great for your confidence, happiness and fulfilment. 

You can also prioritise your well-being in a number of other ways. Managing your workload, environment and hours makes it much easier to care for your physical and mental health.

You have the freedom to work from where you want

In most cases, being a freelancer gives you location independence, as many freelance jobs can be done remotely. This allows you to work from anywhere with an internet connection and opens you up to more opportunities for travel and living in different locations. 

It also means you can create your ideal work environment, whether it's a home office, a co-working space, a coffee shop or a deck chair on the beach.

Over the years, I have worked in lots of weird and wonderful places, including our campervan, the beach, in the car, rest stops, hotels and more. 

Greater earning potential 

As a freelancer, you set your own rates and you have the ability to take on as much or as little work as you want. 

This can give you greater earning potential than in traditional roles, depending on how much you charge and the projects you take on. 

You are in charge of your progression and development 

Being a freelancer often requires you to wear multiple hats, from client management to marketing and project execution, you’ve got to do it all! This can provide you with plenty of opportunities to develop your skills and keep learning new things. 

You are also in charge of all your progression and development. You can take on training courses and continue to boost your skills whenever you want, something that can be harder to orchestrate and guarantee when you are employed. 

You can expand your network 

Lastly, working with multiple clients exposes you to lots of different industries and professionals. This provides you with opportunities to expand your network and potentially open doors to new opportunities.

This can be useful not just for your freelance career, but also if you choose to rejoin the traditional workforce in the future, as you’ll have a bigger network to tap into. 

I love my freelance life! 

I honestly, honestly couldn't imagine living or working any other way right now and becoming a freelancer was one of the best things I ever did for myself. 

We are planning on buying and converting a van soon and returning to van life, which means that I’ll once again be able to travel and work from lots of wonderful locations - and I can’t wait!