Pros and Cons of Being a Freelancer
I've worked as a freelancer for the past 3 years and while I love it, it isn’t for the faint of heart. It's full of unknowns and has added responsibilities that many people would hate. But for me, the pros outweigh the cons. I decided to make on honest list so you could make your own decision on whether or not being a freelancer is worth it. Ready to dive in?
I personally like to get the negative out of the way first, so let’s get started with the cons of working as a freelancer from home:
CON #1 – It can get lonely.
This is definitely the biggest drawback for me as working day in and out all by myself can be lonely sometimes. However, I’ve learned that as long as I don’t live alone and always have someone to talk to at the end of the day, it’s not so bad. This also isn’t true for everyone as I know some freelancers work in co-working spaces that gets them around like-minded people.
CON #2 – Health insurance? Paid time off? Sorry, none of that here.
This does suck…but, it’s the harsh reality for anyone who works for themself. If you feel you can foot the bill of paying your own health insurance, don’t let this discourage you! It is possible to pay for your own benefits on a modest paycheck.
CON #3 – No guaranteed income.
Being comfortable with uncertainty is necessary as a freelancer. If I want to pay my bills, I have to find clients…and keep them. Sometimes I’m flooded with work while other times, it’s a miracle to get an email response. It’s important to plan ahead and get used to the “feast and famine” that comes in this line of work.
CON #4 – it’s hard to work only during working hours.
Setting work hours (that I actually stick to) is very important. Otherwise, it’s 10:00 pm on a Saturday and I’m still working. Or, it’s 1:00pm on a Monday and I’m watching TV with an unopened laptop. Being a freelancer takes rigid time management and a lot of discipline. There are some times that I work too much and other times I feel like anything beyond 5 minutes of work is going to kill me. It’s important to set hours so I don’t work too much or too little.
Yay, all the cons are now out of the way! Now here are the pros of working as a freelancer from home:
PRO #1 - I’m no longer a slave to my alarm clock.
This is, hands down, the #1 pro to working from home. Did I get to bed late last night? No problem! I sleep in a little extra and instead of being miserable the whole day, I feel rested and still have a great, productive day. I usually workout first thing in the morning, shower, have a nice breakfast, drink some coffee and then I start work. It’s a great way to start the day! (Even if this was the only pro I had, it honestly would be enough. I’m not a morning person and being able to slowly start my day is priceless to me.)
PRO #2 – Keeping up with “life” is a piece of cake.
Laundry needs to be done? Dinner has to be put in the oven 4 hours before I eat it? No problem, I just throw it in between emails. I also run errands during normal working hours which means no lines and little to no traffic. It’s awesome. It also means that my weekends can actually be used for fun activities, not just catching up on errands.
PRO #3 – I wear what I want.
While I don’t stay in my pajamas all day (but no judgement if you do), I love that I can get by with leggings and a sweatshirt for my work attire. Getting ready isn’t a chore, so when I do want to look nice, it feels like a treat and not an obligation.
PRO #4 – Sick days? Not necessary.
Whether I have the flu or a cold, being sick doesn’t keep me from work. Now, before you start thinking I’m a total workaholic, I just mean that there are fewer barriers to start working when I can do it from home. I don’t have to endure a long commute or risk getting the whole office sick. Not to mention, I can nurse hot tea next to a humidifier while I’m wrapped in a robe surrounded by Kleenex boxes. This makes working while sick so much more bearable. However, if I’m too sick, I can just take the day off without having to ask. I am the boss after all!
PRO #5 – Having a side job or weird schedule is totally doable.
In addition to being a web designer, I’m also a performer and songwriter. Neither of those things stick to a routine schedule and I need to be available whenever the work is there. Being a freelancer allows me to work full time while also keeping up with very demanding side jobs. If I worked a regular 9-5 job, I would never be able to keep up my work as a musician.
PRO #6 – You can work from anywhere.
My parents live in North Dakota, my sister lives in Minnesota, my fiancé lives in Texas and I live in Nashville when I’m not on the road. Being a freelancer allows me to do what I’m passionate about while also spending quality time with the people I love. And that means more to me than the stability of a regular job ever could.
And there you have it - those are the biggest pros and cons that I’ve come across in the past 3 years. Are you also a freelancer? I would love to hear your own opinion on the matter so be sure to leave it in the comments!
With love,
-Heather
Heather Brockell is a Web Designer and Copywriter based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. When she isn’t designing websites or writing, she performs as a professional figure skater and singer in ice shows all around the country.
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