The life of a freelancer, in many ways, is a very flexible one, but it is a lifestyle that you cannot necessarily switch off from as soon as 5 o’clock hits. There is always something to do, such as an email to send, or a pitch to prepare. In addition, freelancing with a family, more specifically, young children, can be very stressful. Therefore, if you are thinking about ditching the standard 9 to 5 career to replace it with the flexible freelance life, there are some things you need to set in place before you begin.
1. Create a Structure
Yes, freelancing, for all of its perks when it comes to working at home, still needs a proper structure. If you have children that are old enough to understand when mommy is busy, then you need to put those boundaries in place as soon as possible. If you have toddlers that nap at set times, then it is best to work around those so you can be as productive as possible. It may benefit you to do more work in the night so you can spend more time with your children during the day. Technology helps when it comes to this, from calendar based software so you can structure your work properly to speech to text programs than you can have on your phone meaning you can draft emails articles and reports by just talking into your phone. It is a lifesaver when you have a child crying on your shoulder.
2. Be Financially Prepared
Freelancing, by its very nature, is a precarious career choice because every month can be different. One month you could be earning lots and the next month be earning next to nothing, so it is important to have a rainy day fund in place should you have a dry month. It is also important to have insurance policies so you can provide for your family if you are unable to work, from self-employed insurance to whole or term based life insurance, there are different types of plans to suit your budget depending on your age and your capacity for earning. It would be dreadful to think that if you were suddenly unable to provide for your family and you were the sole breadwinner, that you would be plunged into debt.
3. Learn To Relax
Being a freelancer is pretty full on, and combining that with the demands of the family, it means you have little time to rest in the physical as well as mental sense. Therefore, it is vital to find ways to relax when and where you can. Whether this means finding techniques that work for you so you can relax quickly when you have a spare 5 minutes or making time for yourself by dropping the kids off at their grandparents and having an afternoon snooze, you know what works best for you. It is important to become aware of the signs and symptoms of burnout before they hit which includes things like irritability, anxiety, or mild depression. Many young freelancers without responsibility find it difficult, so if you are thinking about taking the plunge, just make sure you have a plan in place. It is certainly a fantastic career choice when you know how to balance it right.
Conclusion
If you are thinking about ditching the standard 9 to 5 career to replace it with the flexible freelance life, remember to create a structure, be prepared financially and still learn to relax to enjoy this fantastic career choice.