Top 10 Reasons to be a Freelancer
Date of Update: 10-05-2016
1. Your Workspace Is Your Own
You can, literally, decide what your workspace looks like or where it is. Don’t like those germ ridden cubicles? Not to worry! You can set up your own little piece of work heaven right in your own home. Or, if you don’t like sitting at home, grab a spot at your local coffee shop, the library, or even the beach! The world is 100% your office space.
2. No Micro-Management
Having a boss (or 3) constantly walking up behind you to check out your work or make critiques on your project can impede your progress. As a freelancer, you don’t have anyone checking on your every move. It’s quite refreshing to be able to sit in peace and work at a pace that’s comfortable. I’m not saying you won’t have deadlines (clients almost always have deadlines), but you won’t have a boss staring over your shoulder as you type.
3. Fastest Commute on Earth
If you’ve set yourself up a little home office space, you can feel comfortable knowing that you won’t have to fight that morning traffic trying to get into the office. I have two dogs and my idea of heavy traffic is getting them off the bed so I can make it.
4. You Make the Schedule
Being a freelancer means not having to follow someone else’s schedule. Hate working 8am to 4pm? No problem, sleep in and start your day at 10! And Mondays always stink. So why not skip Monday all together? It’s okay because you are in charge.
5. Projects You Love
So many times you get handed a project from your boss that really stinks. As a freelancer, you get to choose the projects and clients you want to work with. I’m not saying you won’t have to do some work that you find boring (you still need to make money), but you’re in charge of deciding which clients to work with, so you can decide if a project just isn’t something that’s worth your time.
6. Job Security
Let’s be honest, as a freelancer, you’ll never be in fear of getting fired by your boss. You are in charge of getting more work and you will be the one benefiting from new clients or projects. There won’t ever be a time you’ll be worried about downsizing or layoffs again.
7. Vacation When You Want
Have a last minute opportunity to see a farewell performance on Broadway? No sweat! Take a few days (or a few weeks) off! You don’t have to get it approved and you don’t need to fill out any vacation request forms (I hate those). Just make sure you let your clients know.
8. No Human Resources
When I’m frustrated, I can swear, out loud, and nobody gets offended and calls Human Resources. When I need a break from work, I can putz around on Facebook or Pinterest and I don’t get in trouble. I can even stop and watch a movie if I want to.
9. No More Corporate Ladder
Have you been working for years trying to climb another wrung on the corporate ladder? Sometimes it feels like you’re always overlooked or clawing to get that next $2 raise. With freelancing, you don’t have to work to be at the top (or even the next wrung). You ARE at the top!
10. Yoga Pants and Fluffy Slippers
And probably one of the best parts of freelancing is there is absolutely no dress code. I pretty much wear yoga pants and a sweat shirt every day. I have more pairs of yoga pants than I have jeans. But that’s the beauty of working freelance. You don’t have to dress to impress. You’re already pretty darned impressed with yourself as it is!
