Could Your Freelance Full Time?

I freelance part-time because it fits in around my family. I have a young baby that demands a lot of time and attention, so the part-time set up works perfectly for me. That said, ask yourself this, if you have considered giving up your day job and freelancing, how would you cope?

Freelancing full time requires a major commitment. Add to that the need to be a stickler for detail and organizing your time responsibly. After all, you may have other commitments such as a family for whom you have to provide. You are your own boss, so if you struggle with motivation and being able to set your own targets and goals, freelancing may not be for you.

Also, could you live without a full time wage? As all freelancers know (and don't I know it) you go through cycles of feast and famine. I went through a period of about four weeks without any paid gigs, and while it was depressing, it was certainly far from catastrophic. You see, I'm not the breadwinner, and thankfully, my husband has a good job and does the job of providing for our family. I don't have that stress, but you may not have that luxury.

If you are sick, no one is going to pay you. The fact that the life of a freelancer is so ad-hoc prevents many a would be full timer from taking the plunge. You have to set your own rules. You have to do the legwork. If you cannot be bothered or don't have the time, forget it, you never will.

Freelancing full time requires gusto and drive, more so than working for someone else. You ARE your business and have to treat it like one, or you will fall pitifully by the wayside with all those other would be freelancers.

My advice? If you are looking to go it alone, keep your options open. Work full time and spend your spare time setting yourself up. It typically takes about 6 months for many freelancers to find their feet and really get going. If it is something you passionately believe in as I do, go part-time if you can afford to and spend the rest of the time putting your all into your work.

I know of freelancers who freelance on weekdays and spend their weekends doing a part-time job to ensure that there is money rolling in. I personally started freelancing when returning to work as a teaching assistant was no longer viable because I could not afford the childcare costs. The sheer boredom of endless cooking, cleaning and nappies was driving me to distraction and I felt suffocated because I could not seem to break away from it.

Whatever your reasons for going freelance, ALWAYS have a backup plan in case it really doesn't work out. A sensible person would ideally save enough money to comfortably quit their day job to go it alone. Otherwise, it can be complete financial suicide.