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Doing freelance and having free time

  • Cristian Level X3
    • 8

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    Doing freelance and having free time

    Everyone that doesn't offer any kind of freelance services always tell that being a freelancer should mean you have loads of free time.

    Doing freelance and having free time

    But that wasn't my experience at all, I used to have less free time than people that had a day job. Probably because I wasn't organized behind a schedule but even with a schedule I've discovered that some freelancers actually have less free time.

    And here is why:

    1. You always need to stay connected. Even if you are out, away from your laptop or desktop, you still need to stay connected. Responding to clients is your top priority.
    2. Finishing projects and keeping a deadline means you need to sacrifice some of your free time to archive that goal, otherwise, you may lose that projects because most clients are always in a hurry.
    3. Responding to potential clients is a must and you can't miss such an opportunity because that potential client can be forever gone if you take too long in giving him an answer or a first proposal.
    4. Sometimes you'll just crash after a marathon type project. That means being unavailable for how much you need to get back on your feet.


    What is your take on this? Do you have free time?
    How many hours do you freelancer per day?
    How much free time do you have allocated per week?
    Do you work on weekends?

    #Free #Times #Freelancers Freelance
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    Webguy2024

    Webguy2024

    I typically work around 14 to 16 hours per day. I will take a few days off at a time to rejuvenate when needed. I don't think of what I do as work because I really enjoy working every day. This is why my work hours are longer than a typical 9 - 5 job. Maintaining a balance between work, play and family is the key to staying sharp. Too much of anything, meaning work isn't good and can get quite boring, stifle your growth, hamper new ideas and more. Here are some words of wisdom: Variety is the spice of life and moderation is the key. The problem with being self employed is that once your business starts to grow and you are at the stage where you cannot afford to hire but have to do everything yourself this is where you will find it difficult to have the life balance. Once you overcome this stage it gets slightly easier but not by much. Generally there will be new challenges that will arise such as making payroll, managing employees, increasing sales etc that will again challenge your life balance. Sometimes trying to have a life balance by growing your business is like jumping from the frying pan into the fire. I have found that the cycle, the battle between work and a balanced life never really stops so, maybe these words of wisdom can help: Keep it small but keep it all. It is all about personal choices and what you are willing to do.
    10 years ago

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    ajlancer

    ajlancer

    Hi Cristian thanks asking query. I think I have told many time as a freelancer I am not free or I have no free times in a week. Even I have to work as weekend. Though many people thinking freelancing very free job, they got freedom rather then 9-5 job. But, true is that as a freelancer we need to do lot of work each day. Still I do job more then 14-16 hours in a day. And I do not pass any vacation even mandatory religious holiday. For such kind of profession, I miss lot of family occasion. Because, sometime some work has to be deliver emergency basis.

    So, as a freelancer, I am always busy and do not try to pass vacation.

    Regards by Ajlancer
    10 years ago

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    idealmike

    idealmike

    Great topic Cristian! Yes it's true that people on the outside looking in (those not freelancing) always think and say that a freelancer has more time on his/her hands compared to those working a 9-5 job. But this isn't true as you well know. Because when working as a freelancer, you are constantly working. Even when you're not working! You're either checking your phone or responding to past or current clients, working on their orders and of course, working to find new clients as well. All of this takes up a huge amount of time. Literally from the moment you wake up at in the morning, to the time you go to bed at night. And that can mean working from 8AM to 3AM (19+ hours on times). I try to get early nights so I can get up early but I'm not a great morning person unless I've had at least 8 hours sleep lol. I'm not working 19 hours a day every day. But when I'm busy and have a lot of orders on. I am working a lot all through the day and night to get them done, completed and delivered. But even when I don't have a lot of orders on, I'm still working at least 12-15 hours a day because I have other things I need to do as well. It's not just always all about completing current existing clients orders. I have websites to maintain and manage too. I have other things I need to "chip away" at to keep the traffic coming into those sites. And if I neglect to do that for a short while my traffic/earnings could suffer from it as a direct result of not working on them.
    You always need to stay connected. Even if you are out, away from your laptop or desktop, you still need to stay connected. Responding to clients is your top priority.
    That's right. I'm always checking my phone for emails, orders, updates and stuff. I'm always online whether on my PC or phone reading articles about freelancing and things to do with freelancing. Finding new ways to gain new clients and my own stuff as well.
    Finishing projects and keeping a deadline means you need to sacrifice some of your free time to archive that goal, otherwise, you may lose that projects because most clients are always in a hurry.
    Yes it's vitally important to complete clients orders on time. If it's going to be late then you need to have a good reason and excuse for that. And one thing I've learned freelancing is that clients don't like "excuses". They don't want to hear "sob stories" they just want their work!
    Responding to potential clients is a must and you can't miss such an opportunity because that potential client can be forever gone if you take too long in giving him an answer or a first proposal.
    That is true. But I also must digress on this matter. Sometimes I feel it's good to make them wait a small while. Sometimes they simply will have to wait a small while because you have projects to complete. But sometimes I like to make people wait as it gives the impression that I am busy. But not wait too long! I'm not talking about making them wait hours. But at least an hour sometimes.
    Sometimes you'll just crash after a marathon type project. That means being unavailable for how much you need to get back on your feet.
    Yes that's very true. Sometimes you pour your heart and soul into a project. And to just jump straight into another marathon project without taking some "time out" to rejuvenate and refresh yourself you're going to crash harder than an Airlander 10!
    What is your take on this? Do you have free time?
    I do have free time. When I'm asleep! That is my free time!
    How many hours do you freelancer per day?
    Probably between 15 to 18 hours per day. It depends how many orders I have on and how busy I am. Sometimes I'm just cracking away like a monkey at a keyboard! I'm thinking of installing an IV and wearing a colostomy bag just to save time lol.
    How much free time do you have allocated per week?
    At least an hour per day maybe. I need time to go out, go shop, get my dinner. Make it. Have a bath. That kind of thing. Other than that not much free time at all as most of it is spent on working on my clients orders.
    Do you work on weekends?
    Yes, Saturday and Sunday. Weekdays, weekends, they're all the same to me! Doing freelance and having free time
    10 years ago

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    Cristian

    Cristian

    Ok, so as far as I can see most of you that responded claim you work at least 14 hours per day. That is incredible from my point of view, it's simply too much! That one of the main reason I quit being a full-time freelancer. 8 to 10 hours per day should be sufficient from my point of view, anything beyond this is just sacrifice parts of the best things in life to make money.

    At least that's the way I see things....
    10 years ago

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    Everett

    Everett

    What is your take on this? Do you have free time?
    Yes, I have free time. I generally sell PHP scripts, and this gives me the option to either have more free time, or use this time to create more scripts.
    How many hours do you freelancer per day?
    I think I freelance probably 4 to 6 hours per day. I want to actually freelance 12 hours a day.
    How much free time do you have allocated per week?
    I think i have a lot of free time during the week, unsure of actual figures though.
    Do you work on weekends?
    Yes, occassionally, and sometimes I don't. Weekends are usually my unwinding time, so I try not to do any freelance work on the weekends.
    10 years ago

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    procoder

    procoder

    What is your take on this? Do you have free time?
    Hmm sometimes I feel like I don't have time for anything else but only for freelancing, but yeah I'm trying to find some free time through the day.

    How many hours do you freelancer per day?
    As a full time freelancer I'm working more than 12 hours a day.

    How much free time do you have allocated per week?
    I think that depends, but I prefer to take small breaks while I'm working, at least 1-2 hours per day, and it's enough free time for me.

    Do you work on weekends?
    Yeah, I love freelancing, and each day is the same thing for me.
    10 years ago

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    Lynne

    Lynne

    I am not a freelancer but I work online and I find that I am also almost always connected and working. I work most evenings and most weekends too. School holidays and Christmas holidays are the same. I need to make money and if I don't work I don't earn so I have to keep working Doing freelance and having free time

    I have some flexibility in the hours I work since I work online, so I work around my children. However I put in about 10 hours a day by catching up with work when my children are asleep.
    10 years ago

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    Corzhens

    Corzhens

    Having no free time is usually due to lack of time management. When you look at the workload as one pile then you are overwhelming yourself. It is best to divide the workload into segments so it will be easier to manage. As what management gurus say, make small goals that are easier to do than a big goal that is hard to finish.
    9 years ago

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