Doing freelance and having free time

Cristian Level X³

September 4, 2016, 10:51 am

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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:

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.
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.
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.
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?

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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

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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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

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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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

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

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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Seoclerks

Doing freelance and having free time

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