4 ms·

It's good to point out the negatives to freelancing. I just started freelancing last month after being laid off, and there are definitely positives and negative

It's good to point out the negatives to freelancing. I just started freelancing last month after being laid off, and there are definitely positives and negatives. While I do have a much more relaxed schedule and I do make more money, it sucks not having much work/life separation. For instance, last week I had a few friends over for some beers and I had to work the whole time because the client had an important demo the night before. Because of the rate I was getting, I had to choose between $X/hr and hanging out with my friends. Sadly, the $X/hr won. It is also hard to convince my Fiancee that I need to carve out 8 hours a day to do work. Yes, I'm at home all the time. Yes, I physically can go visit her mother today. However, I need time to work, and if I'm running errands all day there isn't time to ever get work done. It's hard to strike this balance and to stay hard line on "When my office door is closed, pretend I'm downtown and at work." Overall, though, I prefer freelancing. After awhile I'm sure the lack of structure, instability and lack of benefits will cause me to jump to another full-time gig. Until then, I'm happy doing what I'm doing.

jacquesm 17y ago
If you can and this continues to be a problem find a small office nearby. Just a single room with a door that you can lock would be enough. Clarity helps a lot too, setting a simple rule that will not be broken (Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am to 17:30 pm I'm at work, and not available, sorry), goes a long way to forestalling such push-and-pull situations. Being unclear can be a source of great frustration, to both parties. edit: one thing you could do that might help to greasing the wheels a bit is to make sure you lunch together on workdays.
- bmj 17y ago
  Agreed. I don't freelance, but I work remotely a few days a week, generally from home. Where my wife homeschools our sons. We have ground rules, though, that help both of us manage: 1. I walk to the cafe from 9:00-12:00-ish while she does the bulk of the work with the kids. The local cafe is quiet, so it's not a problem for me to work there, and get a lot done in that time. 2. If I can't be distracted once I'm back home, I simply close the door to our office. 3. If my wife is working with the kids, I stay out of that area of the house. 4. On days that I spend some time with the kids, it's understood that I'll need to "make up" that time in the evening after the kids are asleep.

jacquesm 17y ago

If you can and this continues to be a problem find a small office nearby. Just a single room with a door that you can lock would be enough. Clarity helps a lot too, setting a simple rule that will not be broken (Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am to 17:30 pm I'm at work, and not available, sorry), goes a long way to forestalling such push-and-pull situations. Being unclear can be a source of great frustration, to both parties. edit: one thing you could do that might help to greasing the wheels a bit is to make sure you lunch together on workdays.

bmj 17y ago
Agreed. I don't freelance, but I work remotely a few days a week, generally from home. Where my wife homeschools our sons. We have ground rules, though, that help both of us manage: 1. I walk to the cafe from 9:00-12:00-ish while she does the bulk of the work with the kids. The local cafe is quiet, so it's not a problem for me to work there, and get a lot done in that time. 2. If I can't be distracted once I'm back home, I simply close the door to our office. 3. If my wife is working with the kids, I stay out of that area of the house. 4. On days that I spend some time with the kids, it's understood that I'll need to "make up" that time in the evening after the kids are asleep.