Great things about being freelance

[freelanceisgood]

Help me out here. Have been getting very stressed re finances recently re being freelance and with no real reason for being so. I have enough money in my invoice pipeline to mean will be financially secure for a few months (and dont generally have massive issues getting paid), have no reason to think i wont continue to be fine in the future, have been freelance for over 4 years now and although there have been a few tight times generally have been absolutely fine. I live abroad and have no real option re getting a permanent job locally so need to get my thinking straight re my situation! So help me stop my negativity and anxiety. Remind me why it's great being freelance again and help me see the cup as half full again?

No one telling you that you're not performing up to standard, said standard having never been explained to you in plain English.

No having to go into an office and dealing with petty office politics.

My coffee is better than any office coffee.

Never having to wear a business suit (well, I don't have to any more).

Working when you want to work rather than set hours.

Working in your PJs!

You can decide when you work and who you work for
You can work from bedhome in your pyjamas if you see fit
You can shift work around to fit in with childcare needs
You can remain disengaged from office politics, largely

you are so right! keep them coming

Oh, if one of your clients really annoys you, you can finish the work, accept the pay and never return their calls again! Or price yourself so high they'll either pay it or say forget it! (I'm planning on doing this with one of my clients very very soon!!)

feeling better already. the other one I have to remind myself of is that especially in this climate there is no such thing as a safe permanent job. Its easy when I start worrying to look back at my years in permanent employment with rose coloured specs as representing safety. Whereas in reality were I in that situation now I could have still be let go with a month or so's notice at anytime.

You can specify certain days as paperwork days
clients need not know that the yoga class it at lunchtime

when you go to visit an office you can time your meetings to "let them open the post and have a coffee before you come in" bingo, no rush hour traffic

I take August off. So does DH. When the kids are older we will take January off and travel.

If you don't want a contract, you ramp up the price. If they still say yes, book a restaurant. If they say no, the day is free for something nicer

PS I've been free range for nearly 13 years. Would NEVER go back to full time.

I work one afternoon a week (after yoga and swim) in an office to get my social fix.

ah yes August, I take that off as well. And i love being able to do that.
I think one of my issues is discipline of hours I work. I need to learn to have a clearer line between work and home life. And learn to turn the laptop and blackberry off (without putting them back on half an hour later "just to check"). If I managed to do that I think my stress levels would fall and i would be more productive in my set hours.
Mmmm lots of food for thought.

Great thread - am sat at home trying to fulfull a freelance contract and am struggling today so this has really helped - thanks!

Diversify, is there anything else you can do? Teach English? Anything that can bring in some money? If you are a writer you might want to check out this, it's live tomorrow...

careers.guardian.co.uk/careers-blog/freelance-writer