Have you ever wanted to pick up a freelance gig while working full time? But then you remembered that were still only 24 hours in a day and you’re a human who needs 8 hours of sleep?
Real talk: freelancing while working full time isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s for the craft the clever and the caffeinated. But it’s doable! Seriously! Today Fajr is sharing her best freelancing tips.
There are only so many hours in a day and finding the time and energy to work on side projects can leave you exhausted. But before you hang your “aspiring” hat on the shelf there are ways to find time to freelance while still maintaining your day to day. With dedication and a few sleepless nights you can grow your part-time passion into a full-time life.
A little story: About six months ago, I had the amazing opportunity to design a blog for a good friend. Little did I know then that my obsession with blogging and WordPress would burgeon into a full fledged part-time freelance business.
While my day job is in the same industry, my side business is done in the daylight of weekends and under the moonlight of late nights. Sure, I sleep less than before and miss out on some choice reality TV. But the time I spend freelancing is building my business for myself and I couldn’t imagine spending it any other way.
The moral of this small tale is that freelancing on the side is a viable option. When you have an immense passion, the reward will far exceed the commitment. While I literally jumped head first into part-timing, I’ve learned a few lessons.
5 tips so you can freelance while working full time without losing your mind
Make time for what you Love
There’s never enough time and guess what? There will never be enough time unless you make it. Share on XYour unfinished novel, your baking business or your sketches will continue to lay dormant until you make the decision that they are worthy of your time. Deciding to freelance will require a lot of sacrifice. Dedicating to doing something you love will make all the difference.
Use your Time Wisely
When you have a day job, you won’t have the luxury of working on projects during regular hours. You will become a pro at squeezing time out of every moment. Morning commutes are spent typing ideas/notes into my Blackberry. Lunch breaks have officially become “Freelance Power Hour.”If there is an available moment, I try to get something done, even if it’s just replying to an email.
Organization is your Best Friend; Caffeine is a close second
You are Clark Kent by day, Superwoman by night! In order to keep track of invoices, client communications and your sanity, organization is going to be your best friend. Channel your inner Virgo and make a vow to be organized to a fault.
Also, the cliche that entrepreneurs don’t sleep is the truth. You heard it hear first. Grab a cup of coffee and join us at the freelancers’ table.
Give yourself a day off
Even with all of the restless nights, you have to make time for yourself. When going from your 9-5 to your 5-12am, it’s hard to turn off work mode. But setting aside a day to decompress and unplug will rejuvenate you when you sit back at the desk. Taking off will also stave off burnout, which can happen when you’re pulling double duty.
Set A Goal Date
I can’t mention freelancing part-time without acknowledging the end goal every part-timer dreams of. Deciding to leave the “stability” of a day job to pursue your passions full-time can be scary. Building up a sustainable business on the side will make the transition much easier. Set a “Leaving the Nest” date and use it as motivation!
Are you a part-time freelancer? What are some of your thoughts on freelancing on the side?
P.S. The truth about work/life balance and how to get it.
This is a well-timed post for me. As I'm going to be moving soon, I've been reconsidering my job options. And for a while I was set on just freelancing, just starting fresh and committing myself. But that may not be a real option and I recently got a job interview with a company I really like in a field that is mostly what I want to be doing.
So if I get the job, I'll be back to trying to start a freelance life on the side. Which is going to be complicated, as I already have my own fiction writing on the side. BUT. I know it's necessary, as at some point I'd like to ditch the 9-to-5 and freelance, write novels and maybe teach. I've been thinking a lot about how I'll be able to make it all work.
Certainly a large wall calendar and large coffee pot should help. 🙂
I've been freelancing on the side for about nine months now because working as a web designer at my 9 to 5 got very cookie-cutter and boring. It has been immensely gratifying to design sites for other bloggers. A lot of days (like yesterday) I work 8 hrs and then come home, eat dinner and work another 4 or 5. But I never put myself in a position where I HAVE to work – that way when the 12 hr day starts to kick in I can stop and pick it up tomorrow. I'd love to freelance full time, but for now this is working out perfectly. I found my passion for designing again, which I truly thought I'd lost, and the extra funds are great too!
This has been a well-timed post. I have one year left of college and it has lead to a lot of questions about what I should do. I love the idea of being able to freelance, but obviously I will not be able to walk out of college and be able to do that. This has been perfect for helping me see how people get started.
these are good tips for someone like me, who works part time, is in grad school part time, and is trying to run my own little vintage/handmade business!
Thanks for the post…this has been on my mind all weekend…sent out my first email this morning : )
I really can't elaborate how needed this was, at this exact moment. Thanks to both of you, because I'm thrilled that I saw it and have become a new reader of both blogs. 🙂
Jess
I was honestly thinking about how I could manage part-time editorial freelancing on top of my book designer 9-5 while at lunch today. Thanks for the pep talk I couldn't seem to give myself today!
It's been easier for me as my day job is not a 9-5, so I can fit in writing and interviews around that. At the same time, shift work is a killer, and I'm often exhausted.
I feel like hitting the ground running and starting up the etsy shop I've been thinking about! But first I'll have to consult my virgo self and get organized! It's a great post and thanks for the motivation!
Great post. Thanks for this!
I currently have a 3 day p/w job, am doing a graduate degree, and am working to become a freelance writer. I spend a bit of time on each, which is fun but can be really draining. Since I'll be leaving my job shortly, I've been trying to pluck up the courage to take that freelance writing and turn it into a closer-to-full-time venture. Thanks for reminding me that keeping it part time isn't necessarily a cop-out!
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