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In this day and age, the way we work has changed. Years ago, and still for a lot of people today, home lives and work lives were very separate. However, today both worlds can collide. Many people are choosing to work from home or planning to do so in the near future. Yet, when this is something that is brand new to you, you may feel as if you just have no idea how you could even do this. It could be that you just never see yourself being able to do it, despite wanting too. But it’s time to understand that anybody can work from home if they want. It’s just about understanding how it works and what you need to do to make things happen. And this works in a range of ways – firstly by how you act and build up the opportunity, but also how your home can facilitate it for you too.
So, in order for you to be able to consider even doing this for yourself, it helps you to be able to know what it takes. And that’s what we’re going to think about in this post. When it comes to working out if it’s for you or not, you have to get to know what it’s really like and what it will take. Including the work that you will need to put in, how it will change your lifestyle, and some key considerations to remember, we’re going to dig into that right now.
The Freelance Lifestyle
To start with, you’re going to want to make sure that you are considering what freelance work is life, in terms of the work itself. Because this isn’t just a lifestyle, it’s a business too. So, you have to want to work for yourself and accept the things that come with being your own boss. When you do, then this could be right for you.
Generating Business
You are also going to want to be aware of the fact that when it comes to being freelance, you have to make sure that you can generate the business that you want. Whether you want to become a freelance writer or coach or designer or anything else, it’s important for you to be able to get clients. If you’re comfortable with that, then you should find this could work for you.
Being Proactive
The next most important thing about being freelance is that you have to be a proactive person. Or, at least be happy knowing that you have to be as positive and proactive as possible. When you’re looking to work from home, you have to have the drive to get the work done, otherwise, it’s far too easy for you to just slack off.
Building A Brand
Another truth about working from home is that you have to be willing to, or open to, the idea of building a brand for yourself. You should find that you usually are able to generate more business when you have a brand around yourself. And this is something that can take time. It’s easy to think that this can be easy but it’s something that you have to put the work in for.
Running A Business
Finally, you also have to realize that this is a business. And so, you have to be ready to fun it. Working from home isn’t about playing around and relaxing, it is hard work. Not only do you have to generate business for yourself and essentially be the sales team, but you’re also finance, marketing, customer service, admin, and IT too! So, prepare yourself to be busier than ever, and to wear many hats!
How Your Home Life Changes
Now that you understand the working side of things, you might want to think about how this can affect your home life. Because freelance life does really change your lifestyle – and not just for you, but for your friends and family too. And if you really want to know how, here’s a little more insight into it.
Having The Space
When it comes to your home, the very first thing that you need to focus on is the space. Because when you are thinking about working from home, you need to make sure that you have somewhere to do it. Sure, it can be fine to work on the couch, but it’s not all that motivating. When you have a home office space, it’s much more motivating and professional. You don’t have to do it right away but this should be what you aim for – so think about where you can work from.
Staying Productive
The next thing is that you have to do your best to stay as productive as possible. And when you’re at home, it can be distracting. You might be tempted to watch TV or meet friends for coffee, but you really need to be able to concentrate. This is why shutting yourself off can be important – you minimize the distractions.
Setting Boundaries
The next thing that you might find helpful is to set boundaries. Because one of the things that comes with working from home is that you may work all around the clock and it’s just not good for you. But when you set boundaries with your clients or you have working hours or whatever it’s going to really help you to stay mentally focused, healthy, and minimize life changes.
Separating Work & Home Life
It’s also important to know that you have to get used to working from home. Not only do you need to have that work-life balance in place, but you have to try and keep them separate so your loved ones don’t get frustrated with you. There comes a time when you need to switch off a work mode and get into family mode again.
Staying Professional
And then one final thing that you might want to consider in this area, is making sure that you are able to stay professional while you are at home. The last thing you want is to have your dog barking in the background or a video call you can’t answer because you’re in your pyjamas. You have to know that you can get into work mode when it’s time to work, then shut it off again, just like we said in the previous point.
Key Considerations To Keep In Mind
But then, there are a few other considerations that you’ll want to keep in mind. Because there are those funny little anomalies that crop when you work from home. They don’t always fit into one category, but you still need to know about them before you can decide if this is right for you.
Cash Flow
First of all, one of the things that you have to be aware of is that cash flow can be slow. So, saving money wherever you can is just so important. You may not get paid regularly and you have to be able to budget for that. If this will scare you, you may not want to choose the freelance, work from home life.
Cabin Fever
Another thing that is easy to overlook is cabin fever. It. Is. Real. It can be lonely to work from home and you can easily get itchy feet from being cooped up. So get out. Work from a coffee shop. Be prepared to get out and about. Something like 14 Ways To Ensure You're Being Productive On The Go can make sure this works out for you. There’s a fine line from working from home and working out of home, and making them both work.
Managing Clients
Now, it can seem great to work for yourself. But most of the time, you are working for your clients. And managing your clients can be really hard. They can be difficult and not pay – or pay late. And so, you have to make sure that you are happy with making clients.
Taking Time Off
The final point that you are going to want to be aware of here, is that if you take time off, you won’t be paid for it. It’s easy to have holiday time when you work for someone, but if you go on holiday then you won’t be paid. So, you have to learn to budget well and ensure that you can cover yourself if you want to go away somewhere, or if you’re sick. It could be that having insurance as a backup can help you here.
You should also consider getting business insurance to cover you for any disruption if you need to take unexpected time off. One Sure Insurance offer a range of insurance types including Liability and you can get a quote on their website within a few minutes.
You should also consider getting business insurance to cover you for any disruption if you need to take unexpected time off. One Sure Insurance offer a range of insurance types including Liability and you can get a quote on their website within a few minutes.
And that’s the truth behind it. Sometimes, working from home can seem like the dream. And sure, it’s flexible and enjoyable most of the time. But as you can see, and as with most things, it also has its downsides. So, before you dive in to do anything yourself, it’s handy to understand everything and make the right choice. Now that you have all of the information, it’s time to work out whether you want to give it a shot.
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