Appreciating Freelancing: Flexibility

440911_handstand_girl.jpg(www.inkthinkerblog.com) — During my 2008 postmortem, I lamented my failure to maintain a regular work schedule last year. But I’ll be honest: I love the fact that, as a freelancer, I don’t HAVE to maintain a regular work schedule. I’ve been sitting in this coffee shop in Ashland, VA, for about 2 hours, blogging and e-mailing and outlining and researching and reading and relaxing, and it’s great. Before that, I played with my dogs. Before THAT, I worked my butt off. But now I’m enjoying being out of the house and out of my office, with my feet (shoeless, of course) on someone else’s couch.

Freelance flexibility is about far more than the romantic notion of writing in coffee shops, though. It’s about being able to choose projects and clients that interest you and speak to you. It’s about being able to work from noon to 9 p.m. if you’re a night person instead of trying to force yourself to fit a morning person’s timeclock. It’s about fitting your work around your life instead of your life around your work.

Flexibility is one of the MANY things I love about freelancing. What do YOU love?

Don’t forget to check out my Freelance Writers Appreciation Week gift to you: Top 100 Books for Freelance Writers.

Contents Copyright © 2006-2014 Kristen King

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  • allena Feb 10, 2009 Link

    I don’t do well with flexibility, but I do set my own schedule, which I love to do!

    allena´s last blog post.."Gig Economy" Leads to "Accidental Freelancing"

  • Leigh Feb 10, 2009 Link

    I, too, love that freelancing gives me flexibility. I struggle with several chronic illnesses (Lupus being one of them) that flare up from time to time. Going to a 9 to 5 when I am throwing up and have joint pain and am dizzy for days at a time did NOT work for me. Now, I have been able to design my freelance life around how I feel. Most days I wake up early and work, because I am more productive in the morning. But, if I feel terrible, I rest and sleep and then work in the evening or even the middle of the night. I don’t have to worry about taking vacation time or worrying about whether I have enough sick hours available.

    I’m also much healthier as a result of freelancing. My stress is way down and I can work out at the gym for two hours a day and not have to rush off to the office. My endurance and strength have greatly improved and I am well on my way to hitting my weight loss goal.

  • monica Feb 11, 2009 Link

    I too love the flexibility. I’m the kind of person who needs to change up my environment every couple of hours to stay productive. As a freelancer, I’m free to move from the desk, to the couch, to kitchen table, to the coffee shop, and sometimes to the bed! I also love that I can cook my lunch at home and go out in the afternoon for a long walk to rejuvenate me for the day ahead!

    monica´s last blog post..Taking Care of Your Writing Clips

  • Rebecca Laffar-Smith Feb 11, 2009 Link

    I LOVE the flexibility freelancing allows too! I don’t do so well in forced structure and have learned to swing with my moods instead of trying to force a regime. I work best with the flexibility of working into the early hours of the morning if I’m going strong or sleeping till noon when I’m not.

    There are disadvantages too, of course. It comes down to needing to be accountable for my time. While I can take an extra hour for lunch or decide to visit my sister on Thursday instead of staying chained to my desk I do know those hours have to be filled in somewhere else. If that means working through the evening instead of watching NCIS then that is the sacrifice I make for the flexibility of working when I want.

    And to tell the truth, I’d rather work nights then watch NCIS anyway. ;-)

    Rebecca Laffar-Smith´s last blog post..Career and the Direction of Life

  • Lori Feb 11, 2009 Link

    Well you’re doing nothing to back up my blog post today about how our freelance lives are not filled with coffee shops and lounging…. LOL

    But I agree with what you’re saying about the flexibility. We may be “on” all the time, but we can stop at say 2 in the afternoon and hit the Macy’s sale, or head out for lunch and linger while we people-watch. But it takes a damn lot of work to get there! :)

  • Cory Feb 12, 2009 Link

    The number-one reason I love freelancing is that it allows me to be home with my two dogs. In fact, I waited until I was freelancing full time before adopting my first dog — it was one of my “rewards.” (Dogs are social creatures and shouldn’t be left alone for long periods of time; many people don’t get this, and they stick their dog in a crate while they’re at work for several hours.)

    I’m more of a telecommuter than a freelancer with a flexible schedule: I don’t often have the opportunity to work in coffee shops or the library or take part of the day off if, say, a bunch of new snow just fell on the local ski mountain and I want to go snowboarding. But staying home with the dogs and being their glorified doorman — inside, outside, inside, outside all day — suits me just fine!

  • Devon Ellington Feb 13, 2009 Link

    I love that I can follow and explore anything that interests me and get paid for it. I can live many lifetimes, A Walterina Mitty, in a way. And make a living at it.

    Devon Ellington´s last blog post..Friday, February 13, 2009