Freelancing is not merely getting more popular, it is heading towards becoming the predominant work model. By 2028, over 50% of all workforce will freelance, but that may not be as good a thing as some might think. The truth is that freelancing isn’t all fun and joy as it’s often depicted to be. There are some very serious obstacles to face when taking on this kind of work and it is important to know what they are in order to prevent them from impacting negatively upon your life, health, and chances of professional success.
Ugly Truths About Freelancing and Tips for Getting Around Them
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Self-control and motivation require a lot of work
Surveys show that remote workers are more productive, but it’s not the same for freelancers. When you are your own boss you are the one responsible for managing your time, doing the work, and motivating yourself to stick to a reasonable work schedule.
Doing all this requires great willpower and a high level of self-control. You will need to develop these skills as well as create a space free of distractions from which you can work. You may even decide to create a home office and dress up as if you were going out to work, a ritual which will help you focus on the job and make it easier to stay motivated in order to work diligently.
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Your health might decline while your weight goes up
Flexible hours combined with deadlines result in working long past midnight and many other unhealthy life choices. They result in weight gain and increased risk of illnesses associated with a sedentary lifestyle, poor diet and sleep deprivation.
The solution is to make a conscious effort to keep your lifestyle healthy and plan your work accordingly. As you will be short on time and overwhelmed at least on some occasions, you should consider meal kits and grocery delivery services to help you to eat healthily. To manage and lose your weight when working from home, you will need to be able to get a good workout right there. Much like your home office, you should design a gym area equipped for fitness training. This way, even if the situation requires you to work overtime, you will be able to complete some tasks while exercising so that you won’t have to skip a workout.
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You often don’t get paid (and there’s little you can do when this happens)
58% of freelancers have failed to get paid for their work at least once and, realistically, there isn’t much you can do if this happens. Being scammed is a major occupational risk for people who rely completely on these payments and often have no emergency funds to tide them over if such a thing happens.
The solution is to create a watertight contract, but even then you can’t be 100% sure you’ll get paid.
All in all, being a freelancer can be a big challenge so you need to be sure you have what it takes to take it on before making what could be a life-changing decision.
My name is Agatha and I’m a work-from-home mom of two little nuggets. I’ll be happy to see you on my blog http://www.agsinger.com, which focuses on strategies to help one find a healthy balance between business and personal life!