If you are one of those freelancers who juggles a day job, you are not new to some of the woes that come with it. Sometimes, such a big responsibility joined by deadlines gets overwhelming and wearying, even dripping into one’s personal life.
In the previous article, we covered how to start freelancing from scratch. Well, for this piece now, let us go into the next challenge awaiting you: how to balance freelancing and a day job.
Below, in deep detail, we delve into the world of freelancing, day jobs, and presenting to you with a few real actionable tips that have helped so far in balancing passions with paychecks.
Everything is covered, from time management and prioritization to boundary-setting and how to maintain productivity.
Table of contents
- Can You Really Balance Freelancing With a Day Job?
- What Are the Benefits of Freelancing Alongside a Day Job?
- How to Balance Freelancing and a Day Job
- 1. Avoid Working on Overlapping Hours
- 2. Don’t Overlook the Full-Time Work
- 3. Use Different Set of Tools and Devices
- 4. Say No Whenever Necessary
- 5. Freelance With Partners
- 6. Keep Your Eye on the Ball – Your End Goal
- 7. Go Slow at the Start
- 8. Set Client Expectations Clearly
- 9. Never Wait for the Deadline
- 10. Be Disciplined and Efficient
- Troubleshooting Common Challenges of Balancing a Day Job with Freelancing?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
- References
- Recommendations
Can You Really Balance Freelancing With a Day Job?
Let’s be honest: balancing freelancing and a day job is quite overwhelming. This is like asking oneself to pat his head and rub his tummy at the same time-a balancing act, basically. Still, it can be done provided you are wired correctly with both attitude and strategy.
Tons of people balance their day jobs with freelancing, and you can too; it’s all about finding that sweet spot where you can manage your time effectively, meet your responsibilities, and still have some sanity left over.
So, if you are looking for how to balance freelancing and a day job, well, you are not alone. Many people have gone through this phase and emerged successful, and so can you-just hold on in patience, stay focused, and keep pushing forward.
Also Read – The Difference Between Freelancing and Full-Time Remote Jobs
What Are the Benefits of Freelancing Alongside a Day Job?
Want to pursue your passion but not give up the security of a steady income? Probably freelancing alongside a day job is just what you’re looking for. Following are the benefits:
- Financial Safety Net: First, the process allows you to have a constant inflow of income from your day job and hence can easily take up freelance projects without wondering where the next paycheck is coming from.
- Diversified Income Streams: The more the income streams one has, the lesser one may be dependent on a single job or even a single client, thereby making it easier to accommodate sudden expenses.
- Creative Outlet: Freelancing serves as a medium for an individual to express himself through work or even indulge in things of interest when their day job is not satisfying or creative enough.
- Stepping Stone to Full-Time Freelancing or Entrepreneurship: Freelancing alongside a day job may be used as a testing ground for full-time freelancing or even entrepreneurship. It helps build a client base and prepares one for the leap.
- Reduced Financial Stress: The regular day job income added to the additional income from freelancing will work to reduce financial stress and anxiety.
Freelancing along with a day job is quite beneficial in many aspects. So if you want to break yourself free from the monotony of a 9-to-5 job, then freelancing is definitely worth trying. Your future self will thank you!
Also Read – How to Set Up a Freelance Business From Scratch
How to Balance Freelancing and a Day Job
Since we have known the importance of freelancing alongside a day job, let us now dive into how to balance both.
1. Avoid Working on Overlapping Hours
You’ll be making a mistake if you choose to work on your permanent job and freelancing tasks on overlapping hours.
There, the boundary setting between both the worlds always becomes the key towards balancing. You’re contracted by the employer of your permanent job to put your best into their tasks.
You compromise on both your freelance and employed work when doing some freelancing work in your office hours. Use all the lunch breaks and other shorter breaks at your offices just for being at ease instead. That’s what would fill you with renewed energy for work on freelance projects.
2. Don’t Overlook the Full-Time Work
As enthusiastic you might be for your freelance work, you must not forget your commitment to employment.
Your office responsibilities include submitting work on time, completing the tasks before deadlines, putting up ideas in meetings, and working with zeal.
Have adequate sleep at night and come to work in an energetic mood. Avoid discussing your freelance projects with your office colleagues during breaks or office time.
3. Use Different Set of Tools and Devices
One of the best ways to keep the world apart is to make use of a different set of applications and devices for your full-time job and freelancing job.
You’ll need separate tools or apps for project management, time management, work schedule, virtual meeting, and real-time communication. If attainable, use different devices for freelance work and full-time jobs.
At all costs, it is not advised to freelance on an office laptop. And if for some reason that is unavoidable, at least have different browsers, browser profiles, and user accounts on the same computer for freelance work.
4. Say No Whenever Necessary
There are some freelance projects which may simply never work out due to advanced design skills, high-end devices, etc.
Never take up a freelance project just because you got it. Never feel shy to say no if you know the gig is not going to work.
It’s absolutely okay to say no-even to the perfect freelance project-if it doesn’t fit your schedule. You may pass that on to some other freelancer you know, so that you can keep a good relation with the client and fellow freelancers.
5. Freelance With Partners
As a freelancer, you tend to handle the administrative and bookkeeping chores alone. In many cases, that can even shrink the available time you will have for work on the actual project.
But with only a little hassle, you could easily divide this burden among the partners of your company. For each freelancing assignment, partner up with another experienced freelancer that you can rely on, so both can share administrative jobs.
You two can have different fortes and yet work together as a team. If you two can work at opposite times of the day, that’ll be an added advantage.
6. Keep Your Eye on the Ball – Your End Goal
If you join the freelance business when you already have a full-time job, then you must have some idea about your future goals. Plan properly so that you will be in a better position to achieve your goals. Take the help of free or paid goals tracking apps like Strides and Habitica that will help to keep your life goals on track.
While developing your plan, ask yourself the following questions:
- What is your vision for the freelancing gig in the long run?
- Will you go into the freelance business full time?
- For how many years will you be operating a full-time freelance business?
- What are your freelance venture expansion opportunities?
Also Read – Top Trends in International Business Marketing You Need to Know
7. Go Slow at the Start
What truly matters in balancing your life between a permanent and freelancing job is time management, so you should not undertake more freelance projects than you can efficiently handle without compromising performance at your full-time job.
Particularly in the initial stages, always follow the policy of going slow with the freelance gigs and working with limited clientele.
If you feel that you can handle more projects without hampering the quality of full-time work, increase them gradually. Thus, you will be able to build a strong portfolio comprising happy clients.
8. Set Client Expectations Clearly
When your freelance client hires you, they trust you to do the best job. That is why, before you start working on any freelance project, you want to make sure you and the client are on the same page about the deliverables of the project.
It’s good to use online contract-creating apps like AND.CO and Bonsai for keeping in record. Always be in communication with clients during project time and let them know through regular updates about ongoing work.
This way, you will know you are going right, and your current project will be according to the expectations of the client, saving you from reworking on the project and doing multiple revisions.
9. Never Wait for the Deadline
If you have the habit of procrastination and leaving things for the last minute, get rid of them. Never leave a task for the deadline except for some seriously unavoidable circumstances. When you work as a freelancer, taking the risk of missing a deadline is not a good idea.
Anything urgent can come up in your full-time job that will hinder your freelance gig. To avoid such situations, complete your projects well ahead of time.
Keep deadlines in check with the use of apps like SimpleMind and Remember the Milk etc. Meeting deadlines will help you to get positive reviews from your clients.
10. Be Disciplined and Efficient
Doing freelancing projects on top of a full-time job is exhausting; once you plan to work together, become habituated to working in a disciplined and efficient way.
Plan ahead of time and do thorough planning for maintaining client expectation, scope of work, gig progress, deadlines, etc.
Handling such cumbersome freelancing in addition to regular office work does require you to be efficient regarding your time. You will want to take help from automation with time-management apps like Toggl Track or RescueTime.
Also Read – Marketing Automation Tools for Small Business
Troubleshooting Common Challenges of Balancing a Day Job with Freelancing?
Juggling between a day job and freelancing isn’t that easy. The most common challenges come with practical suggestions on how one can overcome them, discussed below.
Challenge 1: Time Management
Create a calendar and stick with it religiously; create specific time chunks for freelance work. In addition, you ensure that there’s enough time for both the job and freelancing.
Challenge 2: Burnout
Take the rest, do exercises, and go on breaks whenever needed to avoid exhaustion. The other equally important aspect is to learn saying “no” to energy-sucking projects. The next challenge relates to the priorities that contradict each other.
Challenge 3: Conflicting Priorities
If there is a conflict in priorities, then make a list and start with the first important one. Try to communicate with your clients and colleagues with the aim of adjusting the expectations so that everyone is on the same page.
Challenge 4: Lack of Support
And last, but not least, never hesitate to ask friends, family, or co-workers who have to balance their day job with freelancing for advice. Joining online communities or networking groups is also a great way to connect and get advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can freelance when working full time, and many people do. A common arrangement is being a freelancer and employee simultaneously; however, there are several factors to consider. Time Management: The balancing act of a full-time job and freelancing calls for effective time management.
Yes, freelancing is the provision of a service to an individual or client without employment ties or relationship. The freelancers are the self-employed providing services in a virtually endless variety of professions.
Absolutely, yes, use your day job skills to win freelancing clients. Most people start by freelancing in services linked to their daytime expertise and expand as experience grows.
More sources of income are created; the incomes are diversified, there is improvement in skills and areas of expertise, and more flexibility and time autonomy.
Conclusion
Now that you understand how to balance freelancing and a day job, it’s time to put these tips into practice.
Being able to outbalance them is quite a big challenge. With the right mindset and strategies set in place, you are sure to achieve your goals. Make sure not to forget to prioritize your time, set boundaries, and take good care of yourself.
These are those tips that help an individual through the freelancing process without necessarily jeopardizing his or her day job. Just start with it and see your career soar high!
References
- www.linkedin.com – The Ultimate Guide to Balancing a Full-Time Job and Freelancing: Tips and Tricks
- medium.com – How to Balance a Full Time Day Job with Freelance Work
- www.forbes.com – How To Balance Your Full-Time Job With Your Side Hustle
