Everyone comes to freelancing in their own way. Some get tired of office work and decide to go freelance, some can’t find a good job after graduating and are forced to try themselves as freelancers, and others simply become "free agents" by chance.
Like many others, life circumstances brought me to freelancing — I became a mom and obviously could no longer work in an office. Before that, I had spent several years in a space that looked like an aquarium (though they didn’t feed us through the vents), and overall, I was satisfied with that, especially considering my job was considered quite prestigious.
However, I only truly understood what happiness and job satisfaction meant when I started freelancing. Now I can confidently say that no one could drag me back to the office — not even with a huge salary and a private office where I could hang a gallery of family photos. And if you don’t believe me, I can give you at least five reasons why I’m not going back to the office.
#1 I’M MY OWN BOSS
You probably don’t hear people often say they love their boss. Sure, a boss can be kind and respectful, but they won’t care about your personal issues, dentist appointments, or your child’s school play.
While working in an office, I was constantly under supervision, with no chance to rest for five minutes or even make a phone call. And let’s not even talk about the fear of being late or forgetting to complete a task. All this drove me into a constant state of stress because I was terrified of suddenly losing my job. Plus, my boss had no problem calling me in the evening or on weekends for work-related issues.
Of course, I could have said I wasn’t obligated to deal with work matters during my free time, but who knows what a boss might think? They could easily say, “If you’re not happy, find another job!” And again, the fear of losing income kicks in.
As a freelancer, I’ve completely forgotten that fear. Yes, clients also monitor the progress of my work and expect reports — but that’s the limit of their control. No one tells me when to work or bothers me in my free time. If a client doesn’t like something, they’re free to find someone else.
#2 I SET MY OWN SCHEDULE
I’m a night owl by nature: I can stay up late, but waking up at the crack of dawn is pure torture. The need to commute to work by 9 a.m. five days a week and stay there all day made my life unbearable.
Even if I finished my tasks 1.5–2 hours early, I still had to sit there, pretend to be busy, and wait until 6 p.m. One day I asked my boss if I could leave early since I was done, and to my surprise, he agreed. But just a few days later, that favor came back to bite me.
Less than a week later, the boss asked me to stay late to prepare some documents, politely reminding me that I had left early recently.
Since becoming a freelancer, I finally feel free. I work during the hours that suit me, and my clients don’t care if I’m working during the day or night — the work gets done! I can visit the doctor without asking for time off. I don’t miss my kids’ events. And in the evenings, when picking them up from daycare, I don’t look like a worn-out wreck.
I have enough time during the week for work and household chores, and I can fully dedicate my weekends to family and friends. Vacation? I take it whenever I want. Even when I’m at the beach, I can still manage some work if needed.
#3 I SAVE A LOT OF MONEY
Strangely enough, office work isn’t just income — it’s also expense. Let’s start with the commute. Sure, some lucky people live close enough to walk to work. But I wasn’t so fortunate: I had to take two buses, which doubled my transportation costs.
Don’t forget lunch breaks either — those added up fast. I couldn’t always bring food from home, so I’d end up eating at a nearby café and paying a decent amount even for a modest meal.
And the biggest expense? Clothing. You don’t have to wear Dior, but you’re still expected to follow the dress code!
The more prestigious your workplace, the more outfits you need. And while a man can swap shirts with the same trousers, office expectations for women are far more demanding.
Tights, skirts, blazers, pants, even perfume — you can't afford to look worse than the accounting girl.
As a freelancer, my only regular expense is internet. I don’t sit in pajamas on client calls, but I don’t wear a white shirt either. And best of all, I don’t spend money on expensive lunches — which leads me to the next point.
#4 I STARTED TAKING CARE OF MY HEALTH
Office work gave me gastritis. Quick breakfast in the morning, a questionable lunch (usually cheap fast food), and a few liters of coffee to fill the stomach. If a client brought chocolates — great. Dinner? After 8 hours of work, air conditioning noise, and the boss’s yelling, who has energy for cooking?
After work, all I wanted was a shower and bed. In movies, people hit the gym after work. In real life, the most you can do is stumble to the store for frozen pizza.
Now I have a full-day gym pass and can go anytime. I watch what I eat, take care of my health, and focus on self-care. I no longer eat cold leftovers or mystery meat pies. I cook full meals — breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I feel healthy again!
#5 I KEEP GROWING
There are no limits here — it all depends on you!
Every day I get a chance to learn something new — like life is offering me a ticket to an unknown destination, and all I need to do is decide whether to take the journey.
Freelancing is a world full of surprises and untapped potential, and I’m not ready to give that up for the dull routine of an elite office building with floor-to-ceiling windows.