Recently, the sister of a close friend came to me for some advice. Hema has been fancying the “easy” life of freelance writing for quite some time now and so, seeked my views on working from home.
I told Hema that working from home definitely has its ups and downs. When I first ventured into full time freelancing, I was surprisingly rather depressed. I actually missed the morning drive to work with B, hanging out with my colleagues and even dressing up for work! Even now, after 3 years of saying goodbye to my last job, I'd sometimes find myself missing the 9-5 life. I’d feel this unexplainable emptiness, which would trigger my insecurities, wondering if I made the right choice leaving my old job. Usually, B ends this phase for me with an inspiring pep talk; he’s extremely supportive that way.
When you work from home, it's just you and your PC so it can get rather lonely sometimes. Working from home also means freedom to work in the manner that befits your lifestyle. This might sound great except that it also requires self-discipline as the tendency to procrastinate will sometimes see you stray from work to watch TV, take cat naps, chat on the phone or just hang out doing nothing.
You should also consider the financial aspect of working on your own - no company bonus, EPF contributions, medical insurance and other benefits. Basically, you’re on your own, with no employer to supplement your financial needs. So, it’s always good to have some form of savings or back-up plan prior to jumping into freelancing.
As a freelance copywriter, I sometimes get people asking me why I don’t want to get a real 9-5 job. First off, freelancing is very much a real job. Just because we work from home and are not visibly seen in the working world, this does not mean we’re idling away at home. Freelancers work just like the next employed full-time staff. The difference is that we do it from the comforts and familiarity of our own home-office.
I told Hema that working from home definitely has its ups and downs. When I first ventured into full time freelancing, I was surprisingly rather depressed. I actually missed the morning drive to work with B, hanging out with my colleagues and even dressing up for work! Even now, after 3 years of saying goodbye to my last job, I'd sometimes find myself missing the 9-5 life. I’d feel this unexplainable emptiness, which would trigger my insecurities, wondering if I made the right choice leaving my old job. Usually, B ends this phase for me with an inspiring pep talk; he’s extremely supportive that way.
When you work from home, it's just you and your PC so it can get rather lonely sometimes. Working from home also means freedom to work in the manner that befits your lifestyle. This might sound great except that it also requires self-discipline as the tendency to procrastinate will sometimes see you stray from work to watch TV, take cat naps, chat on the phone or just hang out doing nothing.
You should also consider the financial aspect of working on your own - no company bonus, EPF contributions, medical insurance and other benefits. Basically, you’re on your own, with no employer to supplement your financial needs. So, it’s always good to have some form of savings or back-up plan prior to jumping into freelancing.
As a freelance copywriter, I sometimes get people asking me why I don’t want to get a real 9-5 job. First off, freelancing is very much a real job. Just because we work from home and are not visibly seen in the working world, this does not mean we’re idling away at home. Freelancers work just like the next employed full-time staff. The difference is that we do it from the comforts and familiarity of our own home-office.
One of the things I love about being a freelancer though is the fact that I no longer have to get up early in the morning. I can also bid farewell to the ritual of planning my outfit for work the next day. I have the liberty to sleep in late, wear comfy clothes at home, work at my own pace and make my own decisions. I also get to decide when I want to take off without seeking permission from the boss.
Last week I got a call from Hema. She has taken the plunge into freelancing and so far, really seems to be enjoying her new role. The fact that her hubby runs his business from home as well is an added bonus I guess. It was great to be able to share the same thoughts and to bitch about similar stuff with another fellow freelancer. One of the things we both agreed on was that it would take nothing short of a miracle to drag us back into the full-time world. For now, the comfy cushion we sit on while freelancing from home is just too sweet for us to surrender!
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