Freelancing offers flexibility and freedom compared to a regular desk job. Freelancers have the freedom of choice with regards to when they work, where they work, whom to work for and the type of work to be done. Freelancing enables workers to find a job that suits their individual strengths and weaknesses. The flexibility and freedoms have a lot of benefits. Here are other benefits you might not realize.
Workload Control
Freelancers have the freedom to take as much or a little work as they want at any point in time. One of the best things about being a freelancer is the ability to say when enough is enough. If you have too many clients and can’t handle their demands or the stress, you can simply drop a couple. If you need more jobs for financial reasons then you can always find other clients that need work done.
Better Health
Being able to control your workload can lead to better health. According to studies conducted by Kansas State University, people who worked more than 50 hours per week suffered from decreased physical and mental health.
Freelancers also work from home and interact with clients and colleagues over the internet while people in traditional workplaces work in cubicles. A Danish research found that the more people working in a room together, the more likely people are going to get sick. Working at home prevents freelancers from being exposed to a work bug. Turns out, being a freelancer can lead to a healthier you.
Gain Skills
Freelancers are able to gain new skills from their experience working in different fields. Even if you do not have the skills yet, there are companies and employers who are willing to train new employees. This can be useful to freelancers because it enables them to put something new to their resume while learning something that can be used for future projects.
Work Relationship Control
When you’re working remotely, you have the power to control workplace interaction and relationships. Some freelancers only need to check their emails 2-3 times a day to keep track of what they need to do or check what other co-workers are doing. As it turns out, checking your email infrequently leads to less stress according to a study conducted by the University of British Columbia. This is because in many work environments, ignoring an email is like ignoring your boss. As a freelancer, checking your email less can help reduce stress.
Exercise
Many people who work in a traditional work environment find it hard to squeeze time to workout or exercise. They do not have this problem with freelancing because they can work when they want to which means they can exercise whenever they want even during the middle of the day. As it turns out, working out in the afternoon has benefits. During this time, your lungs work better and your physical performance is in its highest, muscle strength is also at its peak while risk to injury is at its lowest.
Your Own Boss
If you have a client that you don’t like, you can drop him or her when your contract ends. Freelancers are their own bosses and have the power to avoid working with somebody that they don’t like.
No Commute
Most Freelancers work remotely from their home or even while on vacation. This means that they can avoid the daily commute to work. Avoiding traffic helps reduce stress even before you get to the workplace.
Network
Freelancers have a chance to work with different people in different cultures across the globe. They have a chance to nurture relationships, whether it is personal or professional, to help expand their network. Building a network can help boost reputation and make future contracts.
Travel
As stated above, the ability to work remotely means that you can work anywhere in the world. You can travel while you work or make travel your work. You are not tied down to the office and can take as many vacations as you want.
Engagement
Many people who are working the same job year after year find that they are losing interest in what they are doing. Freelancers have the flexibility to move from one field to another depending on their skill set and what they learn while working for different companies. This means that they are able to grow their knowledge and skills to keep their job interesting and more engaging.
Being a freelancer can be fulfilling especially if you are self motivated and like to work alone. Freelancing also allows for better life-work balance which is important to keep you happy and satisfied with your job.
