Yesterday I wrote a post about working on the weekends. Today, I want to talk about working late hours as a freelance writer. This is something that many of my freelance writing friends do. That being said, I am not the type to work into the wee hours of the morning. Instead, I prefer to rise early because this better fits my schedule.
Speaking of schedules, yours should determine when you work as a freelance writer. For instance, if you do not have a lot of time in the morning, for whatever reason, there is a good chance that the nighttime will be the best time to work. Take for instance somebody who has children. This person may spend their morning getting their kids off to school, preparing meals, etc. But when the nighttime rolls around, and the kids are in bed, things begin to die down. It is at this time that getting to work makes the most sense.
As long as you are on top of your game there is nothing wrong with working late hours. For me, this would not be a good idea. I always feel better in the morning, and only like to work on freelance writing projects when I am energized and have a perfectly clear mind. By the time 9 or 10 pm hits my brain is beginning to shut down for the most part. This doesn’t mean that I never work late hours, but I do try to avoid it when possible.
One of the biggest benefits of working as a freelance writer is that you can set your own schedule. If working in the morning and/or afternoon doesn’t suit you, there is a good chance that you can get things done after the sun goes down. Once you get on a schedule, no matter what it may be, you will be better about the progress you are making as a freelance writer.Â
Working on the weekend is never a lot of fun. Sure, this is a great way to make some extra money and advance your career, but you definitely need time off if you are going to achieve long term success. When I started out as a freelance writer I always worked on the weekends, as well as every other day. But soon enough I was feeling burnt out, and realized that this was not the best idea.
If you are tired of working on the weekends, follow these three tips:
1. Work harder on Fridays. I know many freelance writers who put in extra work on Fridays so they do not have to do anything on the weekends, or even early the next week. Do you have the time and energy to get more work done at the end of the week? If so, this will benefit you on the weekends and maybe even into Monday.
2. Have a to-do list. When you have a to-do list you will stay on track Monday through Friday. This makes it much easier to get all of your work completed during the week. There is nothing worse than forgetting about a project, and realizing that you have to work on a weekend to complete it. With a to-do list this will never happen.
3. Don’t take on tight deadlines. When accepting a new project you need to be aware of the deadline, how much available time you have, and whether or not this could force you into weekend work. If you are not comfortable with a deadline you can always negotiate this.
These three tips should help you to avoid weekend work. Even though there are times when I work on Saturday and/or Sunday, I try to avoid this for the most part. The tips above allow me to do just that most of the time!
No matter what type of job you have, you should always be having fun. If you aren’t, it is time to follow a new career path. Everyday as a freelance writer is a good day. Sure, there are times when I get down on myself but this is going to happen with all careers. For the most part, my freelance writing career is full of fun and I expect things to stay this way for many years to come.
Here are three reasons why I find freelance writing to be a fun profession:
1. I get to make new friends. Over my years as a freelance writer I have met many people, and there are quite a few who I now consider friends. This is one of the most exciting parts of working as a freelance writer. Since I have many clients I am always making new friends. The same cannot be said for many other careers.
2. Making money is always fun. While you don’t want to become a freelance writer for the money alone, because it can be difficult to make a good living, this is definitely something that will keep you motivated and excited. It is fun to make money, to set income goals, and to see how much success you can achieve. If you are not motivated by the money you can make as a freelance writer something is wrong.
3. Expanding and growing. I always have a good time when I am learning new things, expanding my business, and growing as a person. As a freelance writer I have the chance to grow, day in and day out.
Are you having fun as a freelance writer? I know it can be difficult to keep a smile on your face when you are not earning as much as you would like. But if you attempt to have fun and stay positive, the money will come along with a good time.
