When you work for yourself as a freelance writer, professional blogger, or some other kind of entrepreneur, there is always the opportunity to make some more money. The computer is always there beckoning for you, because there is always more work that could be done and this work could translate into more money in your bank account. It’s a very tempting proposition, because you’ll get that much closer to buying that dream car, paying off that mortgage, or otherwise achieving your dreams. It is also through this temptation that you could end up working too much.
Freelancing Is Still a Job
Nearly two years ago, John Chow wrote a post on trading hours for dollars. This is the most common way for people to make money. They get a job and trade their time with their employer in exchange for a paycheque. This is also true of freelancers, even though they officially work for themselves. More likely than not, if I’m not working, I’m not making any money. There are exceptions, to be sure, but that’s the general rule.
One of the critical differences between a conventional job and a freelance business, as I’ve mentioned, is that the latter is able to make money at any hour of the day, on any given day. With a regular job, the work ends the moment you clock out on Friday afternoon. In this way, freelancers may feel compelled to work longer and longer hours. This was the case for me when I first started out. I’d put in significant hours on evenings and weekends, either working on actual projects or taking care of related tasks like administration and seeking out additional gigs.
What’s Your Time Worth to You?
Lately, I’ve started to dial down significantly on how much work I do in the evenings and on the weekends. For me, there is greater satisfaction to be enjoyed through some well-deserved leisure time than there is through the extra money that I may be earning during that time instead. My breaks have generally been too short and I’m working (no pun intended) on rectifying that.
Yes, adhering to a more “normal” work schedule may result in a slightly lower income level each month, but my time and my sanity are worth more to me. This past weekend, I didn’t work at all with the exception of putting up a couple of blog posts on Beyond the Rhetoric. Instead, I spent my time enjoying Dot Com Pho, playing Rock Band, and having a pleasant Father’s Day dinner with my dad. Those sure beat sitting in front of the computer.
Are you working too hard? Not hard enough? Do you obsess over your blog income all the way up to the time you go to bed?
Great post, Michael – I think we often want to work way too much, but our time would be better spent enjoying life as well. That’s what makes our work better 🙂
I’m working hard, but also resting “hard”. 😉
Interesting, good advice. Now I just have to get a job. 😛
Or you can try creating your own job. 🙂
One problem with cutting back on the hours you failed to mention is that it can get addicting to go out and have fun instead of work, if you’re not careful you might find yourself short on cash because you didn’t work enough!
I think I’m too frugal to ever let that happen. 🙂
Michael – I know where you are coming from. Early in my career I worked longer hours as well. But over time you learn when to cut back, etc.
Great post!
One of the many things I learned this week is time is more expensive than money. Make it count.
For me it’s an issue of becoming overwhelmed. I find making simple lists and using time-management help me feel successful after a given amount of time.
This is something that I struggle with regularly. It isn’t so much that I spend too much time at work, but I work the day job and then come home and have the desire to spend my time working on the blogs and writing in the pursuit of making that income source a larger piece of the pie.
Just this morning my wife commented to me that she felt I’ve been spending a little too much time online lately when I am home from work.
Creative indeed
when will you change this blog away from this barny pink purply shit.
But hey i still read it.
You might want to check your monitor. I read this site from several different computers (just depends on the day) and it seems to be more of a dark maroon/red to me.
One thing I realized with working on freelance. Before Im just taking it as a job but now Im being addicted to it.