As a full-time freelancer since late 2017—with experience dating back to college—I've navigated countless challenges and triumphs. Each client, goal, and year delivers fresh insights. Freelancing isn't easy, but it safeguards my greatest asset: freedom to work when, where, and how much I choose. The rewards have far outweighed the trade-offs, unlocking experiences I once deemed impossible.
If you're eyeing a freelance career, here are five hard-earned lessons from my journey as content editor for SUCCESS magazine and Moyens.net.
1. Set working hours that align with your energy.
Structure and flexibility are both essential. Early on, it's tempting to push boundaries—sleeping in, lingering over park lunches, or napping post-meal. Or the opposite: fearing complacency and grinding late into the night.
Neither extreme serves you well. Avoid overworking to the point of burnout or drifting into chaos. A solid routine boosts productivity and well-being. After testing various schedules, here's what suits me:
This approach maximizes my output while honoring my rhythms.
2. Build structure, but listen to your body and adapt.
More A-type than laid-back, structure comes naturally to me—but flexibility doesn't. My old routine was 'work until time runs out.' Over time, I discovered my peak: mornings before 3 p.m., when focus fades.
Powering through from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. nonstop led to eyestrain, headaches, and irritability—plus missing daylight joys. Now, I design around energy pockets: post-lunch naps to combat drowsiness, short bursts of deep work punctuated by restorative breaks. Your ideal may differ—experiment, then refine.
3. Track finances closely, but remember to live.
Goal-setting spreadsheets are my jam. Currently, I'm aggressively tackling student loans in three years, alongside savings and retirement targets. Factoring in bills and self-employment taxes allocates most income upfront—empowering, yet restrictive if overdone.
I once logged every expense, squeezing out waste. But life demands spontaneity. Balance tracking with 'fun money'—unjudged funds for simple pleasures, even $20 monthly. Drawn from trusted financial coaches I've covered, this ensures fiscal discipline without stifling joy.
4. Recognize that every dollar has a hidden cost.
Freelancing's allure: endless gigs. As a writer, pitches abound. I calculate my hourly worth precisely, so leisure like napping or beach volleyball registers as 'lost' income.
2019 marked my peak earnings in Hawaii—dream realized. Yet summer brought emotional lows; I worked 4 a.m. to 6 p.m., haunted by deadlines, guilty over hobbies. New clients meant cash but eroded free time, mental health, and vitality.
Lesson learned: prioritize comfort over excess. In 2020, I shifted to 'enough to thrive, then recharge.' Tweaked spending enabled travel, laughter, and cherished memories—priceless.
5. Cultivate hobbies with zero practical payoff.
Five years immersed in writing and self-improvement—goals, accountability, productivity hacks—taught me their limits. Personal growth tempts measuring every minute against progress; downtime feels wasteful.
Near-burnout revealed truth: wholeness includes purposeless pursuits you adore. Ditch productivity podcasts for romance novels guilt-free. Scribble unmarketable stories privately. Craft a birdhouse for mastery’s sake, not profit.
These low-stakes outlets flex creativity sans pressure. Fail spectacularly? Pivot. Suck but love it? Embrace the laughter. They round out your humanity.
By Cecilia Meis
Cecilia Meis is the content editor for SUCCESS magazine and Moyens.net. A recent Missouri School of Journalism graduate from Kansas City, she adores sand volleyball, fresh stationery, and burnt-end platters.
