Going Full-Time: Four Things You’ll Miss From the Day Job
Posted January 26, 2009 in Business, Lifestyle 34 Comments »
For many of us, it’s that moment we’ve been longing for. It’s what we’ve worked towards for months or years. It’s the reason we’ve been coming home from a busy day and freelancing in the evenings, or at the weekends.
Quitting the day job. Going full-time. Striking out on our own. You’re not going to miss the office for a moment … right?
Chances are, you’ll find yourself looking back wistfully on certain occasions. Here are a few things you might be missing, and how you could replace them as a freelancer:
What Happened to the Office Chatter?
One of the first things you’ll notice as a full-time freelancer is the blissful peace and quiet. Unless you’re a real introvert, though, you’ll find that there’s time when you’d like a bit of company (other than the cat). Being cooped up in a home office (or, more likely, at a teeny desk in the spare bedroom) can make you feel stir-crazy after a while. Even if you have a partner or family, you’re likely to have times when you’d quite like to talk to someone else.
How to replace the office chatter:
One easy replacement for the office watercooler is Twitter; it’s a great way to casually connect with people in the same field as you (and people in completely different ones!) and it provides a nice stream of “background chatter” to your day. It can’t replace face-to-face contact, though. How about signing up for a class at your local college? I’m taking a part time MA in creative writing, and finding it a great way to meet interesting people and to build up my skills at the same time.
When Is Home Time?
If you were freelancing round a day job, chances are that you got pretty good at switching off at 5pm and going home – and forgetting about the office until 9am the following morning. Life as a freelancer is pretty different, as you may well have found. When you love your work and when you’ve got a lot invested in your business, it’s difficult to down tools and switch off. You find yourself checking email “just in case” at 9pm, then finding something “urgent” that you decide to reply to there and then.
How to replace home time:
If your freelancing requires a computer, set a “shut down” time – and make it at least an hour before you want to go to bed. Better yet (I’m not this disciplined yet, I must confess), try switching off before dinner. Find something relaxing to do at the end of the day – perhaps escaping into a novel, taking a long bath, or having a proper conversation with a family member for the first time in a while…
Where Are My Subordinates?
Unless you were just getting started in your former life as an employee, chances are that you had someone to delegate tasks to. Now that you’re a freelancer, there’s just you. Unless you can bribe your kids/partner to help out, you’ll be the one fixing the printer when it has a paper jam, coaxing the wireless network out of its hissy fit, and doing all the tedious but rather useful things like invoicing clients. Sometimes, it’ll feel like you’re spending more time on trivia than on actual work.
How to replace your subordinates:
Where possible, get things running smoothly – even if it requires some money. If you have constant hardware/software “Issues” that eat up time and energy each day, get them sorted out. With low-level tasks, look into employing an assistant. That could be something as simple as paying your partner to sort the books, or giving your kids some extra pocket money in return for a hand with the filing. You could also look into outsourcing to a virtual assistant, if most of your work is done online.
Who Will Tell Me What To Do?
Most of us, when leaving the day job, aren’t exactly devastated to be leaving our boss behind. Indeed, for some people, the main attraction of freelancing is the free part – being able to do what we want, when we want. Unfortunately, this can often lead to:
- Getting distracted and procrastinating (and feeling guilty as a result)
- Or… Overworking. Demanding an unhealthy level of productivity and perfectionism
Some freelancers even manage to see-saw crazily between these two extremes. No wonder there’s the occasional moment when you wish someone else was sorting it all out, when you just want to be told what to do…
How to replace the boss:
Take a look at your typical day, imagining that you are your own boss. Are you expecting your employee (i.e. yourself) to work ridiculously hard, from waking up till bedtime? Or are you turning a blind eye while your employee spend the bulk of the day playing World of Warcraft? Figure out some realistic guidelines for how much you need to be working. And take the “boss’s eye” view of the longer term: set priorities, don’t just rush to deal with things as they become urgent.
What Did You Miss When You Went Full-Time?
The one thing I miss most from the day job that just can’t be adequately replaced: free tea and coffee (and someone else bringing the milk). If anyone’s got a good tip on replacing this one then let me know…
What do you miss most from your day job? How have you replaced it in your freelance life?
About the author: Ali is a freelance blogger, writer (see www.aliventures.com for details) and a post-graduate creative writing student.
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34 Comments
Gnorb
January 26th, 2009 at 11:14 amCurrently, I’m working as a writer (employed + freelance; haven’t struck out on my own yet). However, I’m also working from home full time: my home is 4 hours from my office. Most of these things are true for anyone working from home already, so if you’re looking at going solo, why not ask your employers to let you telecommute? It’ll serve as a great trial run, and at the very least give you a feel for how thins will be like when you’re doing things by your lonesome. Of course, not every employer will be savvy to this, but if you can make a strong enough argument that you can do your job just as capably from the house, they might give you the go ahead.
Susan Johnston
January 26th, 2009 at 11:16 amHealth insurance and the occasional free lunch! Still, I wouldn’t trade those things for the freedom I now enjoy as a full time freelancer. Great post!
LGR
January 26th, 2009 at 11:40 amI can tell you want I don’t miss. I don’t miss going to an office everyday where for the most part people are just putting time in. I don’t miss freezing to get to the office, or the traffic or the commute. And working from home allows me to enjoy my daughter coming and visiting me in my office to show me her latest creation with a huge smile on her face!
Renee
January 26th, 2009 at 11:59 amI never thought I’d say this, but I miss the structure. I don’t miss someone breathing down my neck, but I do miss having a set schedule. It’s hard to keep one on your own.
Alison Harrison
January 26th, 2009 at 12:04 pmThanks for this post.
Occasionally it can be difficult to stay positive as a freelancer but this list reminded me what I miss about my corporate jobs- absolutely nothing! Nada, zip, zero, not one teeny tiny thing. Just checking around to be sure….nope, I do not miss anything at all about working in a corporate office.
You just made my day, reminded me how lucky I am and fired me up with a big bunch of productive energy for my working day. Thank you!
Dorothy - Chandler Graphic Designer
January 26th, 2009 at 1:21 pmI’m a graphic designer and the one and only thing I missed is not having the group of other designers to bounce ideas off of. I realized after a few years of not having that I needed to bring it back somehow. So I attended some mixers and networking events to find other designers that I connected with. A few of use really hit it off and decided to create our own group so we can maintain that creative pool of ideas. It’s been really great and not only do we give creative feedback, we’re also there to give each other business advise.
I guess I really don’t miss anything after all :)
Keith Johnson
January 26th, 2009 at 2:04 pmWell, back in October 2007 I got downsized due to high gas prices (was working for an Aviation Software company, as you know, several airlines went into bankruptcy), so I was at home for six months until my current job appeared. It was both a nice rest and also a chance to do things on my own terms and time. The key to freelance or free time is to make yourself a schedule, and do not deviate from it! Your schedule is your benchmark toward progress, success, etc. All The Best, Keith Johnson
Laura Spencer
January 26th, 2009 at 3:01 pmGreat post!
There can be a real culture shock when you move from an office to your home.
For me the thing that I missed most was face-to-face interaction with peers.
Steve Atkinson
January 26th, 2009 at 4:56 pm“office chatter”
Here’s another way to help with office chatter, join and become active with your local Chamber of Commerce. I’m not only a member of our local, but also a board member and I try to get to as many of their breakfasts, lunches, training classes, open house and ribbon cuttings as possible.
Not only is it a great way to network, it gives you that lost bit of companionship that sometimes is lost. And depending on how you develop that relationship, it can also be used as a sounding board for new and unusual ideas.
“Schedule”
There really is no reason that you can’t develop the same work schedule when you work for yourself as you do when working for someone else. Set that schedule and follow it. In the long run, you’ll probably be gald you did.
Mason Hipp
January 26th, 2009 at 5:39 pm@Steve — I’m really active in our local chamber. It doesn’t make me a huge amount of money, but it is a really great way to meet like-minded individuals and get to know your local business community.
Great post, Ali :-)
Nicole LaMarco
January 26th, 2009 at 6:49 pmI have been full-time for 7 years now, so it is difficult to remember what it was like to work outside the home. I miss being able to work without distractions or interruptions from kids. Working from home is so difficult when you have 2 kids. Luckily for me they are both in school full-time now, but there are plenty of days off and vacations. I can’t believe I complained about school when I went! If only daycare was more affordable…
Melissa Donovan
January 26th, 2009 at 8:26 pmThe only thing I really miss is the chatter. I enjoyed the social interaction of the office at most of the jobs I’ve had, and even though Twitter and Facebook come in handy, it’s just not quite the same. Sometimes I miss home time too, but at least I can control and create that (if I just put my mind to it).
ArcherTC
January 27th, 2009 at 6:23 amAlthough developing my own company on the side, I continue to work for an employer full-time. A woman I know who is only working as a freelancer told me that she envied my having an office. Definitely a matter of “the grass is greener…” ;-)
Ali Hale
January 27th, 2009 at 8:05 am@LDR and @Alison – Good to hear I cheered you both up :-) I have to agree that there are an awful lot of things I completely DON’T miss about office life, like cycling through the rain to get there at 8.30am …
@Melissa – I miss home time too! Especially the 5pm feeling on a Friday. You’re right, though, it’s something you can recreate with a bit of effort/imagination. I’ve organised a creative writing group from 3pm – 5pm on Fridays and it makes a nice end to the week.
Jean Wise
January 27th, 2009 at 10:56 amI love the freedom that comes with freelancing. Your post really labeled for me some of the distractions and issues I felt but had not realized. Great information and a new perspective for me. Thanks
Jean Wise
http://www.jeanwise.org
Isabel Gil Pereira
January 27th, 2009 at 11:09 amI really miss to go out for lunch with my colleagues. Nowadays I’m making two things. During my lunch time I turn on the TV and/or phone home and speak 30min with my family. This was the way I’ve found to don’t drive crazy alone. I’m a VERY extrovert and communicative person and is not easy for me to don’t be speaking all the time with someone, mostly share my ideas.
I miss very much BRAINSTORMING and I’m making it nowadays with some ex-colleagues of mine via Gmail chat. I send them a printscreen (or something like that) and I ask: “What do you think about that colour?” :)
I miss as well my own time. I work from home and still like this my flat sometimes is messy and I don’t have time to take care of myself and look at the mirror… For this my solution is my boyfriend that arrives home everyday around 7:30pm. From that moment, just close to a deadline I continue in front of the screen.
Good luck freelancers!!
Johnnie
January 27th, 2009 at 11:22 amI worked in the district offices of two legislators for fifteen years. Though I enjoyed the work, I love being home and the freedom of my freelance schedule. Our youngest is spending his senior year at home in a self-paced program and we have our little rituals (”Hey, lunch lady! What’re we having to eat?” He’s really not that obnoxious.)
And I get my “chatting fix” with the back-and-forth emails of my online writing group.
Enjoyed the post and thank Jeanie for sending me the link.
Nancy
January 27th, 2009 at 11:44 amHow to replace the office chatter? Join networking groups. By making connections to enhance your business you will meet people with whom you can socialize on a business level. The Chamber of Commerce, BNI and Rotary are excellent ways to promote your company plus find the social interaction you may crave.
It’s also important to maintain a relationship with your mentor and to be a mentor to someone else working on their skills. This gives you the opportunity to bounce ideas off someone you respect and share your highs and lows.
Johnny
January 27th, 2009 at 11:47 amI guess the boggest thing you miss is the camaraderie. A little bit after I started freelancing, I worked out of a shared office with other freelancers. That keeps you out of the home and socializing plus keeps your sanity. I highly recommend it to any freelancer.
John Lister
January 27th, 2009 at 12:31 pmI somewhat miss the concept of office chatter. However, having spent 6 years working in the same office (with virtually zero staff turnover), I sure don’t miss sitting there in January already knowing word-for-word the arguments people would be having in February!
Craig
January 27th, 2009 at 2:13 pmGood post, as usual. I don’t freelance (yet), but I am trying to start a side business in writing and editing.
You said I would more than likely be sitting *at a teeny desk in the spare bedroom* — which is exactly where I do sit when I work from home one day a week.
Man, you guys are good.
Devon Ellington
January 27th, 2009 at 2:59 pmI’ve been a freelancer my entire life, except for three years spent at a publishing company, and various temp assignments. I’ve always been miserable working on someone else’s schedule — I like to create every day as it comes.
I meet all my deadlines, I just don’t like to be on anyone else’s clock.
Rob Di Marco
January 30th, 2009 at 8:13 amFor me, the thing I missed most was surprise cake. You know when you walk in the kitchen of your office and there is just a half-sliced cake sitting there.
“Who brought cake?” you ask as you slice yourself a piece.
I miss surprise cake.
writer
January 30th, 2009 at 1:38 pmI miss everything you’ve mentioned!!! I miss the office chatter. I miss having people telling me what to do. I miss being forced to come to office at 8am every morning, getting stuck in traffic jam, seeing the morning sky, listening to the radio chatter. I miss having free air-con, office desktop computer. I miss discussing with the editor and colleague about our story ideas. I miss having lunch with colleagues. I miss having my own phone because I can’t afford to have my own line yet. I miss going home when the sun is setting, knowing that I will not think about work until next morning instead instead of thinking of it as a wicked cycle as before. Get a job already, you say. No, I didn’t come this far to give up. So, my complains are invalid. There you go.
Liz Argall
February 4th, 2009 at 8:49 pmI miss the airconditioning! Australia’s one big heatwave right now and I’m spending far too much time in mid-high 30s Celcius/ high 90s-high100s Fahrenheit.
Katy Allgeyer
March 15th, 2009 at 11:10 pmI think when I first went freelance as a designer in 1992 after working for big branded name fashion corporations I felt a part of my identity was missing and that was a surprise to me. I had been a workaholic for so long putting all my energy into the full time job that when I stepped back to do my own thing, it was not only liberating but scary at the same time. I had to “detox” in a way, to get back to knowing what I wanted to express and to do that I needed to remember who I was again before I was part of a huge conglomerate. I would say be prepared for that…if you’ve been totally immersed in your full time job you may feel a bit lost at first when you take the leap to freelance.
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