Post #4 – Work / life balance vs the stress of uncertainty
This really is the big trade off. Nobody can make this decision for you. I think we’re probably all on a continuum from those who are entirely relaxed about having no work lined up in a few weeks, to those who would find that prospect absolutely terrifying.
I suspect you will only really know where you are on the scale if you try it.
But remember, it’s not permanent or irreversible. You can keep the job alerts for permanent roles coming in and keep asking yourself whether the freelance life is working for you.
I will say that, as parent to a boy who has just started secondary school, the ability to attend concerts and sports days and – even more significantly – to take August off for the last few years has been a real boon. And smaller things like going to the gym in the middle of the day or the Test match on a Friday in quieter times.
I think the worry about where the work will come from does reduce a little over time, but I know that I’m only as good as my last assignment. Overall, I’m glad I took the plunge 6 years ago and will keep it going for a while yet if I can.
If you have got something from this short blog, there are three more on my website, dealing with starting up, finding clients, working with others and other things which may be helpful.
If you’d like to have a chat about freelancing and whether it may be a good route for you, drop me a line and we can arrange to have a chat.
joelvoyseyfundraising.uk 