Ditching the 9-5 grind sounds dreamy, right? That's what I thought when I broke free from the shackles of my desk job and started freelancing. With the newfound freedom, my calendar was my playground—I could juggle work and play like a pro.
Or so I thought...
I skipped a crucial step. I forgot to set boundaries and let my clients in on my work hours.
I may as well have stuck a neon sign in my front yard that said "24/7 Availability."
You can guess what happened next.
My nonexistent boundaries had me bound to my keyboard round-the-clock. Clients got comfy, expecting me to reply to emails sent at midnight like it was no biggie.
So, I hit pause and trimmed down my online hours. I gave clients the 411 on my schedule—and voilà—my sanity and free time were restored.
Even if it seems like overkill, lock down your schedule and manage expectations from the get-go. It will allow you to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
About Susan Rov
Susan traded cocktails and lattes for words that move. As a copywriter on a mission to end boring, she brightens brands and makes an impact. Number 463 on the list of fiction readers left standing, you'll find Susan at sunrise—running, writing, and wondering how to change the world next. That drive led her to become a founding team member of BRIL.LA.