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Today I’m back with another blog post and this time I am sharing my experiences of freelancing with a chronic illness. If you haven’t listened to the latest episode of The Bloglancer podcast, I talk about living with a chronic illness and being self-employed.
There are advantages and disadvantages of being self-employed. On the one hand, self-employed have a higher risk of chronic illness than those who work in an office. The self-employed also face more hurdles in getting the right treatment, as they are not entitled to any benefits.
Self-employed people with chronic illnesses may have to quit their businesses and find a job that provides things like sick pay.
However, self-employment is a great way to be your own boss and get to do what you want. You are in charge of your success and your work-life balance.
The freedom that comes with being self-employed also comes with the responsibility of having to find clients, manage your time, and keep up with finances.
Self-employed people often have to do more than just their job, which can be hard on family life.
There are some benefits that come with being self-employed such as the ability to choose when and where you work, the ability to make a living wage or more, and being able to have control over how you spend your time.
Starting a freelance career is not as easy as it sounds. You need to know what to do and what not to do to make a successful start. Here are some tips that can help you start your freelancing career on the right foot
Join a co-working space: Co-working spaces are a great way to work in an environment that is conducive to productivity. You get the benefits of working in a space that is filled with like-minded people who are also working on their own projects. I try to visit one of these a few times a month. Many have additional features-e.g. private conference rooms if you want to hold a meeting or even phone booths if you have to take a call from a client.
. Find your niche: what makes you stand out and what services can you offer? Make a list of skills you already have-whether from previous employment or things you just love to do.
Invest in yourself: I have invested in business training, a new laptop, and software that helps me create social media posts. You don’t need to spend a lot of money but it is worth considering putting a proportion of money you earn back into your business.
Build a portfolio: This is really great for those who want to make a living from freelance writing I use journo portfolio to help curate examples of my written work which I then easily share with potential clients.
Don’t give up: Freelancing with a chronic illness can be tricky but it really is worth it in my opinion. There are some great freelance Facebook groups you can join to get support from others too.
