The “free” in freelancing.

Going freelance has become somewhat of an introduction line to a good “success story” nowadays. I recently discussed this on Instagram, but here it is again: I don’t believe that being a freelancer, business owner, or god forbid, entrepreneur (nothing against people who identify as such; it’s just that this particular word sends shivers down my spine) should be as glorified as it currently is.

With all the top-tier phenomena such as girl bossing, hustle culture, the fetishization of overworking, people one-upping each other over whose calendar is fuller, and a society increasingly obsessed with overachieving, I believe it is more important than ever to strip these things down.

And don’t get me wrong—I am not trying to take away anyone's personal crown. I am surrounded by freelancers and business owners, some of whom are doing very well for themselves. These are some of the most motivated, driven, and wonderful people I know and I do think everyone deserves to congratulate themselves on their achievements. I am not here to rain on that parade.
However, I do want to acknowledge that regardless of the structure of work you find yourself in, work is still work.

So - now that we’re cleared up what freelancing is NOT (at least in my eyes) let's discuss what it IS.

To me, freelancing means trading stability for flexibility and guaranteed structures for spontaneity. And I hope I don’t need to insult anyone’s intelligence by saying that I obviously understand jobs are different, and not every “9 to 5” is the same. However, I do believe that the most important thing freelancing has brought me is the freedom to decide when I’ve had enough.

The concept of “enoughness” gets a bad rep if you ask me. We are constantly bombarded with self-improvement content online, told not to settle, and in general, we’re just swimming in “betterment” porn. Be it status, money, connections—you name it—we’re probably taught to want more of it. There’s nothing wrong with that. But I wish someone had told me earlier that it’s okay not to always strive for more. Personally, I’ve found great power and satisfaction in being able to say: I don’t need to do any more than I am right now. I don’t need to earn more money, put in more hours, or reach any additional milestones.

That’s not to say I’ll never want to move on or move toward something else—or even something "more." It just means that I refuse to be a part of that hamster wheel.

For me, deciding not to go for a stable, full-time job right now has to do mostly with that—the power to decide not necessarily when I work, but how much I work, and how much time I want to spend on other things: personal relationships, hobbies, fitness, etc.

There was a time in the beginning when I felt guilty if I had nothing to do or unexpectedly found myself with a free day. How messed up is that? We’re programmed to believe that a full-time job means 40 working hours a week or more, so when we do any less, we feel like we’re underperforming. Well... it took me a while to deprogram that particular wiring.

Being a freelancer has allowed me to take back pride in my free time and to accept even the most spontaneous coffee invitations. Granted, those things don’t happen all the time, but every now and then, it happens on a random Tuesday, and I think—wow! This wouldn’t be possible if I hadn’t built a work structure that allows me flexibility and freedom.

And sure, it comes with doing your own taxes and sorting out your own insurance and retirement plans, but I truly feel that freelancing allows me to live a life of abundance. Because while money is important, I’m privileged to be able to prioritize other things alongside it too—like free time and the people in my life.

In the end, how you choose to structure your work life isn’t always entirely up to you, and I fully recognize the privilege I have in being able to do so at this time in my life. While freelancing isn’t always glamorous, and I don’t want to portray it as something it’s not, I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to measure my success differently—not by numbers, constant hustle, or endless work engagements, but by a balanced approach to all aspects of my life. It’s about redefining what work means to me. After all, everything is good in moderation—even moderation itself.