I heard Blink 182’s All the Small Things for the first time in my cousin’s red Pontiac Sunfire. It pounded through the car’s sound system as we weaved through the McDonald’s parking lot. It was a hot summer day, and my only worry was whether I’d choose an M&M or an Oreo McFlurry. As we scooted into a parking spot, one of the song’s phrases oozed into the humid air:
Late night, come home.
Work sucks, I know.
That phrase stuck with me as we entered the air conditioned restaurant. What’s so bad about working? Why do adults seem to complain about it all the time? I vowed to my 10-year old self that I’d never grow up to be a crotchety adult who complained about their job. It couldn’t be that bad.
Fast forward through my high school and college years, during all of which I held steady part-time jobs. I never loved any of those jobs, but I didn’t loathe them. Then came December 2020, when I entered the world as a fresh graduate with two masters in the midst of a global pandemic. My partner and I moved across the country to an expensive city, and so I was desperate to find a full-time job. I threw my resume anywhere it would stick. I eventually landed at a nonprofit, where I focused on health communications. I burned out of the nonprofit world and decided to pursue corporate endeavors. I burned out there, too. My 10-year old self stared at me wide-eyed, eating her Oreo McFlurry in dismay. Why didn’t you keep your promise? I accepted the fact I had been young, dumb, and naive. I was incredibly ignorant toward the ways of the world. Tom DeLonge was onto something after all.
After exiting the corporate world, I took a good hard look at my life. What values do I want to embody? What excites me? What good can I contribute to this messed up world? Much introspection led me to freelancing’s door. Why helllllllo, you! This snazzy new idea waltzed into my mind and seeped into every pore. I always assumed freelancers equated to starving artists. The kind who smoke cigarettes for breakfast and have very chic, angular cheekbones. I now know this assumption is very wrong (and cringe of me). I dove headlong into research mode. I learned that freelancers are actually some of the bravest souls out there. Why? Because it takes guts to go against the grain. And people have been pursuing the freelance lifestyle for way longer than I’ve been alive. So why does it have so much stigma around it?
Enter the capitalist reality we find ourselves in, baby. A fundamental of capitalist culture is to prioritize profit over well-being. So, anytime someone goes against this notion, it creates friction in circles of people who are disapproving of this departure from the norm. I realized that freelancing frees you from having to mask through the dredges of an inauthentic (and, in the worst cases, toxic) company environment. The idea of being my own boss and shaping my work around my life intrigued the heck out of me. But how? Well, I’m still asking myself that question every day. The answer is that you have to figure it out as you go. And lean on the people who have come before you. Their knowledge is invaluable.
I am but a young sapling in the world of freelancing, so consider that fact as you marinate in my words. Here is what I’ve observed so far (and why I very likely won’t ever go back to the 9-5 world):
- I live more authentically. I don’t have to hype myself up to work on a project. I don’t have to pretend to care about something. Because I am choosing my work and my niche, I genuinely enjoy what I’m doing. Hours fly by as I do deep work. It’s invigorating. I never knew work could feel this way. It gives me purpose, and it makes me feel excited to get out of bed in the morning.
- I am healthier. Working primarily from home means I get to cook nourishing meals and spend time eating them. I am no longer hunched over a desk trying to minimize the sounds of my chewing to avoid irritating my coworkers.
- I am more stimulated. I learn new things every day. My brain is usually mush by the time evening rolls around, and I consider that a good thing!
- I have the power to use my time how I want. Goodbye to asking for PTO. I think life is too short to ask permission to do the things you want to do. I fiercely protect my free time, and I work hard to make sure I can balance my personal passions with my new freelancing lifestyle.
I began this post with a punk rock reference, so I’ll end it with one, too. Green Day’s Good Riddance brings my millennial self comfort when I’m unsure of the decisions I’ve made.
It’s something unpredictable
But in the end it’s right
I hope you had the time of your life
In the end, I want to live my best, most authentic life. And freelance writing has done that for me. It’s a challenging road with twists and turns, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.