Most people equate self-employment with being location independent, at least, if you’re running a virtual business. They also have this glamorous idea of what it looks like.
They think that it’s all about rolling out of bed whenever you want, getting to travel on your schedule, setting your own hours, never answering to anyone, and wearing pajamas all day.
While some of that is true (mostly the pajamas part), there is a definitive, not-so-glamorous side of being location independent, one which I’ve become acquainted with in my last two years of self-employment.
Way too many people make the leap from their 9-to-5 without realizing the very real downsides of being location independent, so I wanted to take a moment to cover it from my perspective.
Everyone has different experiences, so your mileage may vary here, but at the very least, you know what to expect so you can set appropriate boundaries for yourself beforehand.
Technology Can be a Pain
Let’s start this off with a bang and address technology. This is something you’re going to be dealing with a lot, whether you’re a freelance writer, graphic designer, social media manager, etc.
There are some days where technology just absolutely refuses to work with you, and you’ll want to scream and throw your computer out the window.
Maybe the internet decided to die at the most inconvenient time (like when you have a deadline to hit in the next hour). Maybe a program you use constantly decided not to run properly. Or maybe your hard drive decides to crash, and you forgot to back it up. Worse yet, maybe something completely out of your control, like a power outage, forces you to get creative.
I’ve encountered almost every one of these, and it’s not a fun time. At all. In a regular work environment, you probably have an IT department or support person you can throw all these things at (my apologies, IT staff), but when you’re self-employed, or in a different environment completely, you might not know how to solve your problem. Google can only go so far.
Solution: Save your work often, back it up, and consider hiring someone that can troubleshoot tech issues for you. At the very least, get familiar with the technology you’re dealing with so you’re not overwhelmed trying to tackle the issue yourself. And always have a backup plan!
Having the Right Tools to go “Mobile”
One of the biggest decisions I wrestled with in becoming location independent was whether or not to get a laptop.
You see, I had a PC that was perfectly powerful and capable of doing all the work I needed it to, but…I couldn’t exactly haul it along with me on flights.
Most of my relatives and friends don’t have computers that can run the programs I use efficiently, so I knew I had to invest in a decent laptop if I wanted to work while away from my home base.
While I don’t regret that purchase at all, that’s not where the tools stop. There are times when it would be amazing to have access to wifi all the time. Unfortunately, that comes with a cost, too.
You can buy a wifi hotspot or turn your phone into one, but you’re still going to have to pay for data. And if you’re doing video work like I am and downloading a bunch of files, you’ll blow through that quickly.
Another alternative, and one I prefer, is to simply search around for places that offer free wifi. When in doubt, Starbucks is always a good option, but scout out places beforehand (while you have a decent internet connection) so you know where to go for a change of scenery.
I’ll also add that it’s good to have a backup location regardless, because the power or your internet can go out unexpectedly at any time. Knowing that you can hop over to the library or the nearest coffee shop will save your sanity in these cases!
Last, but not least, another “issue” I ran into was where to save my files so that I can access them from any of my devices. Many of the files I work with are over a GB, which means emailing them is a pain (and sometimes not possible).
I recommend checking out tools like Google Drive and Dropbox to save your work to the cloud, but I also have an external hard drive as a backup because you can really never have enough redundancy in your business. (Or maybe I’m paranoid…)
Solution: Know when you need to invest in your business, and research your options before deciding to take full advantage of your location independence. You don’t want to end up in an area that has poor connectivity, leaving you stressed about how to get your work done. There are some great tools out there for freelancers – take advantage of them.
Location Independence Doesn’t Mean Traveling 24/7
At least, not for everyone. I hate to admit this, but I rarely get the opportunity to take advantage of being location independent…at least, in the sense that most people would expect.
Yes, I do get to travel whenever I want, without having to formally request days off. But that doesn’t mean I can just take off of work completely and brush everything off my plate. I still have deadlines to meet, unless I want to forgo earning any money.
I’ve been able to travel to see family and friends, but I still have to work during that time, whereas those with a traditional job can usually take time off and completely check out of their job.
While I’m very grateful for this, most people don’t understand that I still have to work and ask me why I’m glued to my computer, so there’s another challenge you might face when visiting people.
The closest I’ve gotten to being “location independent” is working from a coffee shop or a library. And maybe my couch and bed. For now. I’d love to explore actual travel while working, but based on my track record with 2-3 domestic day trips, I think I need to find more balance before I splurge on a trip somewhere.
Solutions: Outsource more, if possible. Outsourcing may mean loss of money initially, but if you can manage your workflow well enough, you should be able to work less while still earning an income you can live off of. You can also focus on growing when you have extra hands to help you.
Additionally, you can work ahead, which is what many of my freelance friends do. However, I’ve personally found that to be a quick way to burnout city. I worked over 60 hours in one week in preparation for taking a week off earlier this year, and I was also volunteering during that week. It was pretty much work after work, and then making up more work. If you’re going to work ahead, make sure you plan out time to relax!
Not Having a Set Schedule is a Double-Edged Sword
While being able to do whatever you want whenever you want sounds awesome, in reality, it’s much more difficult to balance work with “real-life” stuff.
It’s extremely easy to get distracted when you don’t have a boss looking over your shoulders. And if you’re running a virtual business, chances are, you’re online a lot. The internet is full of distractions.
That aside, perhaps you make plans with someone, or have an appointment, and you’re out longer than you expected. Or maybe you have kids, and your schedule revolves around them. It can be difficult to maintain focus when there are so many things around you vying for your attention.
Lastly, no matter what kind of schedule you set for yourself, you’ll most likely always have a never-ending to-do list. This might happen in a regular job, but because your income relies solely on your ability to get things done, you might feel more pressure to tackle it, and it might haunt you enough to where you forego plans.
My point is, self-employment and location independence don’t always give you the work-life balance you’re looking for. Unless…
Solution: You set boundaries with clients ahead of time and let them know when you’re available and when you’re not. You should also try and maintain a flexible workload so you don’t overwork yourself, going from deadline-to-deadline. It’s very easy to pile on the work and end up overwhelmed. I’ve seen many freelancers make this mistake (myself included), so it’s important to guard your schedule from the get-go.
It May Not be Glamorous, but the Grass Isn’t Always Greener
I know I might have come off as being ungrateful for making these “complaints,” but the thing is, there are downsides to every career and every work situation. That’s the point I’m trying to make here. That doesn’t mean I hate my situation, or that I wish I were back working in an office.
The grass isn’t always greener, no matter what it may look like online. I think a lot of people aspire to become self-employed because of what it looks like – or what people make it seem to be.
I always thought my self-employed friends were having the time of their lives being able to work whenever, but the truth is, social media rarely tells the entire story. It takes a lot of hard work to achieve the location independence lifestyle; it’s not always a life of luxury and leisure.
__________________
There are many people online trying to sell others on the freelance lifestyle, and I always like to be transparent about what my experiences have been so that you have a fuller picture of what it’s really like. However, as I said, these have been my experiences, and others are certainly better navigators when it comes to these challenges. If you want to make it work, you can!
Are you self-employed? Do you take advantage of your location independence, or have you found it difficult to do so? What are the pros and cons you’ve experienced?
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Good list Erin! I think we’ve dealt with most of these and the technology one drives me nuts. I guess it just reveals my impatience, but I hate dealing with a slow Internet connection as it just slows everything down. The other challenge I’ve seen is family members thinking because you’re traveling at the moment they think you’re just on vacation and don’t have to work. I wish that were the case, lol, but is definitely not the case most times.
Ugh, me too, John!! I am SO impatient when it comes to technology, haha. It’s one of those things that we take for granted and just expect it to work flawlessly since it does 90% of the time. That other 10% is horrible, though. And yes, totally agree on the family thing. It can be hard to explain it when they don’t understand that you still need to work even though you’re “away.”
Google Docs and Google Drive have been lifesavers for me! I’ve lost work in the past and had to re-do it. So the fact that Google constantly saves things in the cloud in real-time is great.
Oh no! Lost work is such a pain, but yes, that’s one of the reasons why I love Google Docs. I’ve implemented auto-saving/backups for Word, too, as some of my clients prefer to use it.
Great post! I can relate. Today my internet is painfully slow, so I sit and wait for the spinning circles. When we travel, we like to camp, so we’re typically stuck using data and, even then, the signal is typically pretty weak and the internet is slow.
Ahh, I cannot stand having slow internet (I’m spoiled). A lot of the time I need to download high-res images and video and it’s almost impossible with a poor connection. I would love to go camping, but that’s one of the things I’m actually worried about. I need to clear a weekend to go so I don’t have to work!
Thanks for covering this topic, Erin. I agree that the flexibility and independent of working for yourself or working from home can be over-glamorized at times. There are pros and cons to most work environments and situations, including being location independent.
Exactly, Kalie. So many people don’t realize those pros and cons when they’re in an office thinking the grass is greener, but there are times I miss that “work/office” environment as it allows you to focus more. Meanwhile, people look at me like I’m crazy for wanting to leave the house!
Thanks for talking about the realities of location independence. I still feel like I have bosses…editors (when I freelance write) and customers (blog readers). Not complaining, just my perspective. :D
It amazes me how many clients still pay with paper checks, so the biggest hassle for me is getting payments.
You aren’t coming across as “ungrateful” – and you’re not complaining. You’re just telling it like it is. I think it takes enormous self-discipline and initiative to be self-employed. And you need to apply good judgment – way more than someone following the company rules – as you navigate your way through constantly changing ways of doing business. A good article to read for anyone considering letting go of the 9-5.
Hello Erin
Great post! I can relate to all those points you brought up. I definitely agree that most people just don’t have the “whole story” to working online. How much dedication and discipline it takes when you don’t have the big boss looking over your shoulder. Great read thanks for sharing
Very great post! My internet at home is intermittent sometimes because we live in the country. Sometimes I go to our local library as they have fast wi-fi.
Adjusting to a schedule has been tough for me at times, self-employment has made me addicted to e-mail & the internet in ways I wasn’t when I was employed.
Great post Erin. We always hear about all the great things about being location independent, but nothing’s perfect. Although as someone that’s been on both sides of the fence, I’m definitely looking forward to being completely self-employed and location independent again :)
Exactly right there are pros and cons to every situation. I kind of do a hybrid since I work a full time regular ol’ 9-5 job but do some freelancing and blogging on the side. And when there are internet issues and whatnot it drives me crazy. Can’t imagine how it would feel if I was fully self employed!
But if you can pull off being truly location independent, working from anywhere in the world, that seems like a sweet deal.