Are you considering freelancing?

Myth 1: You will be lonely Think if you are freelance you need to work in isolation? Not necessarily. Often, freelancers are still in an office setting, working within a team. Many are invited to work for companies in their offices, or they get to travel with a broader team to work on a project. And if you don’t like to work from home, you could find co-working spaces near you. These have the feel of shared office, but with other people working on their own projects. "Freelancing is not just for introverts or people who want to be alone – you can be social and dynamic!" says Rosie, a freelance private science tutor. "I get to interact with lots of different people in lots of different environments," she adds. "It was what attracted me to freelancing in the first place." And if you're feeling a bit isolated, don't be afraid to ask for help - perhaps working with a mentor, your client, or your peers to collaborate and find solutions to problems.Myth 2: You’re the boss, so you can do whatever you like As a freelancer, in theory you work when you want to, with who you want to. However, never forget you also need to find and secure that work on your own. Managing your time, workload, contracts, tax returns, and finances is not necessarily easy. "Being your own boss is great, but it also means you can’t complain to anybody else," explains Rosie. You’ll need to be disciplined with yourself, set goals and meet them. "Not every client will be the same and you will have to be flexible, at least when starting out and building your experience, contacts and options," adds Ben, who freelances in marketing. So keep an eye on the procrastination and dial up the flexibility.Myth 3: You can never take a break Ok, so you’re not likely to work a typical 9-5 as a freelancer. And, because your holidays won’t be paid for, you may feel that you can never stop working. EVER! This is not true, or healthy. It’s all about managing your time and income well enough to allow for breaks. Those breaks are also essential to refresh your mind and allow your creativity to flow. Ben explains: "I have to get my work done and deliver on time, but I can also take the occasional afternoon off as a rest when I need it. It’s a balance of freedom and responsibility." Your time may be restricted to your clients' timetable, your workload can vary from week to week, including some long hours, so you’ll need to strike a balance and take breaks when you can.