I’ve been torn for a while on whether or not I want to continue with the freelance work and have my freedom or if I want to rejoin the 9-5 world with what everyone else terms a “real job.” My current job, that many people tend to view as playing on a computer all day and having fun (which in one aspect is true. I love the work I do and for the most part it’s always fun!). I work hard, I have multiple clients and I have a paycheck. In my opinion, I have a real job. I go on interviews from time-to-time, only to find out I’d be cutting my salary in half if I took an office job. What would I be gaining if I took a full-time job with a company? Benefits (paying benefits out of my pocket currently is no fun), paid time off (freelance world you don’t work, you don’t get paid) and co-workers who don’t live across the country. Another added bonus that may seem silly is the ability to wear my business casual clothes again (I’m currently typing this is plaid pajama bottoms and an old t-shirt from high school). The benefits of freelance work are obvious – flexibility, no rush hour traffic, the ability to be my own boss and I’m essentially in control of my income.
While researching a freelance project, I came across an article on FitSugar entitled The Dangerous Effects of Sitting at Your Desk. This article got me thinking. While I don’t have an office or a cubicle, I essential have a desk job. Although my desk can be virtually anywhere. Sometimes it’s my desk, my bed, my couch or even my dining room table.
Here’s what I do to combat my “desk job”:
- I brainstorm while walking around. If I’ve got a little writer’s block, pop my headphones in and wander (or dance) around my house. Ideas come to me while listening to the strangest songs!
- I split my day up. If I have errands to run, I’ll work in the morning, run errands and then sit back down to work.
- Crunches while listening to interview transcripts to get an idea of where a client wants to go with a project.
- I walk around my house during conference calls.
- Eat lunch standing up.
- Replacing my desk chair with an exercise ball.
