8 Things You Should Know About Freelancers (That No One Talks About) #ShoutoutSaturday
Freelancers: the mythical creatures who work in pajamas, make boat loads of money in two hour workdays and have so much free time that they’re basically always on vacation, right?
Wrong.
If you’ve ever wondered what freelancers really do all day or assumed they’re just chilling at home “between gigs." From unstable income to zero boundaries and clients who think exposure is currency, freelancing is equal parts freedom and chaos. If you have ever looked at a freelancer and thought, “Wow, they have so much free time!” or “Must be nice not having a real job,” allow me to introduce you to the real freelance experience. Yes, we can technically work from anywhere, but that mostly means we’re working from everywhere; including our desks, or the bed, or at the dinner table, or during our vacation, and sometimes even in our dreams. Sure, we don’t have a boss in the traditional sense, but we do have clients. And unlike a single boss at a full-time job, freelancers get the privilege of juggling multiple bosses at once. And it is important to remember that each 'boss' comes with different demands, deadlines, and urgent last-minute revisions.
And let’s talk about that so called financial freedom. Some months, we might feel like kings, making six figures and treating ourselves to something nice (like…paying rent on time). Other months? We stare into the abyss of our empty bank account, wondering if exposure can truly pay the bills.
Whether you are a fellow freelancer nodding in pain-laughter or someone trying to understand why your freelance friend never replies to your quick messages during the day, here are the top things you need to know about the reality of freelancing life.
Ah, freelancing, the dream job where we wake up at noon, work for an hour in our pajamas, and then spend the rest of the day binge-watching shows while money magically appears in our accounts. At least, that is what a lot of people seem to think. Reality? A lot less glamorous.
So, before you assume your freelancer friend/family is just hanging out at home doing nothing or has endless time to grab lunch on a Tuesday, here are a few things you should know.
1. You’re Always Free, Right?
One of the most common myths about freelancers is that we’re always available; for anything and everything. The assumption being “we don’t have a real job.” Since we work from home (or cafés, or hill stations, or the beach), people assume our schedules are flexible enough to squeeze in weekday brunches, errands, and last-minute hangouts.Here’s the spoiler: We’re NOT free. We’re just not commuting to an office.
Freelancers manage multiple clients, meetings, invoices, taxes, deadlines and sometimes all of the above in one day. We wear all the hats required to make things work. We have to be the writer, the designer, the accountant, the admin, the therapist (mostly for ourselves)… which means our calendars fill up fast. We usually end up eating our meals at our worktable while checking emails and reading documents. Taking a spontaneous break for a lunch with family often means making up for it with a work sprint that goes past 12 midnight.
So next time you say, “But you can just do it later, right?”, please try to remember, if we don’t work, we don’t get paid. And if we keep skipping work to socialize, we might just end up permanently free and broke.
2. You Must Be Making a Lot, Right?
Here is another freelancing myth that just won’t die: that we make loads of money by working maybe a couple hours a day. While it is true that some freelancers earn well and do have flexible schedules, the full picture is a lot more complicated.The reality is that the freelance income is wildly inconsistent. One month, we might hit six figures and the next, we are breaking out our piggy-banks and refreshing our inbox waiting for a client to “confirm the project.” There are no guaranteed paycheck, no paid leave, and definitely no HR department to chase overdue payments.
Yes, some of us charge a premium rates. Yes, we hustle constantly for every rupee. But freelancing isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme that most people think it to be. It is a high risk, high stress, do-it-yourself kind of job. If stability is your thing, freelancing will keep you up at night (and not just because you’re working with clients in five different time zones).
3. It Must Be Great to Not Have a Boss
One of the biggest misconceptions about freelance life is that we are “free from the boss.” While that is technically true that we don’t report to a single manager. But in reality? Every client becomes a boss with their own deadlines, expectations, and “just one quick edit” requests at 11 PM.Freelancers don’t have a boss… we have multiple bosses. And sometimes, they are way worse than any corporate micromanager. They ghost, delay payments, change briefs mid-project, or expect fast turnarounds because they think you’re not doing anything else.
Sure, we have more autonomy. But with that comes juggling priorities, client personalities, and self-management. This honestly requires more patience than dealing with one annoying boss in a regular 9 to 5.
4. Must Be Nice to Work in Your Pajamas All Day
The whole freelancers work in pajamas all day trope sounds cute until you realize that wearing pajamas while working usually means your brain stays in sleep mode too.Yes, some of us do work in comfy clothes and sometimes we do not even comb our hair in the mornings, but freelancing isn’t a Netflix and nap lifestyle. Just like a ‘real job’, we have to deal with client meetings, strategy sessions, deadlines, and tasks that demand focus. And trust us, showing up to a Zoom call in PJs isn’t exactly a confidence booster.
Most seasoned freelancers swear by getting dressed for work, even if it’s just swapping to specific pajama bottoms for real pants. Because when your bed, your desk, and your fridge are all within five steps of each other, you need every trick to stay productive and professional.
5. Boundaries? What Boundaries?
One of the less glamorous truths about freelancing is how easy it is lose balance and the complete and utter collapse of work-life balance is just a domino away. When your home becomes your office, boundaries go out the window. Suddenly, replying to emails at midnight or taking client calls during dinner becomes absolutely normal.Friends and family often don’t help either. They assume that because you “work from home,” you’re always reachable. But in reality, freelancers constantly battle distractions, irregular hours, and an inability to fully switch off.
Setting boundaries as a freelancer isn’t a nice-to-have. It is about survival. Because without them, burnout shows up dressed like a cozy blanket and a to-do list that never ends.
6. You Can Just Say No to Bad Clients, Right?
In theory, freelancing means choosing your clients. In reality? Bills exist.Saying “no” to bad clients sounds empowering, and sometimes, it is. But during dry spells, when income is low or rent is due, freelancers often take on work they know will be painful just to keep the cash flowing. Red flags get ignored. Payment delays become part of the job.
The luxury of turning down bad clients only comes with financial stability. Until then, many freelancers juggle tricky personalities, unrealistic timelines, and underpaid gigs; all the while smiling politely and hoping for better next month.
7. Vacations Are a Lie
You know what’s more stressful than working? Not working… when you’re a freelancer.Taking a vacation sounds simple enough. Just unplug and relax, right? Except, freelancers don’t get paid leave. No work equals no income. And unless you’ve prepped content, scheduled emails, briefed clients, and wrapped up all deadlines in advance, your “vacation” will be haunted by work guilt and Slack notifications.
Even on the usual national holidays, freelancers can be found checking emails “just in case,” fielding urgent edits, or mentally calculating how much this break is costing them in lost billables.
So yes, we can take a vacation. But it often comes at the price of peace, pay, or both.
8. Despite Everything, We Actually Love It
Here’s the final twist in the tale: despite the chaos, the hustle, the unpredictable income, and the never-ending client emails… we freelancers absolutely love what we do.We love the creative freedom, the flexibility to work from anywhere, and the ability to build something that’s ours. We love choosing the projects we care about and avoiding the politics of traditional workplaces. Even on our worst days, we know we traded the 9 to 5 grind for a shot at something more meaningful.
Freelancing isn’t perfect. It’s messy, demanding, and sometimes downright exhausting. But for those of us who choose this path, it’s still worth it.
Every single time.
If you have read this far and still think freelancers are just glorified couch potatoes living off passive income and good vibes… Congratulations! you have clearly been talking to our relatives.
Here’s the truth: freelancing is not some magical loophole in capitalism where people get rich while binge-watching Netflix in pajamas. It is unpredictable, unglamorous, and frequently exhausting. It demands strategy, self-discipline, resilience, and the occasional emotional breakdown over an unpaid invoice. We juggle deadlines, pitching to new clients, chasing the old ones for payments, and somehow still get labelled as the one ‘who does not have a real job’. After all is said and done, for reasons even we don’t fully understand, we love this chaotic little career path. Maybe it’s the freedom. Maybe it’s the caffeine. Maybe we’re just built different.
So the next time someone tells you they’re a freelancer, resist the urge to ask if they’re “still doing that little thing from home.” Instead, maybe offer them a coffee. They’ve probably been up since 6 AM working on three different projects while also being their own admin, marketing head, and IT support.
Freelancing isn’t a hobby. It’s a full-time job, and then some.
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