Why flexible + independent work is the future | Article

My Personal Experience 😃

As I begin my independent career, I sometimes have the thought in my head that maybe I should be pursuing a traditional job. I think this is common with new independents as traditional jobs feel like the safe option; they guarantee you hours, a fixed income, health benefits, and an overall feeling of comfort. Throughout my education, I was always told that getting a traditional job was the path to take; the idea of flexible and independent work was never a part of the curriculum. Going to job fairs and networking events only instilled this idea of traditional work further, making you feel like it was the only option that guaranteed you success. In pursuit of escaping this traditional construct, we must look beyond the 9-5 corporate job and do what truly motivates us.

Risks of Going Independent 🧐

Going independent definitely comes with some risk factors that we must consider. Some of the risks that come to mind are that work is not guaranteed, you do not have a fixed income, no benefits plan, and it is hard to predict the future. In comparison, a traditional job guarantees hours, salary benefits, and the future is already mapped out. As a beginner myself I have had to measure the risk of pursuing an independent career. Things such as budgeting more strictly to account for the unpredictability of finding work and making myself more comfortable with taking on risk are two things I have had to work on.

Although there are risks with going independent, there are also significant rewards. These rewards can not only reduce stress but enhance our work-life balance. At the end of the day, we must be comfortable with what we are doing and love what we are doing.

Pandemic Life 🦠

Flexible work is the future, we are seeing this as big companies shift from traditional large offices to completely remote work. This shift has become even more prevalent over the past year due to the current pandemic and the inability to continue with traditional working conditions. The results of flexible work have proven to be positive as more people realize that what was done in the office can be done wherever there is wifi; whether that be on a beach in Hawaii or an Igloo in the North Pole, flexible work does not have a headquarters or an agenda.

Benefits of Going Independent 📈

The argument can be made that the environment an office provides is motivational and for some, a time to get away from busy home life. On the other hand, working from home and being flexible has allowed people to not only save time and money from commuting, but people now have the opportunity to practice more self-care. Independent work offers people the ability to eat three meals a day, meditate, exercise, and take breaks on their own accord. These benefits alone will increase productivity and the quality of work people produce. I have watched both of my parents make the shift from the traditional 9-5 to a completely remote work-life. It has allowed them to focus more time on themselves and do things that would otherwise not be possible in an office setting. Without a doubt, traditional methods of work have proven to be successful, but with more people realizing the importance of work-life balance, independent careers could be the future for all.

I started my independent career not really knowing what would come of it. When I began a couple years ago I was just interested in becoming familiar with some new editing softwares such as Figma and Sketch. This led me to start working on some personal projects and user research assignments. My freelance career now consists of conducting user research, creating graphic designs, and marketing.These are all things that I will continue to pursue in hopes that one day I can work fully independent.