While it perhaps might not have been thought of by traditionalists as a credible and viable method of work and employment, remote working and freelancing are becoming normal in the UK today. More and more workplaces are becoming flexible, allowing their employees to get things done away from their desks, and it has been estimated that there are over two million freelancers in the UK, accounting for almost half of the self-employed workforce.
For those looking into the possibility of remote working and freelancing, here are some answers to commonly asked questions that might help you along the way to get started.
What steps can I take in order to work efficiently from home?
If your company is flexible with their work schedules and allows you to work from home, or you’ve decided to pursue a freelance project on the side/full time, you might want to take some steps to convert a space or room in your home into a professional work environment. This will help you to stay productive, and separate downtime from work.
Remote workers and freelancers living in a city center are among those best placed to enjoy plenty of exciting opportunities, as there is always something going on around them. Liverpool, for example, in the north of the UK, has a healthy hum of energy around its digital sector. Property investment company RW Invest laud Liverpool as one of the most exciting and promising areas in the country at the moment, not just for young professionals looking to live and work there, but also for investors wanting to solidify and root themselves successfully in the buy-to-let market.
Other than the home, where else can I work?
If you’re doing a freelance gig, and simply don’t have the space at home or are struggling to concentrate through too many distractions, you might decide to make use of the spaces local to you where you can concentrate in. These could include cafés, libraries, and alike.
Modular offices and hireable spaces are also becoming popular in urban areas and cities, helping to cater to and accommodate those who need spaces to get things done. You could try searching for hot desks and spaces in the local area that you could visit, or even ask those who have done it before which methods they find the most effective.
Remember, part of remote working and freelancing is having the freedom to work in a way that best suits you, and so you shouldn’t sit in a coffee shop or bar if it doesn’t help you to get the best work done that you can. Find your zen, and stick to it.
What are the negatives of freelance work?
Freelancing might seem like a dream come true for many that want to be able to work at their own pace and not have anyone on their back constantly, restricting them to schedules, but as with many other methods of employment, it’s not without its risks that you should do your best to avoid. Here are a couple of the negatives:
- Working remotely as a freelancer can be quite an unstable way of living from month to month, as you don’t have a set figure coming in on a regular basis, and so it can be extremely difficult to plan bills and things like holidays around it. To help avoid this, try and stay on track as much as you can and keep planning ahead for the next project at the same time as working on the one you have currently.
- Sometimes as a freelancer, you will be treated as disposable, or get offers and suggested payments that undermine the hard work that you’re doing. Make sure that you know your worth, and don’t work for free if it doesn’t benefit you.
