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Are You Trapped In The Wrong Freelancing Profession?
19 June 2009, 4:39 am

People often feel trapped in their nine-to-five corporate jobs, but I’ve known that “trapped” feeling to happen to freelancers too.

Feeling trapped can happen to a freelancer when he or she takes on a freelancing career for the wrong reasons. Some of those wrong reasons might include:

Starting a freelancing career just because someone you know or have heard was successful in that field.

Starting a freelancing career solely for the money

Starting a freelancing career based on a single experience that you liked

Whatever the reason, feeling trapped by your freelancing profession is no fun at all.

Fortunately, freelancing is very fluid. If you do feel “trapped,” don’t despair. You have more options than you may realize.

In this post we’ll provide some information to help you decide whether you are really in the wrong profession, or just suffering from burnout. We’ll also discuss what your options are if you truly find that you have chosen the wrong freelancing profession.

Could It Be Burnout?

Burnout can temporarily make you feel as though you have chosen the wrong freelancing profession. You might even start to feel “trapped” by your freelance business if you are getting close to burnout.

The difference is that burnout is often temporary. Frequently, the effects of burnout decrease once you’ve had a good rest and revamped your priorities.

Here are some signs of freelancing burnout:

You’re way overbooked and you don’t know how you’ll possibly get everything done

You have so much work that you don’t have enough time to get a proper night’s rest

You can’t remember the last time you took a day off

Your healthy eating and exercise habits have been sacrificed to your busy work schedule

You seem to get every little sickness that comes around

You work so much that it is taking a toll on your personal relationships

Burnout is serious, but it can often be remedied.

If you find that you’re suffering from freelancing burnout, try loosening up your schedule a bit. This might mean accepting fewer clients, outsourcing projects, or simply negotiating better deadlines for yourself. You might also need to manage your time better.

Are You Really In The Wrong Profession?

However, you might feel “trapped” because you have genuinely selected the wrong freelancing profession for yourself.

Here are some signs that you may be in the wrong freelancing profession:

You genuinely hate what you do and you dread having to do it

Even though you have very little work, you can’t bring yourself to complete it

You don’t want to market your freelance business because you feel that someone who hires you is getting cheated

Clients are constantly rejecting your work for lack of quality or for missed deadlines

How To Back Out Of Your Profession Gracefully

If you feel that you might be in the wrong freelancing profession, don’t worry. The beauty of freelancing is that you can change what you do for a living. You might even find yourself still wanting to be a freelancer — just one who does something else than what you are currently doing.

Don’t rush when deciding whether or not you are in the wrong freelancing profession. Take your time and wait until you are sure of your decision. You may also need to set aside financial resources for yourself while you switch professions.

If you decide that your freelancing profession really is wrong for you, here are a few suggestions for backing out of your freelancing profession gracefully:

First of all, try not to leave a client high and dry. Complete your existing commitments and refer your clients to colleagues.

If you want to continue freelancing and already know what profession you want to work in (and are knowledgeable enough to make the change) tell clients that you are changing your business direction. If you have a business website, announce the change there as well.

Changing your freelancing profession may also require that you get additional training. Look into taking classes or getting on-the-job training.

If it is freelancing itself that you dislike, then look for a job in your chosen field. Freelancing is not for everybody, and that’s okay.

Tell Your Story

Has this happened to you? Have you started freelancing, only to realize that your chosen profession isn’t right for you? Has your freelancing business switched gears?

Tell your story in the comments.

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Source: FreelanceFolder