My official last day at my day job was October 11, 2013. Since that date falls on a Saturday this year, I’m sharing my first annual self-employment update a few days early.
To recap briefly: last year I left my regular job to pursue my online business full time.
I still can’t believe it’s been a full year. My previous job wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t fulfilling either. I used to dread Sundays because they meant heading into a stressful workweek. Since leaving, life has changed dramatically for the better.
If you’re new here, these related posts can help you get up to speed:
- $15,272 in September Online Income – Outsourcing and Passive Income
- How To Prepare for Self-Employment
- How To Quit Your Job And Become Self-Employed
Now, life is amazing. I love self-employment, and this past year may well have been the best year of my life. Below is an update on what the first full year of being self-employed has been like.
I still love what I do.
Many people warned me that I would grow to dislike freelancing if I relied on it as my primary income source. That simply hasn’t been my experience.
I still enjoy freelancing and working for myself. Our lives have improved so much that we often say, “I can’t believe how much our lives have improved since we quit our jobs.” Yes, there have been intense busy periods, health insurance has been a hassle at times, and self-employment taxes are a new expense, but overall the change has been overwhelmingly positive.
I have no regrets. Self-employment isn’t for everyone, but it’s unquestionably right for me.
Waking up and working from home is a luxury.
One of the best parts of working from home is ditching the commute. I can wake up and start work without spending an hour getting ready and then another chunk of time driving. Because I enjoy my work, mornings are no longer something I dread; I actually look forward to starting the day.
Access to the fridge hasn’t ruined me.
I worried that being at home all day would lead to overeating. Fortunately, that hasn’t been the case. We cook healthy meals most of the time, and I try not to keep large quantities of unhealthy snacks around. I do need to be more consistent with exercise, but overall my eating habits have stayed reasonable.
Flexibility in scheduling is a major benefit.
Having control over my schedule is one of the biggest advantages of self-employment. I can plan my day around errands, social plans, or personal commitments without asking for time off. I can work mornings, nights, weekends—whenever it fits best.
Location independence is fantastic.
Since leaving my job, I’ve been able to travel quite a bit. We didn’t travel between January and early May of 2014 while planning our wedding, but the rest of the year included many trips. With an internet connection and a laptop, my work travels well—though it can be hard to fully disconnect while on vacation.
In the past year we visited:
- Gulf Shores, Alabama – a week in a rented beach house right after we both left our jobs.
- St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands – three visits within a 12-month period (only one while I was fully self-employed), showing how much we enjoyed it.
- Las Vegas – for my bachelorette party.
- Colorado/Utah road trip – a two-week trip in June right after our wedding.
- Caribbean cruise – an eight-day cruise in July.
- Colorado – a hike on part of the Colorado Trail (Wes went with a friend).
- Colorado again – a seven-day road trip in September.
- New Orleans – about four days in September.
- Memphis – two short visits to see Wes’s family around the New Orleans trip.
Pajamas remain a staple.
I still spend most days in yoga clothes unless I go out. It’s comfortable, and while Wes teases me about it, I’m saving money on wardrobes—so win-win.
If you have questions about my transition or are considering working for yourself someday, I’d be happy to answer them.