I quit my job to freelance full-time.

I've always loved the idea of working in an office and working my way up the corporate ladder. But it hasn't been all it's cracked up to be.

Being an introvert, I've never really enjoyed working in an office. I always got my work done quickly, and then I'd just be sat around waiting to go home. Because of that, I was always waiting for Friday to feel FREE.

As my career progressed, I realised how much I loved my job. I had a constant need to be better. So I started to spend my spare time doing courses and listening to podcasts, and then I found Upwork. That's when my freelancing journey started.

Eventually, I left the first job I had and took another Marketing Manager role at another company. This job required a lot more work and a lot more skill. I was very excited to start learning more in the hope that I'd get even better at what I do.

And I did. But I still wasn't happy. I realised that it wasn't the job I disliked; it was the corporate world.

The office environment made me uncomfortable. I'd feel anxious and way more tired when compared to working from home. I would be worried about going to the toilet too often or not looking busy enough.

I did not enjoy the set hours. I'm not productive between the hours of 9:00 am -5:30 pm. My productive hours start from 7:00 am to around 11:00 am and after 5:00 pm. I can still work mid-day, but I have to take more breaks and do less work that requires "brain power". You can't do this in a corporate role because they want you to be at your desk during working hours.

I don't like to work in one spot. I have a desk at home, but I like to move around. When I get distracted, I like to move to the sofa or go outside if it's sunny. Again, this is not possible in a corporate role.

I want to take a Friday afternoon off if my work for the day is done! I want to be able to go outside and play water fights with my nieces on a random afternoon for a couple of hours without people checking my green light on teams.

I understand that being a freelancer will be challenging, especially for the first few months. Not having a stable income and working a lot. But at this stage of my life, the pros far outweigh the cons.

I can't wait to start this new stage of my life. While nervous, I know I'm making the right choice.