Poll: As a freelancer, what is your current work-life balance like? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "As a freelancer, what is your current work-life balance like?".
This poll was originally submitted by Alicja Weikop. View the poll results »
| | | | Anne Carnot 
France
Local time: 05:05
Member (2009)
English to French
but it's quite recent! I started as a freelancer last year, and my business was very slow to start, so I had far too much freetime for my taste... I now have a few regular clients so I'm busy during the day, just about the right amount I'd say, even if I sometimes have to work in the evening or on weekends; I find it hard to refuse work as I'm still fairly new to the business...
Have a nice day
| | | | Rebekka Groß (X)
Local time: 04:05
English to German
| neilmac
Spain
Local time: 05:05
Spanish to English
+ ...
This month anyway. The first quarter was slow.
The work-life balance doesn't really apply to me - I prefer working to socialising (I get paid for the former) and my favourite night out is running a pub quiz (which I also get paid for). Being middle-aged now, I feel that I've had a "life" so don't feel the overwhelming need to go out and be in company that I did 10 or 20 years ago.
I reckon anyone with too much translation work should maybe think about starting a team or farming some ... See more This month anyway. The first quarter was slow.
The work-life balance doesn't really apply to me - I prefer working to socialising (I get paid for the former) and my favourite night out is running a pub quiz (which I also get paid for). Being middle-aged now, I feel that I've had a "life" so don't feel the overwhelming need to go out and be in company that I did 10 or 20 years ago.
I reckon anyone with too much translation work should maybe think about starting a team or farming some of it out ... ▲ Collapse
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Mary Worby
United Kingdom
Local time: 04:05
German to English
+ ...
| Reasonably balanced | Apr 15, 2010 |
I have as much work as I can deal with given I only work four days a week and then only during school hours. School holidays scupper the work-life balance a little, but at least force me to take a little more time off. I suspect that without the children I would work ridiculous hours.
| | | | | fairly balanced | Apr 15, 2010 |
There are times when i'm very busy and will work weekends, but I don't mind. I can always take a day off after a busy period. And we all know it can be feast or famine- it was quite slow in january and february and then got busy...so I haven't minded the workload at all since that means money coming in! It's actually been quiet the past week or so but I have a cold and feel horrible...so the timing is good! I actually have a very large project due to start soon anyways. I admit I'd rather spend... See more There are times when i'm very busy and will work weekends, but I don't mind. I can always take a day off after a busy period. And we all know it can be feast or famine- it was quite slow in january and february and then got busy...so I haven't minded the workload at all since that means money coming in! It's actually been quiet the past week or so but I have a cold and feel horrible...so the timing is good! I actually have a very large project due to start soon anyways. I admit I'd rather spend my downtime doing something fun instead of coughing and sneezing. ▲ Collapse
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I would say too much work and not free time, but as a lot of colleagues struggle to get enough work (and therefore) money I never say "too much work" (you know, too much seems negative, I am always happy when I get a big workload).
It's my choice, and at the end of the day, it's part of the game.
On the other side, I would say that if rates were a bit better (I know every one can decide his/her own rates, but for some people it is just a matter of take it or leave it), ... See more I would say too much work and not free time, but as a lot of colleagues struggle to get enough work (and therefore) money I never say "too much work" (you know, too much seems negative, I am always happy when I get a big workload).
It's my choice, and at the end of the day, it's part of the game.
On the other side, I would say that if rates were a bit better (I know every one can decide his/her own rates, but for some people it is just a matter of take it or leave it), maybe there would be aa bit more free time ▲ Collapse
| | | | Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 05:05
English to French
+ ...
... to my taste, meaning as much work (and working hours) as I can handle, alternating with no work at all for several days, about every 8 weeks or so - my personal way of organising my time, my choice.
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Emin Arı
Türkiye
Local time: 06:05
English to Turkish
+ ...
| no comprimised point | Apr 15, 2010 |
either free like birds or hell busy like a ceo, it changes depending on clients and work flow but no comprimised point at all.
| | | | Michael Harris
Germany
Local time: 05:05
Member (2006)
German to English
Seems strange, but "fortunately! i always seem to be extremely busy that I have no time for myself. I do take time for my family as that is an absolute must
| | | | | Work-life balance is moving in the right direction | Apr 15, 2010 |
In the past I used to work too much and did not have enough time for family, friends and my partner. Today I have decided to enjoy life as much as I can and reserve at least 30 % of my time for nice things . I love translation work and after many years I choose the projects according to the time I have available. Several companies work with me for years and they are happy when I ask for exact dead-lines or if need be for a minor postponement. Quality translation needs time and despite all the au... See more In the past I used to work too much and did not have enough time for family, friends and my partner. Today I have decided to enjoy life as much as I can and reserve at least 30 % of my time for nice things . I love translation work and after many years I choose the projects according to the time I have available. Several companies work with me for years and they are happy when I ask for exact dead-lines or if need be for a minor postponement. Quality translation needs time and despite all the automatization being a big help in speeding up the work flow, I still find it necessary to have enough time to re-read what I have done after my work has been proof-readen. When the project is quite big, I am happy to work with good colleagues ▲ Collapse
| | | | John Cutler
Spain
Local time: 05:05
Spanish to English
+ ...
| 24/7 = freedom | Apr 15, 2010 |
I've pretty much always got lots of work and yet I also seem to find time to balance my "life" outside of it.
I believe it all depends on what you want out of life. I've said it before, but if you consider working hours as 24/7 then you're free to do whatever you want with your time whenever you want to.
I may work on a Sunday while other people are living their "lives", but then I'm free to take a Tuesday (or any other day for that matter) and live my life the way I w... See more I've pretty much always got lots of work and yet I also seem to find time to balance my "life" outside of it.
I believe it all depends on what you want out of life. I've said it before, but if you consider working hours as 24/7 then you're free to do whatever you want with your time whenever you want to.
I may work on a Sunday while other people are living their "lives", but then I'm free to take a Tuesday (or any other day for that matter) and live my life the way I want to. To me, 24/7 doesn't mean slavery, it means freedom. It means I can practice my hobbies, do family activities or just goof off as I please. It doesn't matter when the work gets done as long as it gets done on time.
PS. Disclaimer: I didn't think like this years ago when my children were little. They're now at the age where they're old enough to take care of themselves, so that also adds a lot to the freedom equation. ▲ Collapse
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Alicja Weikop
United Kingdom
Local time: 04:05
English to Polish
+ ...
| boom and bust ;) | Apr 15, 2010 |
In my experience, work comes in waves. There are weeks when I don't have time to eat, and weeks when Facebook becomes the best alternative to housework... Ok, that's a bit exaggerated, but seeing that I have a small child (aged 2) I am very happy at the moment to be able to work during the day when Kasper is in the Kindergarten, and have the evenings and weekends free for my family. It is not really a full time workload, but it suits me. I have to remind myself nevertheless not to feel guilty ab... See more In my experience, work comes in waves. There are weeks when I don't have time to eat, and weeks when Facebook becomes the best alternative to housework... Ok, that's a bit exaggerated, but seeing that I have a small child (aged 2) I am very happy at the moment to be able to work during the day when Kasper is in the Kindergarten, and have the evenings and weekends free for my family. It is not really a full time workload, but it suits me. I have to remind myself nevertheless not to feel guilty about not searching for more work, as I feel that the time spent with my little boy is precious and I wouldn't want to become an overworked, stressed out, glued to the computer Mum. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Like a roller coaster ride | Apr 15, 2010 |
Sometimes too much time to spare, possibly a few days in a row. Suddenly it all changes, and I have 3 simultaneous but unrelated jobs, all large, and all urgent, like now. A fourth, small, but even more urgent, dropped in, and I got it done and out of my way in no time.
Just dropped in here to cool off the translating engine inside my head for a while.
| | | | | Not very balanced right now | Apr 15, 2010 |
I was up all night finishing a job. Stuff in my inbox. But I'm not complaining.
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