Something amazing is happening lately. Have you noticed?
Everyone around you is ditching the traditional workplace, waving farewell to a rigid 9-5 schedule, and taking their employment and their future into their own hands.
Okay, not everyone. But a lot of people.
I should know–I’m one of them.
Why I Ditched the 9-5
For most of my life, I thought of myself as an analytical person. I loved the sciences, I was good at math, and I even went on to earn a Bachelor of Science at university with a pretty decent GPA.
I believed all that right brain versus left brain BS for a long time, putting myself into the left brain camp because I enjoyed logic puzzles and number games and the sciences, all the while ignoring plenty of evidence to suggest that I might, in fact, have a few creative bones in my body, too (an affinity for drama, a knack for writing, and the messiest room you’ve ever seen–“It’s not my fault, mom, it’s entropy!”–even my excuses were creative).
I was convinced logic and creativity were mutually exclusive and, as a result, forged ahead with a science-heavy career that didn’t make me happy at all (of course, I now know the science part had little to do with my loathing).
Eventually, I found my way out of that suffocating career path and took off to see the world. One of the greatest gifts travel and living abroad gave me was an even more active imagination than I had before which, in turn, led me to a creative reawakening of sorts.
The result of that reawakening? This blog you’re reading right now.
I fell absolutely head-over-heels with creating and building this thing that was entirely my own and felt a passion within me that I hadn’t felt in years; it didn’t take long to realize well, gee, I might actually fall closer to the creative end of the spectrum than I once thought! (Which would sort of explain a few C+ grades in my university math courses.)
Of course, because it’s a spectrum and not black and white, my logic center kicked in once again when I ran out of money on my travels. I made my way back to the US to save up some more cash and found myself unwillingly back in a rigid 9-5 workplace–at a big, soulless corporation, no less.
I swallowed my pride for about as long as I could bear (and long enough to save up some dough), all the while feeling that creative passion I’d just rediscovered slowly fizzling out inside me.
I didn’t respect the people I was working for, I didn’t respect the morals (or lack thereof) of the company, and I wasn’t free to express myself freely in that environment.
And while I realize that not every company work environment is quite that dreadful, it was an eye-opening experience for me–one that convinced me down to my bones that I didn’t belong in such a place, my fire slowly dying, my critical thinking skills withering away, my creativity unused and unwelcome.
That’s when the epiphany hit–I needed to be my own boss.
Set my own schedule. Answer to myself and no one else.
Where I worked was slightly less important at the time; I just wanted to be in control, and free to create.
Of course, things like having the freedom to travel and working from home without pants on interesting places were motivating factors as well; there was so much of the world I still had plans to see.
I knew I wouldn’t be able to build a successful business out of thin air, though, so I decided to take a stab at freelancing while I worked toward becoming fully self-employed.
Two years later and here I am. Still not exclusively self-employed but well on my way, and far better off than I was back then. Happier. Healthier. Excited about life every day.
Everyone has their own justification for seeking alternative working environments and income streams in today’s world. No two stories are alike.
But there’s no denying that workplace alternatives like remote work, freelancing, and self-employment are on the rise, and there are a few common factors prompting more and more people to say adiós to their 9-5 job and never look back.
They want more time to travel.
For many Americans, two weeks of vacation per year is the best they will ever get. It’s not even mandated that companies provide paid leave, which suddenly makes those two whole weeks seem like a pretty sweet deal. Until you consider that most workers won’t even use that time off for fear of falling behind on work or harming their reputation within the company, among other things.
In fact, in 2015, unused vacation time hit a 40-year high in the US.
And this pattern is being perpetuated in the face of plenty of evidence that skipping vacation time actually does more harm than good. Vacations are known to make employees happier and more productive at work, and even–wait for it–more likely to be promoted.
At the very same time, the world is becoming more accessible every single day, and it’s clear that we’re more eager than ever to take advantage. Last year also marked a record high for percentage of the US population holding a passport (a whopping 38%–still not great, but hey, it’s progress).
It’s clear that employers aren’t making it any easier for people to travel. So what choice are we left with, really? Wait to travel until we’re older, less energetic, and more risk averse? Or create a lifestyle that gives us the freedom we want right now?
People don’t necessarily perform at their best between the hours of 9 and 5.
Some people are early risers (or “larks”) while others are night owls. This isn’t just an old wive’s tale, either–it’s a pretty well-documented fact.
Every night owl I know admits to feeling more creative and working better in the late night hours. Force them into the mold of a 9-5 workday and you run the risk of squashing their productivity and ability to produce quality work. And this isn’t necessarily something they can change just by setting an alarm for 6 am every day–larks and owls (especially on the extreme ends of the spectrum) actually have different brain structures and genetics strongly influence our sleep preferences.
Most traditional workplaces have yet to offer flexible scheduling, potentially placing great limitations on those who identify as night owls–some 40% of people.
It gives people greater happiness and job satisfaction.
Remote work is on the rise, which has huge implications for both workers and the companies that hire them. In a recent survey of more than 500 full-time remote employees titled “What Leaders Need to Know About Remote Workers,” findings point to remote workers feeling happier, more productive, and more valued at their job relative to all other employees. The reason, once again, boils down to “freedom and flexibility.”
As for the self-employed, 76 percent of self-employed Americans say their work directly impacts their self-worth. Self-employed people do work they are passionate about, set their own schedules, and have the opportunity to create something they are truly proud of.
Despite working longer hours and stressing more about money , the self-employed are consistently the happiest among us.
It’s easier than ever before.
Do you have a computer? Can you access the internet? Then you already have all the tools necessary to take your future into your own hands. There are at least a million ways to earn a living by putting your skills to work on the internet, and more often than not, it just takes a little ingenuity and a healthy dose of determination.
These days, people are earning an income online by freelancing, starting web-based businesses, selling digital products and courses, teaching valuable skills, and so many other unique and creative ways. Others are convincing their current employers to let them take their work on the road.
And more companies are beginning to see the benefits of hiring remote workers from the start (such as widening their candidate pool, for example) and building fully-distributed workforces with employees in all corners of the globe.
It’s really an incredible time to be alive.
Will you be next?
Before you get too excited and march down to your office to sh*t on your boss’ desk, let me put one final thought out there for rumination:
Ditching the 9-5 isn’t for everyone.
A traditional job can offer a lot of great things that location independence or self-employment probably never will. Co-workers. Office parties. Health insurance. 401k matching. A consistent paycheck. Regular working hours. And on and on (and on).
Now, imagine your life without those things. Do you feel your chest seizing up with anxiety? If so, there’s a chance you’re not quite ready to give up your comfortable way of life just yet.
And in fact, there are a number of things you should have in order before you even take that first step, but I’ll save that speech for another post.
Striking out on your own can be risky and, at times, downright terrifying.
It can also be incredibly rewarding.
Your priorities become what you make them.
Time with family. Travel. Self-improvement. New hobbies.
And you don’t necessarily need to have a brilliant business idea in your back pocket to pull this off. Self-employment is just one of many, many paths to this kind of freedom.
There are other options that are far less risky with lower barriers to entry and minimal startup costs.
Not sure where to begin?
My newly released eBook, Take Your Life Back: Finding Freedom Through Location Independence, goes into much greater detail on the possibilities at your disposal for ditching the 9-5.
It’s a handbook for taking control of your future and living and working on YOUR terms, without being bound to a cubicle, a strict schedule, or even a particular geographic location.
Inside, you’ll find practical tips and resources for finding remote and freelance work, ideas for building your first online business, interviews with rockstar entrepreneurs and creatives who’ve taken control of their own lives, and all the hard-won business and life lessons I’ve amassed so far on my own journey.
Here’s what fellow business owner and travel blogger Dave Brett of Travel Dave UK had to say about it:
“Leah has created a useful guide full of information to help you along the path to creating your own remote lifestyle where you can earn from the road. I like the real life examples Leah uses as well as other experts offering their thoughts on the subject too. It’s all golden information without any fluff, just real practical advice you can gather a lot of takeaways from. This is a blueprint inspiration guide for anyone looking to kick start their own lifestyle.”
The book has also received glowing reviews from future digital nomads planning their next moves, like Carly Hulls, the expat blogger behind Austrian Adaptation:
“This book was so much more than fluffy quotes and the cry to ‘Quit your job to travel whoo!’ I found real, practical advice about how to run an online business, useful and diverse examples alongside very clear, supportive information and resources.”
If this sounds like the life YOU’VE been dreaming of creating but didn’t know where to start, don’t put off your happiness any longer.
Ditch the 9-5 and take your life back. I’ll be here to help you every step of the way.
Click here to get your copy of my practical guide today.
Still not sure? Get practical advice delivered right to your inbox every month. Sign up for my newsletter for exclusive insider tips and practical insights that never make it to the blog.
