This is a submission for the 2025 New Year Writing challenge: Retro’ing and Debugging 2024.
Hey Dev,
So 2024 was my first year as a freelancer, and let me tell you, it was a rollercoaster ride. I had always dreamed of being my own boss, setting my own hours, and working on projects I was passionate about.
But the reality of freelancing was far more brutal than I had imagined. From the feast-or-famine income to the isolation struggles, I faced some hard truths about the freelance life.
But through it all, I learned valuable lessons that have shaped me as a professional and as a person. Lets dive into some of my learnings from the past year.
My Freelance Journey in 2024
The Rollercoaster of Income 🎢💸
Im grateful for the income I earned as a freelancer, as I started earning in college when I was 19. So when college ended, I had a good confidence in my skills and was able to get clients. But the income was never consistent. Some months I was rolling in cash, while others I was scraping by.
Few things I learned about managing finances as a freelancer:
- Have 2 bank accounts, one for savings and one for expenses.
- Allocate a fixed amount for expenses every month, rest all goes to savings.
- Diversify income streams to reduce the impact of slow months. This could be through different types of projects, passive income streams, or part-time work.
- Plan your expenses in advance.
- Have a emergency fund ready like 6 months of expenses.
The Isolation Struggle 🤝🏠
Freelancing can be a lonely profession. I spent hours working alone in my home office, with no one to talk to or bounce ideas off of. It was isolating, especially during busy periods when I was working long hours to meet deadlines.
But Im grateful for the close friends I have who are in the same field. We would often work together on weekends, share our struggles and successes, and provide support when needed.
How to combat loneliness as a freelancer:
- Hit GYM or go for a walk.
- Join a co-working space.
- Attend meetups or networking events.
- Opt for in-person meetings with clients.
- Join online communities or forums for freelancers, Btw Dev.to and X/Twitter are great for this. Say Hi on X @thesohailjafri
Client Relationships and Challenges 🤝⚡
I had my fair share of difficult clients in 2024. Some were demanding, others were slow to pay, and a few were just out t milk every penny out of me. But these experiences taught me valuable lessons about setting boundaries, communicating effectively, and standing up for myself.
On the flip side, I also had some amazing clients who were a joy to work with. They appreciated my work, paid on time, and treated me with respect.
These positive experiences made the tough moments worthwhile and reminded me why I chose to freelance in the first place.
How to deal with difficult clients:
- Set clear expectations from the start.
- Highlight your boundaries and communicate them clearly and assertively.
- Dont be rude, but be firm when necessary when dealing with difficult clients.
- Know when to walk away from a toxic client.
- Keep client in the loop about the progress of the project. Dont ghost them.
Work-Life Balance is a Myth 🏡⚖️
One of the biggest challenges I faced as a freelancer was maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
When your office is in your home, You work from the same place you relax. It can be hard to switch off at the end of the day and take time for yourself.
But I learned the importance of setting boundaries and establishing a routine that works for me. I started setting strict work hours, taking regular breaks, and making time for hobbies and self-care.
Tips for maintaining work-life balance:
- Set a schedule and stick to it.
- Create a dedicated workspace that is separate from your living area.
- Take regular breaks throughout the day. 4hr work, 1hr break.
- Take time off when you need it. You are not AI agent.
- Touch base with friends and family regularly/weekly.
Skill Development and Growth 📚🚀
Well this one is constant. I learned a lot of new skills in 2024, from web development to SEO to project management to content creation. I also grew as a person, becoming more confident in my abilities and more resilient in the face of challenges.
I like to invest my time in learning new things, so I took a few courses from mosh and worked one some open-source projects. I also read a lot of books on freelancing, business, and personal development.
Projects I have worked on:
- ChakraFramer
- With Sam
- Asahi Ramen
- My Music Pie Chart
- Monkey Ninja
- GPA Calculate
- 2 Native iOS and Android Apps
- 3 CRMs
- and more
Best books I read in 2024:
- Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
- Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
- 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
- Surrounded by Idiots by Thomas Erikson
- The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau
Looking Ahead to 2025 🎯✨
In 2025, I hope to continue growing my web development agency TheZenLabs and growing me personal brand on Dev.to, YouTube, Instagram and X. I also want to focus on building passive income streams and expanding my network of clients and collaborators.
Also I would be to expand my skillset by including React-Native and Docker+Kubernetes as these will highly compliment my current skillset and make me a whole software development agency itself 😆.
But most importantly, I want to continue learning, growing, and challenging myself in the year ahead. Freelancing is not easy, but its worth it for the freedom and flexibility it offers.
Conclusion
2024 was a year of growth, challenges, and hard truths. But through it all, I learned valuable lessons that have shaped me as a professional and as a person. I hope my experiences can help other freelancers navigate the ups and downs of the freelance life.
If you are a freelancer, I would love to hear about your experiences in 2024. What were your biggest challenges? What were your proudest achievements? Lets share our stories and support each other as we continue on this freelance journey together.
Thanks for reading and happy freelancing in 2025! 😊
Top comments (22)
Great post! Balancing freelancing, time management, and continuous learning is definitely a challenge, but it's also what makes it so rewarding. I completely agree that setting clear priorities and maintaining a healthy routine is key. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle, but making time for learning new skills not only keeps us sharp but also motivates us to stay passionate about what we do. Thanks for sharing these insights
I'm glad you liked the article!
The projects you worked on in 2024 are super impressive!
hey thanks mate!
Your tips on managing finances and dealing with difficult clients are pure gold—thank you for sharing
hey thanks I hope those help!
You mentioned reading some amazing books in 2024. Which one had the biggest impact on your freelancing journey, and why?
NSTD for sure, the best book on negotiations. without it you cant survive in freelance world
It’s refreshing to see someone openly talk about the highs and lows of freelancing
thank you for reading it!!!
How do you handle clients who ghost you mid-project?
just take that content ui/code and use it in social media posts for learning your learnings. if your contract allows you.
superb quality content ✨
glad to hear that!
I’m curious—how do you handle unexpected expenses during slower months? Do you have a strategy for that?
thank you for giving it the read!
Really helpful article! It gives a clear and honest view of freelancing, showing both the good and the tough parts. Great for anyone thinking about freelancing 🔥🔥
thank you for giving it the read!
Informative blog , very useful content
thank you for giving it the read!