The Expanded Horizon After Becoming a Freelancer | Pros and Cons of Quitting Corporate Life

It has been a while since I quit my company.

However, it still appears in my dreams sometimes.

Pointlessly long meetings, the pressure of Teams, hiding in the restroom repeatedly, and tears that wouldn't stop on the train ride home.

Back when I rode the same train every day, sat at the same desk, and looked at the same scenery, I was half-despairing, wondering, "Will it always be like this?"

However, that version of me no longer exists.

Today, I want to talk about how the world I see has expanded a bit now that some time has passed since I graduated from being a corporate employee.

In other words, I would like to write about the "pros and cons of quitting corporate life" from the perspective of someone who has turned freelance.

📝 Pros of quitting corporate life

1. My schedule is based on my own standards

On days without morning meetings, my standard style is to wake up without an alarm.

Since I work from home, I can sleep in until the very last minute.

I no longer have to dread "work again today" or suppress my feelings while heading to the office.

Whether it's a workday morning or a day off, I can properly maintain a "happy version of myself."

2. Liberation from the stress of noise, light, and human relationships

The chatter around me, the white fluorescent lights of the office, the men who were in a bad mood all day long—.

It was all exhausting.

But now, I work at home with my favorite lighting, my favorite music, and my favorite clothes.

A space optimized for me is the best.

3. Increased Freedom

Being able to use my energy for what I 'want' to do has been truly significant.

The margin of time to work on what I want, and the conservation of energy by not doing things I don't have to do.

Both were necessary for my life.

4. Escaping the Need to Manage Others' Moods

'Be careful, so-and-so is harsh when they're in a bad mood'—what is that?

I am neither a psychiatrist nor a psychic.

I'm already doing my best just to manage my own mood, so why should I have to worry about someone else's?

I've graduated from working while dodging emotional landmines.

5. Sense of Fulfillment

For better or worse, companies are designed to function even without you.

'Then, what is the point of me sitting here?'

Of course, that's how companies operate, and I think it's impressive in a way that things keep running even if someone is missing.

But I couldn't find any fulfillment in that, and it felt like there was a gaping hole in my heart.

Now that I've left the company, I can devote myself to my work while feeling a sense of fulfillment.

Every time I receive words of gratitude, my heart is filled, and I feel truly alive.

📝 Cons of Quitting My Corporate Job

1. Unstable Income

When you become a freelancer, you lose that sense of security that comes with a fixed amount being deposited every month.

You are constantly fighting the anxiety that 'there might not be any work next month'.

That is precisely why I have started to review my spending and investments from a realistic perspective, but honestly, my anxiety about money is not zero.

2. Dealing with Loneliness

Working alone is incredibly free, and incredibly lonely.

If you go to an office, there is always "someone" there.

Perhaps the time spent just having trivial conversations with those people was actually very important.

3. The Price of Freedom is Responsibility

There is no one to easily consult with, no colleagues to ask, "Is this okay?"

I feel that I have more opportunities to make decisions on my own compared to when I was a company employee.

The price of freedom is responsibility. Sometimes that weight is heavy.

4. Managing Time and Money

To-do lists, calendar management, it is all up to me. Tax returns and accounting are all on me too.

If I let my guard down, I might accidentally spend the whole day browsing Note, and the work I need to do or the bookkeeping ends up falling behind. (Self-reflection)

However, if I keep indulging myself, I won't be able to make a living, so a strong sense of self-discipline is essential.It is tough for the lazy version of me.

5. Lower Social Credibility

I suppose it would be difficult for me to rent a property, and I am likely in a state where I cannot take out a loan. Because I lack creditworthiness.

I don't really feel it yet, but I am sure a day will come when I painfully realize, "The power of a company's reputation is huge."

📝 In Conclusion

If asked whether I am glad I quit being a company employee, the answer is "YES".

I can say this with confidence.

Because it is the "thing I want to do" that I have found.

However, it is by no means an easy path.

Anxiety and struggle are, of course, part of it.

But compared to my time as a corporate employee, my world has expanded, and my life feels vivid, rich, and colorful.

The perspective that looked completely pitch black when I was a corporate employee has changed 180 degrees since I turned freelance.

I can feel how comfortable it is to work in a way that doesn't suppress who I am.

For me, "ease of living" ultimately comes down to whether I can be myself.

Even if I'm not perfect, and even if things are unstable, it's enough if my heart is quietly fulfilled.