Many of us have spent our entire lives believing that the daily grind was an unavoidable part of life. Getting up at uncomfortably early hours, suffering through congested commutes and whiling away the majority of our time in an office was the life we were led to believe awaited all adults. While most members of the workforce still experience some variation of this routine, there are currently a wide range of options for those of us who aren’t keen on the traditional workplace experience. Anyone interested in bidding a long-overdue farewell to formal offices should consider the following possibilities.
Talk to Your Employer About Remote Work Options
If you don’t have any issues with your actual job duties – but rather the office experience – talk to your employer about remote work options. As many companies discovered throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, remote work is a far more feasible option than previously believed. Not only did allowing their team members to work from the safety of home help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, it also led to productivity increases in many cases. Unsurprisingly, many members of the workforce enjoyed working remotely so much that they’d rather quit their jobs or take pay cuts than return to the office.
Needless to say, a large part of work-based stress stems from simply being at work. When allowed to carry out your job duties from home, you’re liable to feel less stressed and more productive. Even if your employer has traditionally disparaged working remotely, there’s a good chance that the aforementioned pandemic has altered their stance on the matter. At the very least, there’s no harm in laying out your case to the relevant parties and explaining – in detail – how working remotely stands to benefit both you and them.
Become an Independent Contractor
If you’re intrigued by the idea of being your own boss, there’s a lot to be said for independent contracting. With companies of all sizes constantly looking to hire dedicated contractors, there’s certainly no shortage of opportunities for freelancers.
There are numerous ways to go about landing contracting jobs. For starters, there are numerous websites that are dedicated exclusively to matching contractors with clients. Although the exact mechanics vary from site to site, contractors are often required to bid on jobs. This generally entails agreeing to work for the rate a client has posted, explaining why you believe the rate is too low or agreeing to work for less than the amount the client has offered. When just getting your start, you may find yourself having to take low-paying jobs in order to build up sufficient experience and clout. If this strikes you as too competitive, consider applying for contractor positions through various job placement sites or on the websites of prospective clients.
Contracting can be a particularly rewarding field for creatives. For example, freelance writers, graphic designers, web developers and audio transcribers should always be able to find an assortment of gig opportunities. Just remember that it takes time to accrue experience and carve out a name for yourself, so try to avoid getting discouraged if you’re unable to land big jobs right out of the gate.
Invest in Real Estate
If you’re looking for an effective way to generate passive income, investing in real estate may be right up your alley. Investing in just a few choice properties can provide you with ample income each month while requiring you to do very little. Provided you stay on top of property management, flipping houses and/or becoming a landlord can prove extremely profitable. If you’ve been wondering how to create passive income from real estate, you’re likely to find that it’s not nearly as difficult as you once thought.
It isn’t hard to see why so many members of the workforce long to get away from formal workplaces. Arduous commutes, interoffice politics and inconvenient work schedules are just a few of the reasons people want to say goodbye to traditional offices. While breaking away from the daily grind may have once been a pipedream, earning your livelihood outside of an office is now more feasible than ever before. So, if the old-fashioned work experience isn’t something you’re particularly keen on, take the options discussed above into careful consideration.
