Six Months Back in Self-Employment: Reflections on Work, Life, and other Big Changes!

Six months ago, I made the decision to return to self-employment. After working in more structured roles, I felt the pull of freelancing again, the flexibility, the variety of projects, and the chance to take ownership of my work. Looking back over these six months, it’s been a journey filled with challenges, milestones, and a lot of personal growth.

Alongside the professional leap, I also had two major life changes: I got married, and I became a dad to a beautiful daughter. Balancing freelance web development projects with sleepless nights has been intense, but it’s also been one of the most rewarding times of my life.

I delve deeper and reflect on my return to freelancing and a look at what I’ve learned so far as a self-employed freelance web developer.

Why I Chose to Go Back to Freelancing

For me, freelancing has always been about freedom and variety. As a freelance developer specialising in Laravel and WordPress development, no two projects look the same. One week I might be building a custom Laravel application, the next I’m deep in a WordPress plugin or optimising performance on an e-commerce site.

Working for myself again has reminded me how rewarding it can be to work directly with clients. You’re not just writing code, you’re building relationships, solving real problems, and seeing your work have a direct impact on a business. That’s something I missed in more traditional setups.

The Rewards of Freelance Web Development

There are plenty of perks that come with being a self-employed developer, and they’ve stood out clearly in these six months:

• Variety of work: Every project brings something new to the table, which keeps things interesting and sharpens my skills.

• Direct client contact: Being the first point of contact helps me understand needs better and deliver solutions that fit.

• Flexibility: The freedom to adjust my schedule has been invaluable, especially with family life changing so much.

• Ownership: When you’re responsible for everything, the wins feel bigger because you know how much went into them.

The Challenges of Self-Employment

Of course, freelancing isn’t all flexibility and creativity. There’s another side to it:

• Balancing workloads: Some weeks are stacked, others are quiet, and it takes planning to keep things steady.

• Time management: Juggling deadlines with personal commitments (especially with a baby in the house) is an ongoing challenge.

• Wearing many hats: You’re not just the developer. You’re also the project manager, the accountant, the marketer, and sometimes even the IT support.

But here’s the truth, these challenges are part of what makes freelancing rewarding. Each one pushes me to improve, to streamline how I work, and to be more adaptable.

Life Outside of Code

What’s made these six months even more memorable is everything that happened outside of work. Getting married and becoming a dad have been life-changing experiences. They’ve also changed how I think about work.

Freelancing has given me the flexibility to be present for these milestones in a way I might not have been otherwise. Yes, there are late nights with the laptop open after the baby’s gone to sleep, but there are also mornings I can spend with my family without worrying about clocking in.

It’s this balance, sometimes messy, sometimes exhausting… that makes self-employment feel like the right fit at this stage of life.

Lessons Learned So Far

If I had to sum up what I’ve learned in these first six months back in freelancing, it would be this:

1. Plan, but stay flexible: Client needs and personal life can both change quickly.

2. Communication is key: Keeping clients updated builds trust and makes projects run smoother.

3. Value your time: It’s easy to underestimate how much time admin, calls, and planning take. Build that into your schedule.

4. Keep learning: Whether it’s new Laravel features, WordPress best practices, or productivity tools, freelancing rewards those who keep sharpening their skills.

5. Balance matters: It’s not just about getting more work done, but about making sure work and life can fit together sustainably.

Looking Ahead

Six months in, I feel like this is just the beginning. I’ve laid foundations with clients, built some exciting projects, and managed to find (most days) a balance between family life and coding life.

Looking forward, I’m excited to keep growing as a freelance developer, to work on more Laravel and WordPress projects, to collaborate with new businesses, and to keep learning along the way.

Overall,

Returning to self-employment has been one of the best decisions I’ve made, both for my career and for my family. It hasn’t always been easy, but the mix of professional variety, personal growth, and life-changing milestones has made it unforgettable.

Here’s to the next six months, and all the projects, challenges, and lessons they’ll bring.