Avoiding The 9-5 Rat Race

Only 39% of the workday is spent on actual work.

I’m in my third decade, and I’ve been a freelancer by choice for most of my working life. I’ve had three full-time office jobs—all of which I adored and excelled at. But despite the stability of getting a guaranteed paycheck each month, I have always felt more comfortable (and have made more money) as an independent contractor.

Three distinct moments sparked my disdain for the nine-to-five. One: sitting in my car during gridlock in Los Angeles on the way back home from work, realizing I was spending four hours a day, or 20 hours a week, stuck in traffic.