I quit my full-time job to work as a freelancer. Making my own schedule means I get to live like a retiree in my 40s.

After a decadelong run in marketing and negotiating a $20,000 raise, I reached the highest point in my career. I was working 9-5 as a marketing director, plus freelance gigs on the side.

I had financial stability, which allowed me to pay off my car and travel more, but I wasn't making the impact I thought I would in a leadership position. It felt like I was doing more of the same in many ways, but with added stress, expectations, and office politics.

Add to it a dreaded daily commute and a growing sense of apathy, and suddenly the stability didn't seem as desirable. So in 2019, six months after my biggest promotion, I left my full-time job for the sake of having more freedom. I switched to solely working freelance as a copywriter, coming full circle with how I began my marketing career.

At first, the freedom was scary

Once I finally got more freedom, though, I panicked. It wasn't because I wasn't making enough money. Usually, my income was equal to, if not more than, what I made at my full-time job. However, my schedule had gaps. Most days, I was done by 1 or 2 p.m., which left me feeling unproductive and worrying if I was missing out on other money-making opportunities.

It's difficult to get used to a new routine, no matter how desired the change. However, I slowly realized my former work life was largely made up of the busyness of unnecessary meetings and constant interruptions, plus an inane sense of immediacy, which meant my focus was constantly pulled in several directions.

Once out of that environment, I had blocks of time to complete assignments peacefully and with purpose. Then, I began to fill in the schedule gaps with the things I enjoy most.

Making my own schedule means I get to live like I'm retired

I work an average of 20-25 hours a week. I'm also fortunate that my job as a copywriter requires little more than a laptop and a strong WiFi connection.

Instead of filling the remaining hours of my week with more work, I attend matinees, go on morning hikes, do volunteer work, and spend time at the beach. Some days, I stay in bed all morning to finish reading a book, or I might take an afternoon nap. I get to complete errands during the day when there is little traffic and spend minimal time standing in line.

Unsurprisingly, many of my daytime activities are with people who actually are retired, the ones who also have free time during the day. They tell me they wish they had learned to work less and play more earlier. Because isn't that what everyone wants in the end — to be satisfied with how they spent their time?

I don't know if I'll ever fully retire

At 43, I'm nearly 25 years from retirement age, but could be happy working well past 67. Turns out, when you have freedom over your schedule and get to select who you work with, having a job doesn't seem nearly as daunting. Instead of taking the traditional path to retirement, I'm living out everything I'd do if I no longer worked at all, without waiting to be a certain age or reach a specific milestone to enjoy life.

This isn't to say being a full-time freelancer doesn't come without challenges. I've experienced demanding clients, unpaid invoices, and slow months where the work barely dribbled in. Freelancing offers a flexible path, but it requires discipline, perseverance, and an acceptance that you're essentially living in a state of uncertainty. The constant need to pivot isn't for everyone.

Sometimes, I still work eight-hour days, as well as time on weekends or holidays, when the work calls for it. The difference is that I get to decide if and when that happens. As for the future, I have a clear idea of what I want my third act to look like. Though I'm not sure if I will ever become an official retiree, I know whatever I do, it'll be well worth my time.