How to stop feeling guilty about not working during working hours

How to stop feeling guilty about not working during working hours

From Doing It For The Kids by Doing It For The Kids, Frankie Tortora, Steve Folland

March 5, 2026 · 20 min · Episode 128

About this episode

The episode discusses overcoming guilt associated with not working during traditional working hours while freelancing.

“How do I stop feeling guilty about not working during 'working hours'? I've been freelancing for over 15 years, but until last year it was always alongside a part time 9-5. So this is the first time I've been fully freelancing and I'm noticing a lot of guilt around when I'm not working. If it's a weekday and within 'normal' working hours, I feel like I should be doing client work, marketing or something. But as a creative, sometimes I'm just not in the right mood. Someone suggested recently that this might be a hangover of working in a 9-5. One of the main drives to go freelance was the flexibility it would bring. So I guess my question is, how can I get better at giving myself permission to do things like, go to Bristol for the day, visit an art gallery or just watch a film, when my head isn't in the right place to work? Do you ever have the same feeling?”

People in this episode

Hosts: Frankie Tortora, Steve Folland

Topics covered

  • freelancing
  • work-life balance
  • guilt
  • creativity
  • flexibility

Keywords

  • freelancing
  • guilt
  • work hours
  • creativity
  • flexibility

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