
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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- When you’re feeling conflicted about AI · February 5, 2026 · 21 min
- When you're struggling to get going · January 15, 2026 · 21 min
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