The line between work and play can blur in a freelance creative career. You may be able to work in your pajamas all day or take breaks when you want, but that’s not to say you don’t still have to meet deadlines, keep clients happy, and manage your finances. Plus, the feast-or-famine cycle of freelancing can mean that some months you’re rolling in the cash and other times you might be counting your pennies.

Some creatives find freelancing is the perfect career for them because it allows them to pursue projects that pique their interest. In a regular job, those interests are often stifled by the constraints of corporate culture and expectations.

Other creatives find it’s hard to balance the demands of a full-time job and their own creative projects, especially if they haven’t been able to establish themselves in their chosen field yet. But in the world of digital freelancing, it’s possible to try out all sorts of ideas and pursue the work that brings you the most joy without having to satisfy traditional gatekeepers first.

Having a flexible schedule and being your own boss are major benefits of working freelance for creatives. Being able to set your own hours and decide when you’re going to work is great for those with a busy family life or other commitments, but it also gives freelancers the opportunity to set aside time for their own projects and pursuits. And if you ever feel like you need to switch things up, you can always find another project that suits your needs.

Many freelancers have found that they’re able to grow their client base by finding new opportunities through social media and other online networks. In addition to traditional job boards, there are now a variety of services designed to match creative talent with potential clients.

These include Working Not Working (which offers a simple way for freelancers to broadcast their availability), The Supply, which specializes in connecting ad agencies with specialized creative talent, and others that offer more curated ways for creatives to connect with potential employers.

For many creatives, the ultimate goal is to eventually turn their freelance work into a successful business. That’s a major undertaking that requires additional skills and responsibilities such as operational management, financial planning, and managing a team.

But the point is, it’s now possible to start a company from the ground up while retaining a flexible, freelancing lifestyle. That’s something that would have been impossible just a few years ago, when most people thought it was necessary to leave the world of freelancing for good in order to start their own businesses.