It's been six months since I started working as a freelance web developer. In this time I worked harder than I've ever previously worked. And that's a great thing. I'm actually enjoying the work that I do. This wasn't always the case. As a seasoned cubicle worker and a developer in a number of small companies, adjusting to working independently was difficult, but the transition has been worth it. A couple of things have really stood out for me in the last six months.

I'm enjoying coding again

Now that I am using Ruby and Rails on a full-time basis, I've never enjoyed programming so much. Most of my time is spent working on traditional Rails applications. I practice behaviour driven development using Cucumber and RSpec for these applications. In the past I've had limited exposure to Cucumber and RSpec, but the last six months have really seen me gain the experience I needed to cement my knowledge on these tools.

With this new found love for coding, I'm also much more invested in staying as a freelance web developer for as long as possible. To do this, I've been re-reading books like The Passionate Programmer and other books aimed at the Ruby programming language.

I have flexibility

Working from home does require discipline, but there's also the added bonus of being more flexible. I still do a typical day from nine to five, but I've found that without a commute to do I can use that time for other things.

One added bonus is that I can walk my oldest son to school or in the better weather cycle to school with him. It's only a minor thing, but starting the day with a walk (or cycle) to clear your head is better than having to make a daily commute to a remote office.

I'll be making another freelance update in six months (hopefully) with a view to discussing my finances, goals for the next 12 months and looking at side income. Here's to another six months!