5 Jobs You Can Do From Anywhere, on Your Own Time  

When you first started out in your career, you likely didn’t think you’d fall into a 9 to 5 corporate America desk job. Now that you’re in one, do you ever wonder what the grass is like on the other side? That other side being a nontraditional job. Well, it’s never too late to make a career change. Here are five jobs that you can do from anywhere, at any time.

Freelance Writer or Graphic Designer
For many in the advertising and marketing industry, it can be difficult to find inspiration in an office environment, or in an organization that imposes limitations on your ability to be creative. If you’re a graphic designer, an artist, or a writer looking for a more flexible career opportunity, you might want to consider becoming a freelancer. You’ll have the ability to write and create from anywhere your laptop, pencil, or paper take you. To start, put together a portfolio of existing work and shop it around to businesses that may need your help. For example, small business owners might need assistance writing website content for their brands or they may need someone to design a logo. There are also websites, like Upwork.com, that can help connect you with clients. You can set your own charge rate and select the work you want to do, whenever and wherever works best for you.

Personal Trainer
If your passion is fitness, why not make it your career? You can become a personal trainer to get started on a job path that offers you both freedom and fitness. The first step toward becoming a personal trainer is getting certified. There are various organizations in the fitness industry that certify trainers, including the American Council on Exercise, the International Sports Sciences Association, the National Academy of Sports Medicine, and the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Pick the program that fits your personal preferences and the specialty you want to teach. Once you have been certified, you can train clients from home or at the local gym—flexibility isn’t just a part of what you’ll teach; it’s the nature of the job!

Virtual Assistant
Those who enjoy taking care of others might find that taking on a virtual assistant role could be the right path. Virtual assistants provide administrative support to a wide range of businesses. The services you can offer are infinite, including internet research, email correspondence, making phone calls, scheduling appointments, providing customer service, planning events, or even managing the marketing and outbound communications. The best part of this kind of job is that you can do it all from the comfort of your own home, or anywhere you have access to a laptop and a phone. To find virtual assistant jobs, try looking at websites like Red Butler, 24/7 Virtual Assistant, Fancy Hands, or Assistant Match.

Direct Sales
Some people just have a knack for sales. If you’re an entrepreneurial type and live to make the sale, consider direct selling as a career. Companies like Amway employ people to sell a variety of products and provide the platform, training, and support tools that you need to build your customer database. You can sell items using your network, and then pocket a margin of the retail sales you make. This kind of job lets you work on your own time and in your own space and gives you the power to determine your own professional success.

Social Media Manager
Businesses of all sizes need social media to survive in the market, so there are many freelance manager opportunities available. To ensure your skills are up-to-date and that you stay current on the latest social media trends, read relevant industry publications like Adweek, SocialMediaToday.com, and Hubspot blogs for inspiration and direction on how people are using social media. You can also take social media marketing courses to keep informed about the latest tactics and how they are working. Once you feel you have the expertise, reach out and offer your services as a social media manager to a company or brand that looks like it may need some help in growing its online presence. All you’ll need is a mobile device, a computer, and an internet connection to do the job from anywhere you please.

Feeling inspired to ditch your desk job? There are so many nonconventional, yet legitimate, careers to choose from. Take a chance and reap the benefits of being able to do your job from wherever your heart desires.