The moment you walk out the door to begin your own gig, you say to yourself, "I'm doing it my way, not their way, from now on." Some of us spend the first month in our pajamas because we can and then realize—when we're rushing around to shower for an impromptu client meeting—that we need to get up and be dressed in the morning. Some work at night because that's when we work best, only to discover our clients are calling at 8:30 a.m. and interrupting REM sleep. So we adjust.

Attention freelancers: Are you a slave to your clients? If so, it's time to set boundaries between your work and home.

The freelance life isn't all roses, but it can afford creatives the freedom to choose their own clients, to work at their own pace and to call their studios home. Are you ready to go it alone?

Smart work habits can pave the way to a prosperous freelance career. Here are five key practices guaranteed to bring in business.

Determine if you have (or are able to cultivate) the necessary skills for working independently.

You know you've done it: Used your company's computer equipment to finish up a job you're doing for a freelance client. Learn the right ways to manage both full-time and freelance work.

Following are some challenging situations you may encounter as a freelancer, as well as some tactics to help you overcome them.

Most freelance designers are used to ebb and flow in their work schedules. There's no guaranteed way for keeping work coming through your door, but you can take some steps to help make your downtime more productive.