If you’d asked me a few years ago what my dream job looked like, I probably wouldn’t have said “Digital Marketing freelancer in Thrissur”. I didn’t even know what freelancing meant, let alone imagine building a whole career from my hometown.

But here I am, navigating deadlines, doing client calls in comfy pyjamas, sipping filter coffee while editing campaigns, all from a small desk in Thrissur.

It’s not always as romantic as it sounds, but it’s mine. And this is what it really looks like: the wins, the routines, and the not-so-glamorous bits of freelancing in Kerala.

 The Wins That Keep Me Going

Let’s start with the good stuff.

One of the best parts of freelance life? Freedom. Not just the “I can work from anywhere” kind, but the kind that lets you choose your clients, your pace, and your style of working. I’ve worked on brands I genuinely care about, created campaigns that felt personal, and said no to projects that didn’t align.

Another unexpected win is the community. I didn’t expect to find so many like-minded creators, designers, marketers, and writers right here in Kerala.Through small collaborations, Instagram direct messages, and even sporadic coffee dates, I’ve gradually established a network.It’s small, but it’s real.

Also: there’s something deeply grounding about working in a place where the pace is a little slower. It allows space to think. And that shows in the kind of work I’ve been able to do.

What My Routine Actually Looks Like

People think freelancing means waking up at 11 AM and working whenever you feel like it. But honestly, if I did that, nothing would get done.

My day usually starts by 8:30 AM. I don’t jump straight into work — I ease into it with a little writing or reading something that gets my brain going. By 10, I’m deep into client work — either designing, writing, or on Zoom calls.

I batch my work into focused chunks. Two-hour sprints with breaks in between. I’ve learnt that scattered multitasking is the fastest way to burn out.

Lunch breaks usually include a short walk or a scroll through Instagram (yes, guilty). Evenings are for wrapping up, planning the next day, and some form of creative play, like messing around with a concept that’s not for a client.

This is not something I follow every day. Life in Kerala has its surprises: sudden power cuts, weddings that take up half a week, or the urge to just take a bus ride to the beach. That’s part of the rhythm too.

 The Struggles They Don’t Talk About Enough

Now for the not-so-smooth parts.

The loneliness hits different when you’re freelancing from a small town. There’s no office banter, no team lunches, and no one to vent to when a client ghosts you. Sometimes all you want is for someone to acknowledge that the deadline was terrible.

Another big struggle? People not taking your work seriously. There’s still this belief floating around that freelancing isn’t a “real job.” Explaining what I do to relatives at family functions is a whole genre of stand-up comedy at this point.

Then there’s the money side. Payments delayed. Negotiations that make you question your worth. Clients asking for “one more small change” five times over. You learn to be firm. You discover how to safeguard your time and energy.

And let’s not forget burnout – the kind that sneaks in because you love what you do.Switching off can be challenging when your creative brain serves as both your work engine and your passion space. I’ve had to unlearn the idea that rest needs to be earned.

Why I Still Choose This Life

For all its chaos, freelancing in digital marketing has taught me things I doubt I would’ve learnt in a regular job.

It’s made me resourceful. It’s made me intentional. It’s made me pay attention to the kind of work I actually want to create and who I want to create it with.

Every email, every pitch, every awkward first call with a client has shaped my career in quiet but real ways.

Would it be easier in a metro? Maybe. But this life — slow mornings, local cafés, family close by, my own messy-but-meaningful workspace — this feels right.

 Final Thoughts

Being a freelancer in Thrissur, isn’t all postcard views and self-care Sundays. It’s messy, it’s uncertain, and it demands more discipline than people think.

But it also gives you a kind of ownership over your time and work that’s rare.

So if you’re freelancing or thinking about it from this part of the world, I see you. And if no one’s told you yet, it is a real job. And you’re doing better than you think.