If you’re struggling with work life balance, perhaps you need to go freelance.

These three people walked away from their full time, corporate jobs to freelance and discovered they are working less but earning more - and they’ve never been happier or healthier.

Look at how happy these people are! They’ve been freelancing all their lives, that’s why.

Freelancers now make up about 31 per cent of the small to medium business workforce — up six per cent in the past four years ago, and expected to grow to 40 per cent by 2018, according to a survey by Expert360, an online platform for businesses to find and hire freelance professionals.

Co-founder Bridget Loudon says companies are becoming more willing to hire highly skilled individuals on contract or “as need” basis to stay competitive in a dynamic market.

And more employees are seeking better work life balance and happy to shelve security for the freedom and higher earnings of contract work.

“It’s a win-win,” says Loudon.

“The ‘job for life’ just isn’t around anymore and people are valuing that less,” she says.

“More people are prioritising lifestyle over working a traditional 60-hour week ... and health and lifestyle are the huge drivers.”

Loudon says freelancers earn an average $900 a day with average project $5000-$10,000.

She says 80 per cent of those who freelance in marketing and branding are women while 80 per cent of business planners and financial advisers are men.

These three people walked away from their full time, corporate jobs to freelance and discovered they are working less but earning more — and they’ve never been happier or healthier.

Juliette Saly, 35

Eight years as a full-time Commsec finance presenter, Saly left her high-profile role last July for the uncertain career path of a freelance journalist.

And she is relishing her new life.

“You can see it in my skin,” she says with a laugh. “Before the anxiety and stress was showing in my skin but now I’m eating more healthily ... and I’m so much happier because I’m investing more time in my health and my friendships.”

She rattles off all the benefits since she made work fit her interests:

“I go to the gym every day; I’ve become fitter; done weights for the first time; I’m sleeping better and cut back on the alcohol which I’m really happy about,” she says

After leaving Commsec, the highly respected business journalist took stock of her personal life and chose to openly discuss the challenges facing single, career women. Then she made public her decision to freeze her eggs.

“I was naive to the fact that we really do have a ticking biological clock and I thought I can continue to get stressed about the baby question or I can take control,” she says.

Saly says the long and unsocial hours of her former life but a relationship difficult but is hopeful of finding a partner to share her transformed life.

“I’ve learned we’re not here for a long time and you have to make your life more than about work,” she says.

“My life in incredibly different now ... it goes to show if you take one step in the right direction how much can change.”

Despite her initial fears Saly says work continues to steadily stream her way — and finding success in other areas.

“Business news is still my bread and butter but I’ve also been able to diversity and that’s been really important and satisfying,” she says.

Johanna Scott, 30

A digital marketing consultant, Scott fell into freelancing two years ago but quickly discovered an eager market for her services.

“ I had been working for a start-up in the US and when I came home to Australia I continued to work for them another three months until they found my replacement,” she says.

“When I finished I thought it might be hard to find other clients but opportunities just seemed to come up.”

A keen foodie and yoga devotee, Scott says freelancing has allowed her the time to explore her other creative passions and desire for learning without compromising her productivity.

“I love the freedom of it as I get to decide what I’m working on and how I tackle the project,” she says.

“I have lots of creative things passions — I love to cook and do a lot of yoga and when I’m freelancing I can incorporate that into my life in a way that doesn’t compete with my output.”

Daily walks, swims, meditation practice and time for uninterrupted thought are all the bonuses of being her own agent.

“The things I was afraid of: not getting enough work; not getting paid enough; not having people wanting to work with me. None of that happened.”

Anthony Caruana, 47

A former schoolteacher who transitioned to technology training, Caruana spent the best portion of his career in a series of “9-5 office joe” corporate roles.

Since taking the plunge to walk away five years ago, he has carved out a successful freelance career as a technology writer, public speaker and event facilitator.

The decision has paid off financially and has most likely prolonged his life.

The father of three dropped from 107kg to 85kg, has taken up cycling and is about to run his first marathon. And the hayfever that plagued him a lifetime has disappeared.

“Exercise is integrated into my every day and I work around that,” says Caruana.

“I sleep better, I wake up and feel better and I look better which gives the confidence a boost.”

Contract work gifts you freedom and autonomy, he says.

“The whole thing is about balancing time for me, time for my family, time for my work and it’s easier for me to balance all those things because I have the flexibility to do it,” he says.

“I can pick who I work with and how I do that work and because I’m not beholden to a 9-5 boss with a performance plan and business targets I can do fun stuff as well.”