James02, I am in a similar sort of limbo. I've had one day job in four years. I quit it after nine months. My background is in IT/software. My idea four years ago was that I would start a business based on a specific idea. I've started a dozen business projects, haven't finished any.

I also really want the freedom to work when I want, but I have found that it is extremely difficult at times to find the motivation to work at all.

I also struggle because whatever self-employment you dream up, selling yourself is key and may take up 50% of your time. I like sitting in front of a computer coding, but I struggle to self-promote. Estimating the amount of time it takes to do something as well as how long I can sustain interest in a project have also been challenges for me.

I am at a point now where I need to be self-employed rather than just on sabbatical and finding that it's very difficult to make the switch. It makes me wonder if I am suitable for self-employment at all, which I find very discouraging to contemplate.