Every now and then, both on Fiverr and outside of it, I see the idea that a freelancer should be available all the time. I even see some Fiverr sellers claiming to be available 24/7, and I see suggestions on how to be on at all times (basically, utilize the Fiverr app so that you can take Fiverr with you even in the bathroom, and set the alarm to alert you (and possibly wake you up) whenever you get a new message or order).
The thing is, biology exists, and it has some rules. Health has some rules, too. If you are running a team, then yes, it's possible to organize the members so that someone is always available. But if you're one person, with no team behind you? Then you need to sleep, otherwise you'll ruin your health. Perhaps you also have a full-time job, and will lose it if you check your phone and answer Fiverr messages during work. Not to mention that you might also have a family, friends, and life outside of your freelancing work, whether it's on Fiverr or somewhere else.
This isn't to say that you can just chill at your favorite pub, and only work (or answer messages) when you feel like it, if you feel like it, and if the stars are right. Successful freelancers work a lot, communicate well enough, and are available reasonably often.
Reasonably. When you're sleeping, you're sleeping. When you're taking your kid to the hospital or spending some quality time with your friends and family, that's what you're doing, not answering a message sent by someone with no time management skills who must have this done three weeks ago.
But won't you lose some clients that way?
You certainly will.
You will lose a small number of clients who have an urgent task through no fault of their own (an accident happened, something came up, there was a natural disaster and ruined months or years of their work, an entire team of highly-skilled people suddenly died... You get the picture). If the service you offer is time-sensitive, then you'll also lose some clients because they needed something done while you were sleeping.
You'll also lose a bunch of clients who don't know how to manage their time, or who accepted to work for people who don't know how to do things on time. You'll lose clients who would message you every five minutes, asking you when they'll get their work done. And, surprisingly often, you'll lose clients who want it done yesterday, but are not willing to pay for the extra fast delivery.
In other words, by not being available 24/7, if you offer good work and valuable service, you will mostly lose the problem clients. The ones you'd prefer to avoid anyway.
