I have a job where I can’t take time off. What should I do?

I (26F) have been working “freelance” for a small company since October 2024. I’m basically a full-time employee but I only get paid for specific tasks that don’t take up my entire day. The other things I do are related to my paid tasks, but I’m not actively paid for them.

Basically when I joined, the company was small. Just the boss, a worker, me, and a part-timer. It’s now gotten much bigger and so has my workload.

Before, I could just keep on trucking because there wasn’t too much to do. But now it’s all day every day, no earlier than 9am because I refuse to log in earlier than that, but no set end time, no guaranteed lunch break. I try to finish at 5:30pm but sometimes I’m still “on the clock” until I go to bed.

I don’t get to take time off. About a year ago my boss hinted that if I took any holiday time off, he’d obviously need to get someone in to replace me, and I know what he’s like. I don’t think he’d bring in temporary cover, he’d keep this person on and they’d have my job too and my earnings would be cut in half or worse. I live with my boyfriend (24M) but he has been struggling to find a job for over a year (we have plans in place for him to get some new qualifications soon) so I really couldn’t afford to have someone else doing my job. Additionally I don’t get paid time off for anything, either I work and get paid or I don’t and get nothing. I’m not even really allowed sick days either, I’ve had exactly one sick day off the entire time and that was because I physically could not keep my eyes open and even then he was messaging me the whole day with things that needed to be done.

Recently, where the workload has increased the pay has become a lot better, so in that regard I’m happy to keep working. But I’m going to be 27 next month. Since October 2024 all I’ve been doing all day every day is this job. Had enough money to pay for rent and bills and food and pets and little treats like the cinema but not enough for savings or holidays (vacations). I’ve missed out on being 25 and 26 and I feel like I’m going to miss out on being 27 too and god knows how many other ages. It’s work from home so I’ve been stuck in my room at this desk for years. It’s my whole life because I don’t have another choice (the job market is horrendous).

I’m not sure what advice I’m looking for, because I’m just at a loss. Happy with my paychecks, crushed by the feeling I’m missing out on life. Maybe a reality check, maybe encouragement, maybe tell me what you would do. I only have my own perspective on this so please give me yours. If you need more info I’m happy to provide but I don’t want to get into the details of my job too much. Thanks for reading.