I'm an independent contractor and I honestly don't have many of the issues I read in this thread. I'm my own boss, deadlines are prescribed by state law, things are pretty nice.

But one thing I don't do is deliver the work early. That's a laid service in my line of work; you want it sooner, I'll work nights and weekends to get it to you, and you'll pay me extra money. When you start giving work early, people start to expect it, and the same people will always ask for an extra day or two here and there.