On juggling freelance life with a baby, and a little mind dump

Slight apologies in advance as this is probably more of a rambling mind dump, but also a check-in “hey, i’m still here” kind of post. It’s been 10 days since I wrote a blog post, which for some people who blog isn’t any time at all, but for myself, who likes to write, photograph, and check in here on a regular basis for both business and pleasure it’s definitely a long time, and when it feels like a long time, it starts to make me twitchy. And then I’m very aware that I haven’t been here for a while. And then I start to feel the panic that only a freelancer who makes money from doing something, but who isn’t actually doing very much of it, feels. 

Before having Arlo 10 months ago, I had become amazingly spoiled by having a year once both F & S were at school where I could work on this blog during school hours, 3 days a week (the other two are taken up by my digital marketing job for a communications company), and also do more in the evening should I wish. Since our little guy has made an appearance, let’s just say that my time to work on here has reduced significantly, which as a freelancer is frustrating and stressful, especially when I’m being offered more work than ever before. Of course, this isn’t his fault (he’s the BEST baby in the world, so laid back, and we wouldn’t change him for anything). And I guess I had vague thoughts that I would have to juggle my time more, but nothing prepares for the impact that having a baby has on your freelance life, especially when you have other children to think of too. 

I can (and do) work some evenings, but lately I have to admit that I’ve been struggling with this, and by the time A is in bed, we want to spend some time with the big two, and then once dinner/life admin has been completed (even though Adam and I share this), I’m knackered and there isn’t always the brain power to write something vaguely half decent (I’m NOT a night owl anymore!). 

This all sounds very moany, and in many ways it shouldn’t be (I’m lucky to be doing what I’m doing), but I guess it’s hard when you’re used to be being organised and on the ball, and then seem to go from that to dropping lots of balls! I pride myself in being a reliable person to work with, and someone who can produce the goods to deadline again and again, but at the moment it feels much more of a challenge. As I type I have an uneasy feeling as I know I have 4 videos to edit for a brand I’m working with long term, a few other bits of work in the pipeline, plus wanting to produce some decent organic content. I’m a big believer in writing being like a muscle- the more you exercise it, the easier it is, so if you aren’t doing it as regularly as you’d like then it becomes harder to get going (I actually feel better already waffling on writing this post even though it would never win any prizes for thrilling, coherent content!). 

Anyway, I’m not really sure what I’m trying to say, just that I still love this space of mine even though it’s harder to do as much as I’d like right now. Many people have been prophesying the demise of the blog lately and focusing on other areas, but whilst I enjoy making the odd video, I have no huge desire to be a YouTube of Instagram ‘star’, I just enjoy writing and taking photos.

It’s got me thinking about what direction I might take this blog for the rest of this year.

Originally when I first started I didn’t even know you could make money, and I just wrote about crafts for toddlers and about our family adventures, purely as a slightly geeky hobby and purely for myself. As time went on I started documenting our home renovations (something I’m still passionate about doing), and then it all kind of progressed from there. I think I want to carry on in the family lifestyle vein, with home, interiors, organisation, family travel etc being at the forefront. But I’m also tempted to start up another blog, possibly with private settings so that I can write for fun again about our family life and what the kids have been up to, for our family diary. I’m very aware as Freddie and Sasha are getting older that I have to be very careful about what I write about them here. I also weirdly actually miss writing about crafts and activities, so am also thinking of going full circle and starting a new blog along these lines to run alongside this one- which seems madness given I’ve just been moaning about lack of time! But I just feel I want to shake things up a bit, have a bit of a change and reignite my passion for blogging. 

In the meantime, I guess I just have to go with the flow more until Arlo is at preschool and I have more time once again, and just enjoy this special time with him. They’re only this small once, and being our last baby, I want to miss out on as little as possible with him. I just need to have a bit of a re-think as to what is now the most effective (and enjoyable!) way of keeping this blog baby of mine going, whilst bringing home the bacon!

Anyone out there a freelancer (or blogger) with kids? When do you work, and how do you juggle everything?

I’d love to hear!

 

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2 Comments

  1. Rachel @ The Ordinary Lovely
    April 23, 2018 / 12:44 pm

    Oh Becky, I think you’ll have a fair few of us nodding along to this. It’s all such a juggle. I balance work and working on my blog, but both boys are now in school so it’s a lot easier than it once was. I set myself a target of publishing a post every Sunday (it sometimes slips to Monday morning) and potentially a mid week one if inspiration strikes. It means that I get a full week to craft a story in my head, take photos for it, and then share it afterwards. Once a week feels so doable. You could try more of a gentle routine and see if it works any better for you x

  2. April 25, 2018 / 1:02 pm

    It is tough isn’t it. I am a Mummy of 3 with my youngest being 16 months – whilst my blog is very much a hobby I am definitely struggling to keep it going at the moment. Between working part time and doing school runs and general life admin I don’t have any time or inspiration to blog or take pictures, some days I have all these ideas but no time to execute them.

    It is frustrating but I do know when Alfie starts school my time will come (I know this is easy for me as blogging is a hobby) and I am pretty sure I will miss these baby days.

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