Freelancing While Parenting, Why Not?

Freelancing is a better way to earn money for mom rather than working a 9–5 job because you can always be at home with kids around.

However, working while your toddler plays near you, running here and there, or spilling some liquids or cake crumbs on the floor can feel like eyes-juggling.

If you want both your parenting and freelancing job to run smoothly, here are some smart strategies you can do to manage everything without feeling too overwhelmed.

Manage the time, create schedule

Perfect timing is key to getting things done. You must already know how’s your family routine looks like. You can easily notice which time to set for freelancing work. Grab it!

If you have a baby and you have enough sleep hours, you can use the time when your baby is sleeping. Babies under 3 months old, sleep a lot.

If you have toddlers, create their space for play times and you can use that to work. But if you have kids and they’re going to school, you can use that time to be more focused on your work.

Don’t be too hard on yourself if there are a lot of distractions from your kids, work after kids, just stick to your plan as much as you can.

Be flexible with schedule, none of the schedule is perfect. You create it, you can always change it. Things do not always go as expected.

Tell people that you are working

You need quiet time to focus while working. To create that focus time you have to tell people around you that you are working. Especially the nearest one, your family.

Let your family know when you are working, so they dare to pass the line during your working hours. It’s easy to tell an adult but kids? You can create a workspace that kids know is for work-only.

Including friends or people who know you sometimes need to know that you are working. You won’t have a guest during duty, right?

By just letting people know that you are working, you set the boundary which can help people to understand that you need those hours for work.

Adapting technology to stay organized

There are a lot of tools created out there to help you stay organized. Learn from others which tools they use for organization. Some people might like A tool while B tool for others. For you, you can choose the perfect one for you.

When the first project lands, there will be a deadline. Keep track of your progress using apps or calendars. Apps and calendars not only help you to track where you are but can remind you if you have client meetings or even family events.

Trello is a good tool for project management. It’s free and I totally recommend this one. You can keep everything in one place and it is easier for you to stay on top of things.

Ask people for help

Don’t burden yourself alone like you have to do all the things. Ask others for help when you need it. In Indonesia, we usually got help from grandparents since husbands would be working. But, you also have an option to hire a babysitter. When you get a great support system, that can make a big difference.

What about chores?

I usually share the chores with my husband. I do the washing dishes, cooking and laundry while he is cleaning the house. It’s always a good thing to get help from your husband. We help each other, that’s what makes us one.

Act based on priority

Prioritize your tasks! The most important tasks come first. Put your focus on it and get it done.

Sometimes, things go wrong or something unexpected happens until you can’t get everything done and that’s okay. So how?

The secret sauce is don’t put too much work. You know yourself better than anyone. Prioritize, remember.

I usually will set one thing as a priority in a day. And if I could finish that one, it means I win the day.

If you need to get a heavy-focus job, morning time is always a good choice.

Take a break, don’t burnout

When parenting and work sabotage your life, don’t forget to take breaks! Take a few minutes to relax, do a small walk, stretch, or enjoy a glass of water.

Get enough sleep. Sleep is healing. Fresh brain is always ready for you after sleep.

Take care of yourself and you will be able to get more focused and productive when you return to work.

Parenting and freelancing all at once is hard work. Some days will be more challenging than others.

Be kind to yourself. It’s okay if things are not running as planned. You need time to grow. Be patient to yourself as you always know that you are doing your best. And hey, a small reward after a tough day may sound great, right?

If you use these tips and run your way, freelancing while parenting will be easier to manage. Enjoy your career and time with kids!