This is the first post where I really mention the topic of going back to work but I am sure it won't be the last. I have so many thoughts on this subject, I don't even know where to start so I'll start with this...
How do you 'go' back to work when you have no where to actually go?
Before having Hugo, I would 'get' to work by inventing a morning routine and a commute which involved getting up, showered and dressed with Chris and, when Chris left for work on his bike, I would walk down to Darby Street, get a coffee and then walk back home to start my day of work. The challenge was to go straight to my desk rather than to the pile of laundry staring at me.
These days, I have a lot more than a pile of laundry staring back... I have a very little, very cute and very demanding little person who can keep himself happily entertained for about 2 minutes at a time. If studiously sitting behind my desk used to be a challenge of discipline, it has now become a distant fantasy. You don't know what you got 'til it's gone, right?
Over the last few weeks, my two main freelance jobs from last year have recontacted me to start doing some work again and while this is exciting, it is also very daunting. If I can barely find the time to cut my nails, when will I fit 6, 10 or 15 hours of work a week?
The problem isn't really the time itself but rather the totally unpredictable nature of Hugo's schedule. Hugo doesn't really have a routine yet although maybe we are getting closer to one but never knowing when or how long Hugo might be asleep for makes it very challenging to plan work in the middle of it all. It also puts a lot more pressure on Hugo to be 'convenient' and fall asleep when I need him to. This is both unrealistic and stressful for both of us.
At the moment, my best time is over the week-ends especially since Chris' hours got cut back. Now, I just need my clients to realise that I am not on call, all day, everyday... In many ways, this is the most challenging part and setting boundaries has become crucial.
Overall though, I am completely aware of the fact that this is the situation I chose when I decided to start freelancing rather than having a steady full-time job. Therefore, I am resisting the urge to envy those who can leave the house and 'go' to work. Instead, I just need to seize the moments when I can 'get' to work and enjoy the blessing of being able to spend as much time as I want looking after my little boy.
How do you 'go' back to work when you have no where to actually go?
Before having Hugo, I would 'get' to work by inventing a morning routine and a commute which involved getting up, showered and dressed with Chris and, when Chris left for work on his bike, I would walk down to Darby Street, get a coffee and then walk back home to start my day of work. The challenge was to go straight to my desk rather than to the pile of laundry staring at me.
These days, I have a lot more than a pile of laundry staring back... I have a very little, very cute and very demanding little person who can keep himself happily entertained for about 2 minutes at a time. If studiously sitting behind my desk used to be a challenge of discipline, it has now become a distant fantasy. You don't know what you got 'til it's gone, right?
Over the last few weeks, my two main freelance jobs from last year have recontacted me to start doing some work again and while this is exciting, it is also very daunting. If I can barely find the time to cut my nails, when will I fit 6, 10 or 15 hours of work a week?
The problem isn't really the time itself but rather the totally unpredictable nature of Hugo's schedule. Hugo doesn't really have a routine yet although maybe we are getting closer to one but never knowing when or how long Hugo might be asleep for makes it very challenging to plan work in the middle of it all. It also puts a lot more pressure on Hugo to be 'convenient' and fall asleep when I need him to. This is both unrealistic and stressful for both of us.
At the moment, my best time is over the week-ends especially since Chris' hours got cut back. Now, I just need my clients to realise that I am not on call, all day, everyday... In many ways, this is the most challenging part and setting boundaries has become crucial.
Overall though, I am completely aware of the fact that this is the situation I chose when I decided to start freelancing rather than having a steady full-time job. Therefore, I am resisting the urge to envy those who can leave the house and 'go' to work. Instead, I just need to seize the moments when I can 'get' to work and enjoy the blessing of being able to spend as much time as I want looking after my little boy.
"The happiest women I know are usually the ones who work for themselves. So many of us burn out trying to do things the corporate way," said Katrina Alcorn, author of the upcoming book, Maxed Out: American Moms on the Brink.
ReplyDelete"Then we become self-employed and find that we're incredibly productive when we have autonomy to work the way we need to. We're also much happier."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stacey-brooks-delo/why-women-helping-women-is-essential-to-workplace-flexibility_b_3756932.html
I think now is a good time for you to freelance and as you say, the trick will be carving out chunks of time during which to do so and that should become possible when you are no longer Hugo's only source of nourishment and he transitions to fewer but longer naps.
Until then, bring your work to the ranch and you will be free of all your responsibilities except that of feeding your baby boy.