Hi everyone!! How is everyone doing this lovely day? I hope well!

I have a ton of things I want to share with you all, but can’t seem to find the time lately. You see, when I started this blog, it had been weighing heavily on my mind for a very long time. So I finally pushed that launch / publish button! This blog has been a wonderful outlet for me, and I am not ready to give it up. I actually really love it! I promise I will get better at posting every week, but there’s been a lot going on.

When I first moved here to ND, I also wanted to start my freelance career. Then it got pushed aside, because, ya know, life. In my last post I shared my story of my mom passing away, and what I learned in A Mother’s Love is Immortal, Even Though She Isn’t. It was when I was at my parents house in IL, the week of my mom’s funeral, that I realized I REALLY wanted (and needed) to start pushing myself to jump back into the freelance world. Working remotely appeals to me in so many different ways. When my boyfriend and I both missed work for a bit over a week, it really hurt the paychecks. If I had the ability to work remotely, and while we were out of state I could have still pushed myself to work. It would have even kept my mind busy.

When we got home from IL, I started putting in the work. I put together my services and rates, contact page and started a professional blog. (Right around the same time I published this blog). The professional blog is supposed to be a way to show my potential clients that I do in fact know what I am talking about. I want to show people that my knowledge and experience aren’t just words on a resume. (As we all know unfortunately a lot of people lie on their resumes, or “fabricate” them).

Once I completed my VA (virtual assistant) website, and published a couple blogs, I started applying and bidding on available freelance positions. On Oct. 21st, I signed my very first contract. The irony behind all of this is that it was my mom’s birthday. As I mentioned, her passing was the entire reason I started pushing myself in that direction again. I still can’t even explain how that made me feel. That day was a serious emotional roller coaster. In some moments I was screeching with excitement, others I was crying uncontrollably. It makes me believe my mom is still watching out for me, though.

It seems it all kind of happened at once. I admit, I put myself in that position, but I wasn’t expecting to get a contract so soon. I couldn’t be more thankful for it, though! And it’s perfect timing for some extra holiday cash!

The problem I am having now is balancing everything. I still work full time, as well as manage two websites, work freelance part time, and raising kids!! WHEW!! It’s a lot! My goal is to eventually, and hopefully soon, be able to quit my full time job and freelance full time. In the meantime, I have got some figuring out to do.

Here’s My Plan

I have to prioritize my contract, and get that work done. It’s nice because it seems to be an ongoing project. So I can focus on that during the week, after work.

My plan for my blogs then, will be to work on them on Sundays. I have a million posts that are half written, or already planned out. I just have to make the time. The hard part about this will be the possibility of not having a “day away” from my computer.

My other big problem is social media! I am terrible at continuously posting on Instagram. I am an introvert with anxiety… Sometimes I feel like I just don’t have the energy to do it. I come up with all of these great posts in my head, and then I don’t do it. I think I might be able to plan my Instagram posts after I publish my blogs on Sundays.

If I plan to meet my goals of being full time freelance by next year I will also need to continue to bid on jobs. Some of the freelancer Facebook groups I follow suggest a “Pitch Slap Wednesday”. Where one day a week, in this case Wednesdays, you submit your bids and send out a few proposals.

This still seems like A LOT! Even if I were to put this all in a calendar or what I like to call my “Artificial Intelligence” with set reminders to keep me on track.

I know I am not the only person in this big ol’ world to struggle with multiple things on their plate. So I ask you: Are there any other freelancers out there that are still working full time? Parenting? Blogging in the middle of it? How do you balance everything? I would LOVE TO KNOW what you use to keep you sane and organized.