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Today I wanted to talk about the three things I massively struggle to juggle: being a mum, working self-employed, and living with a chronic illness of Crohn’s Disease. I haven’t done a bit of a life update in a while so thought I would today. My son Jude is now two years old (where has the time gone!) and it’s getting more difficult juggling motherhood with work and my chronic illness. It feels like fatigue to the power of 100 some days! Today I wanted to share the things that have helped me in my journey of trying to work as a freelance journalist; alongside my chronic illness and juggling life as a mum.
1. You NEED childcare
Let’s normalise the fact that we need childcare to work; even more so when we have a chronic illness. Those evenings and rare nap times are crucial for us to rest and working until midnight is likely to cause issues for our health the next day.
I know childcare is expensive and sometimes unaffordable but I find the ‘freelancing means working with kids at home’ incredibly unhelpful for mums. In my experience, when I’m with Jude I need to be with 100% of that time and then be 100% focused on my work. If you are starting a business around nap times you’re going to burn out and make yourself unwell quickly.
A note on this: applying for tax-free childcare can get you 20% off your childcare bill if you are both working (more info here).
2. Factor in sick days (for both of you)
Another thing to consider is sick days-both for you and your child. Once your child starts nursery, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but they will pick up EVERYTHING! So one of my biggest mistakes earlier on was not factoring in hiccups into my week-whether this is making sure you aren’t at 100% capacity and have catch up days scheduled in as buffers or have emergency childcare at hand. Remember that unlike regular work, you don’t get sick pay; so you need to factor this into your rates when working with people. And if you have a chronic illness like me, you need to be realistic about the amount of sick pay you are likely going to need!
3. Use income protection insurance
Another thing many of us with illnesses neglect to consider is income protection insurance which pays out a percentage of your salary when you’re not working. Income protection is also avaliable for those who are self-employed, although we rarely hear it mentioned. These won’t usually cover things like coughs and colds but will cover you for periods of time when your illness leaves you unable to work. Some won’t cover pre-existing conditions like chronic illnesses but others do so shop around and try to find one with the best cover.
4. Remember why you went freelance in the first place.
Going self-employed is an attractive option to parents and those who struggle to get their employer to understand their condition (I’ve been there!). However, we’re often so keen to prove we can do it that we neglect to remember the advantages of being freelance in the first place. If you’re unwell, you don’t need to worry about taking a day off-you’re the boss and can juggle things around. If you have a change in meds or a hospital appointment, you can be flexible to make it work. If you feel like you need a day out with your child and want to put your phone in a drawer, DO it! We often feel as if we need to productive 24/7 but that should not be the case-particularly with a chronic condition.
5. Let clients know your situation
Finally, let your clients know your background. I haven’t hidden my condition or the fact I have a 2-year-old with any of my clients. Being upfront about your situation can not only help establish boundaries but also a connection. I’ve discovered lots of my clients are also juggling long-term health conditions and childcare! The key is to give plenty of notice and explain how things work best with you: can’t do 24-hour turnarounds? Don’t promise them. Need a client to understand you don’t answer emails after 5pm? Make it clear. Use that initial conversation as you start working together to explain how you work and your boundaries. If hiccups appear in the road, be honest as soon as you can and try to offer solutions. Could you outsource to another freelancer? Could you make up the hours next month? There is almost always a solution as long as you are honest about your situation.
I hope this post has been useful for any freelance mums. You can find more of my freelance posts over on The Bloglancer.
