WHY I LEFT MY FULL TIME JOB TO BECOME A FREELANCE WRITER.

Rewind the clock two years - I’d not long since had my little boy, Eric, and I was fully immersed in the magical whirlwind that is the 'new mum bubble.' Being a mummy was, and continues to be, the most important job I have ever had and will ever have. I looked at Eric and the thought of going back to work, 9-5:30 every single day was something I didn’t even want to contemplate. I vividly recall conversations with myself where I’d be saying ‘It’s not happening - I'm not doing it!’

Of course, as much as I wanted to be a full-time mum and while my days away playing with Eric, I knew this was A) unrealistic and B) probably not the best idea as I wanted to retain that sense of independence in terms of career, income etc. As a writer, I'm super lucky that my job is, as well as my source of income, a real creative outlet and something that I genuinely enjoy. Still, becoming a mum changed my perspective on things, and ultimately, I no longer wanted to be restricted to certain hours or an office-based role. 

When I did return to work after a year on maternity, I was able to work remotely because of the pandemic, which was great in some ways as I was able to spend lots of time with Eric, in spite of the fact I was back to full-time employment. My mum would mind Eric at our house and then on my lunch and at the end of the day, I could just run downstairs, wrap my arms around him, cuddle him and fully enjoy that quality time - which was amazing. For me, that was one of the perks of things not returning to ‘normal’, but of course, as soon as restrictions began to lift, returning to the office became an expectation and - as I knew all along - this wasn’t something that would work for me. I longed for freedom and with that in mind, set my sights on becoming a self-employed freelance writer. 

What I love about freelance writing is, aside from the freedom/flexibility of it, the huge spectrum of brands and industries I now have the privilege of working with. I love the fact that I can work with many clients, rather than one business, and there’s definitely a sense of satisfaction that comes with establishing new connections and putting in the work to make those connections. I’ve been freelancing since February, and already I’ve worked with four huge brands, each of which I’ve learned and gained so much from. 

Leaving my job was a risk, and it definitely wasn’t a snap decision that I made without thinking. I deliberated the pros and cons of a cushy, full-time job and becoming a freelance writer for some time, but in the end, freelancing was the only way forward for me - and it’s a decision that I couldn’t be happier that I made. 

If you’re a mum and you’re unhappy with your work setup, my advice would be to take the time to explore your options. It might be that freelancing isn’t something that your industry allows, but if your job isn’t fulfilling you or you feel like it’s costing you valuable time with your family, don’t accept things for what they are. Your happiness comes first and no job or career is ever more important than that! 

I really hope that you enjoyed this post & I can't wait to share more with you again soon.

Lots of love,

Grace x