Mar 15, 2013

Balance

working-daddy-mama

One of the things that I constantly struggle with is the work & home balance, or in my case, the work at home balance. Before being a self-employed photographer, I had a day job. It was easy for me to drop Aiden off at a pre-school, go to work and stay focused, then go home. After I quit my day job and started doing photography full-time it was still pretty easy for me to work while Aiden was at school. After having Søren, however, I’m almost entirely too busy chasing him around, spending time with him, or eating up his cute little baby cheeks. By the time I sit down at my computer at night I am so tired I just browse random social media sites and very distractedly answer e-mails, edit photos, fulfill orders, etc. It’s not very productive.

I’ve started trying lately to give 100% of myself (Søren allowing..) to whatever needs me most at the moment. If I need to spend time with or take care of Søren, my phone is down, I’m not in my e-mail, I’m not trying to steal a minute at the computer. I devote 100% of myself to him at that time. If he’s sleeping or with my husband and I’ve got a chance to devote 100% of myself to work, I am working 100%. So far this has been working very well and it’s led to a natural schedule developing. It’s not one that I’m in love with but it’s what is working best for all of us right now.

I don’t know if there is a perfect answer or routine that is a one-size-fits-all. The best advice I can give is to outsource where you can so that you can maximize your time with your little ones because they grow up in the blink of an eye.

PS- Did you see my “Want, Need, Wear, Read” feature on Wild-Spirit? Check it out!

Both photos taken by Steve.

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[…] posted before about finding a work-life balance, and how sometimes you just have to go with the flow and devote 100% of yourself to the task at […]

So glad I found your sweet blog from over at SOML! I’m just dropping in to say, “Hello!”
And I love your thoughts here, btw. They do grow up so fast and as a mother of 4 with a daughter-in-law on the way, I can tell you that if all you ever do right is love those babies, you will succeed at the most important thing!
((hugs))

Hi there! Thanks for stopping by! I am a firm believer in never spoiling a baby with love. 🙂

Balance can be so hard! I’m about to have a little one and I can just see it now! I’m never going to want to do anything except kiss that chubby soft skin!

It’s ok, kiss away! Messy houses are expected when your first little one arrives.

How adorable are those pictures! I don’t have children yet, but I’m sure it is a difficult balance between work and spending time with them. Everything happening in life is on high gear and so are your little ones growing up. Great post! Found ya on story of my life. you have a new follower in me 🙂
Adrienne

Thanks! And I’m always glad to have new followers. 😀

I love working from home but it has been a huge adjustment for me. Now, over a year into it, and I’m still figuring out what “schedule” works best. And I don’t have any kids in the mix! I’m definitely letting myself fall into a natural rhythm now rather than trying to force what I think is the “right” schedule onto myself. It’s actually helping me be a lot more productive!

Found you via Story of My Life. When Jenni mentioned you were a fellow photog in the Bay Area, I just had to stop by and say hello. 🙂 Have a lovely weekend!

Yes! Even with no baby in my life it was a major adjustment for me. I thought I’d have so much more time only working from home and I was so wrong.

I just wrote a post similar to this like a week ago or so! I guess it’s good to know we’re not the only ones! 🙂

I went to read it just now. 🙂 A schedule might work out best for you since your little one is a bit older. It always worked for me with just my older one. My little one must know when I’m trying to follow a schedule because it always ends up more stressful for me than going without one. Good luck!

I need to practice doing this as well- focusing 100% on what I am actually doing! Then I can get it done, and move onto the next thing and focus completely on THAT 🙂

Some Snapshots Blog
Jess

Yes! It feels weird to go without a schedule but it’s worked wonders for me.

Ah Jess i couldn’t agree with you more.

Me and my husband are freelance and work from home too. It’s definitely great and the best way to work but so easy to loose yourself and end up working without a schedule (what’s happening at the moment)

Hope to find some balance soon!

Yes! There are so many perks to working from home but it takes so much discipline to set a schedule and stick to it.

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