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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