How to Balance Your Freelance Career as a Parent

Balancing a freelance career is a juggling act that requires skill, creativity and dedication. As a remote worker, you enjoy the freedom to choose your hours and your office. However, this flexibility comes with a few challenges, especially when you add taking care of kids into the mix.

Between client deadlines, family responsibilities and trying to maintain some semblance of work-life balance, it can feel overwhelming. Here's the good news — you can create a thriving freelance career while being present for your family.

Create a Schedule That Works for Your Family

Your freelance schedule shouldn't fight against your family's natural rhythm — it should flow with it. Start by mapping out your fixed commitments, such as school drop-offs, mealtimes and activities. Then, build your work schedule around these anchors.

Children thrive on structure. Rituals and habits help them feel more secure in their surroundings and have been found to improve how kids relate and perform in school. So, use these routines to your advantage. Identify when your children have downtime — naptime, quiet reading time or after school — and plan your most important work tasks during these windows. This helps maximize productivity and makes you available for your kids when they need you.

Instead of forcing yourself into the traditional 9-to-5, take advantage of the flexibility freelancing offers. Maybe you're most productive during the early morning hours before the kids wake up, or perhaps you do your best work during afternoon quiet time. The key is to test different times and see what works best for you and your family.

Setting specific working hours and establishing clear boundaries between work and family time will enable you to focus on your tasks. Let your kids know when you’ll be working so they understand not to disturb you during those hours. This physical and mental boundary helps ensure your work hours stay productive and reinforces the value of your freelance job.

Set up a Dedicated Workspace

While working from the kitchen table might seem convenient, having a designated workspace can dramatically improve your productivity. You don’t necessarily need an entire home office — even a small corner of your bedroom can work with the right setup.

Consider:

• Setting up a desk that's solely for work.
• Using noise-canceling headphones.
• Having a "do not disturb" signal for family members.
• Keeping essential supplies within arm's reach.
• Making it comfortable and inspiring — add plants, personal photos or art to keep you motivated.

You’ll be more focused and less distracted by household tasks and movements when you're in a designated space.

Embrace Technology

Technology is your best friend as you attempt to strike a balance between work and family life. Use management and collaboration apps and tools to help you manage your projects. For instance, Google Calendar allows you to plan your day and share your timetable with others. This visibility puts everyone on the same page, which avoids unnecessary interruptions.

If you have school-age children, consider enrolling them in virtual educational programs. Online schooling offers greater flexibility in scheduling, allowing you to fit pockets of time to focus on work while your kids engage in productive learning. You won’t need to spend time getting your kids to and from school every day.  

Further, many virtual schools provide a customized experience that accommodates different learning styles. This keeps your child’s motivation levels high and reduces the need for constant supervision.

Build a Support Network

Remember the saying, "It takes a village?” This applies to parents who freelance, too. To build a reliable support network, consider the following sources:

• Other freelance parents for mutual support and advice
• Family members who can help during busy periods
• Reliable babysitters or child care providers
• Professional networks for business growth opportunities
• Online communities, local meetups or social media groups where you can share experiences and advice and even collaborate on projects

These connections can offer encouragement by reminding you that many others are balancing similar challenges.

Don’t Hesitate to Outsource Help

Getting extra help can make a huge difference, from meal delivery services to housekeeping. Outsource nonessential tasks like cleaning and mowing if financially feasible. This lightens the chore load, giving you more time to focus on work and family.

Take Care of Yourself

Burnout is real — even in virtual offices. About 86% of freelancers working full-time from home report experiencing it. This is because it’s easy to neglect self-care when juggling work and parenting.

Taking care of yourself is vital for maintaining your energy and focus. Schedule time for activities that recharge you, whether you prefer a quick workout, a 15-minute meditation session, reading a book or simply enjoying a cup of tea in silence. This includes eating balanced meals and getting enough shuteye.

Remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup. Your well-being directly affects your ability to perform at work and run a household.

Plan for the Unexpected

As any parent knows, unexpected situations are part of the package. Build flexibility into your schedule to act as a safety cushion by:

• Keeping a buffer in your project timelines.
• Having backup child care options.
• Creating emergency work plans.
• Maintaining a rainy-day fund for slow periods.

Make Parenting and Freelancing Work

Remember, there's no one-size-fits-all approach to balancing freelancing and parenting. What works for one family might not work for you, so experiment with different strategies.

Instead of trying to achieve perfect balance, strive for harmony. Some days will lean more toward work and others toward family, and that's OK. What matters is that you're meeting your professional goals and your family's needs.

Most importantly, give yourself grace. You're doing something challenging and worthwhile. Celebrate the wins, learn from the struggles and adjust your approach as your family's needs evolve. Derive comfort from the fact that you're showing your children what it means to pursue your dreams while prioritizing the people who matter most.