When I graduated from college in 2007, finding a full-time job was the priority. I got married and moved into an apartment within a month after graduating, so contributing financially and using my degree was the essential next step. I rode out some rough economic times at a job that I disliked. I wasn't using my degree the way I wanted, and the location was not ideal. I did what I had to do in those early years, and it led me to the job that ended up being a stepping stone into working from home.
That second job came with a commission plan that allowed me to pay off debts and reduce our monthly expenses, so we could afford for me to stay home after having our first child. I worked really hard to get things where I needed them to be to facilitate this. I was also building my writing portfolio the entire time that I was working these full-time jobs. I took on some freelancing here and there, which I kept up with after my first child was born. Freelancing while working a full-time job was difficult at times, especially when the so-called 9-5 job expects you to check your email, go to networking events, and take calls outside of work. This constant connection is exhausting.
I found the idea of sitting at a desk for a certain number of hours to be mind-numbing
COVID made me and others realize that chaining someone to a desk "just because" is not essential or sustainable
I actually want to work now. I am more efficient while I’m working, and my brain works better. Working with my own rhythm has made a world of difference in my productivity and my happiness. I am happier than I’ve ever been working and caring for my kids. I will never go back to a traditional 9-5 job.
