Freelance Writing As A Work-At-Home-Mum

Rule Number Ten: Goal Setting

A 12-part series to help WAHM smash their goals and achieve their dreams!

The “12 Rules of Freelance Writing as a Work-From-Home-Mum” is a series of stories to help WAHM smash their goals and achieve their dreams of a successful freelance writing business!

Setting goals and knowing your WHY is so important as a freelance writer and a work-at-home-mum.

Why?

Because these things help motivate, inspire and drive you forward.

I don’t know about you, but at the end of a long day at home with the children I just want to curl up on the couch with wine, chocolate and Netflix. I don’t want to move. I don’t want to think. I don’t want to do anything.

So, what gets me up and in front of my computer at the end of the day?

Knowing my WHY and moving one step closer to achieving my goals does. It gives me that little kick that I need to shake off the fatigue and brain fog and knock out some work.

What is your WHY?

Why do you want to be a freelance writer?

Why do you want to be a WAHM?

Be honest with yourself here. Initially I thought I wanted to be a freelance writer so I could be home with my kids. I am good at writing so I thought; why not give that a crack. Being paid to write sounds easy!

However, if I am being 100% honest with myself, it is not ALL about being a work-at-home-mum, or being present for my children.

I genuinely LOVE writing. I love helping businesses out with their website content and blog post strategies. The freelance writing world is exciting and brings something new every day. I cultivate great relationships with businesses, companies and other working parents.

So no, it is not all about my children. Balancing a career that allows me to be home with them more is just an added bonus.

In short, my number one why is simple.

I love to write and use that passion for writing to help others.

My number two why is being present for my children and family more. For over a decade now I have been a nurse. Shift work means that I have missed countless family functions, birthdays, Easter, Christmas, family dinners, trips and more. Nursing takes a physical and emotional toll. At the end of many a shift I would walk through my front door with nothing left to give, especially these days with the pandemic.

Freelance writing is a fantastic way to contribute to the household budget with the freedom to work as often, or as little as I like.

When you know your why it helps create a clear vision for your business, as well as set achievable goals.

What are your goals as a freelance writer and WAHM?

Do you set goals?

In the beginning, I was hopeless at setting goals. I just kind of bumbled my way from here to there.

Now I set weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly goals. It sounds like a lot of work, but it really isn’t.

Look at it this way.

Visualise where you want to be in your business in 12 months time. What do you need to achieve to make that happen? That right there is your big 12-month goal.

Write it down.

Now break that big goal down into smaller goals. Write those down too!

Now you can divide those up into your weekly, monthly and quarterly goals. By breaking larger goals down into smaller, actionable items you wont become overwhelmed.

Don’t forget to review your goals!

How do you know what progress you are making if you do not take the time to review your goals?

At the end of each week I like to glance back at my weekly goals and see which ones I have ticked off. I compare to my bigger goals to see what progress I am making towards them.

It gives me a thrill when I see that I am getting closer to ticking those big goals off. And this helps me to keep going when I don’t have much fuel left in the reserve tanks.

Reviewing your goals is a great way to keep you on track and moving forward.

Do you review your goals? Or do you set and forget?

Rachel Maree is a writer, mum and registered nurse. Bringing you the real truth to parenting, nursing and writing (even when it is downright ugly). You can learn more or hire her to write amazing content for you — Rachel Maree.

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