Back in April when I took time off, I was shocked at how easy it was to come back and pick up where I left off. I’d taken the unconventional route and closed shop for the 10 days I was away. Projects were completed; clients were notified. I came back, notified my clients I was back and before I knew it I was freelancing again.

When I took my yearly 6 week break in October, I was confident I’ll be able to do the same. I’ll go home, soak in the sun and sand, hang out with friends, spend time with family etc. What I didn’t count on was getting lazy. I stopped thinking about work. A few family medical emergencies and my own flu and later bronchitis squashed any plans I had of working a few hours a week.

Then I made the biggest mistake. I came back and didn’t start working immediately. A week’s recuperating turned into three. Before I knew it, I decided to take it easy till the delivery and then go work part time after the baby came.

I contacted no clients, I didn’t search for work and I barely networked. Before long my unplanned sabbatical became an unwelcome sabbatical. And yet I couldn’t get myself to start work!

I landed an editing job out of the blue a few weeks which I didn’t turn down because it was insanely simple and I was actually interested in the work. As I worked, writing started to come alive again. My old drafts called at me and this neglected blog mocked me till finally, I started writing.

I’m writing again, getting back into freelancing again. If nothing else, this sabbatical has given me the time to think through my plans for the future. How will I handle a baby and work? Do I even want to work or become a full time mom?

The editing job gave me my answer. I’m a writer and will be a mother Insha’Allah. The two can co-exist. In order to make the co-existence harmonious, I’ll now be freelancing part time.

The decision to work part time made me realize that I no longer need to take projects that don’t hold my interest. I can pick and choose my work so that the time away from my child doesn’t feel like a time suck. I can pursue my own freelancing plans that kept being pushed back in favor of client work.

Best of all, I can have it all.

Image Credit: nsaplayer

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There’s really no excuse for disappearing off like this. There is however, a reason. [Hint: Look at the picture.]

I hope you’ve figured it out by now. The hand made card isn’t the most accurate but if you look closely… I take my words back. Everybody guessed right

Ever since I found out – and I found out relatively early , I’ve been waking up everyday praying I wouldn’t be sick and working as much as I can, wrapping up work for clients, not taking on anymore work than my current levels of sleep and energy permit.

I still haven’t figured out the etiquette for this. As a freelancer, who do I need to tell? Do I even need to tell my clients? The ones I’m letting go of or the one’s I’ll continue working with or both? Also, if I take on new clients, will they need to be told?

You can tell its my first time can’t you? If you’ve got advice, I’m all ears!

The Base will be quiet a little while longer till I work out the details and get back to a posting schedule. Till then I’ll  be aiming at once a week updates.

Don’t worry, the blog’s theme will not change. It’s still going to be about blogging, freelancing, social networking and whatever falls in between.

Oh and if you’d like to see this place updated more than once a week then I’m open to guest posts. Anyone up for it?

Technorati Tags: guest posting, personal

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