Career Archives - Audrey JoAnn | Content and Copy Writer

How to Plan Financially for an Extended Leave in Your Business

December 18, 2020

The first thing I did as soon as I found out I was pregnant was… create a savings plan. Like, before even telling my husband a little peanut was on the way.

(But that’s mostly because I wanted to tell him in a special way and be realllllly sure I was actually pregnant since I had found out SUPER early, so I waited about a week to tell him. More on that whole story here!)

I know. A savings plan doesn’t exactly scream, “YAY, we’re expecting!”

But it was a way for me to start logically wrapping my head around this BIG, big change. And as a freelance writer, I knew I wanted to be prepared financially to actually be able to take some time off work and be present with our baby.

… We’d also JUST bought a house two months before getting pregnant, and unexpectedly had to pay several thousand dollars for knee surgery for our dog a week before. The timing was super chill.

Our savings accounts were hurting, to put it lightly.

To put it realistically: They were all but drained.

10 Things Being Pregnant in a Pandemic Has Taught Me

December 4, 2020

Apparently I have a lot to say about this year—which is odd because doesn’t it simultaneously feel like NOTHING and SO MUCH has happened these past 11 months? Anyone else?

I think 2020 has transformed most of us in some way. I’m constantly torn between wondering who the person is growing inside me, and who the person is that I’m growing into. Along the way, I’ve learned quite a few lessons—some still in transit, some a re-learning, some pushing their way in no matter how hard I’ve pushed back.

Overall, I do think this year has been a beautiful reminder of the most important things: our priorities, our health, our families, our time. Here are 10 of the biggest things being pregnant in a pandemic has taught me:

01. To freakin’ slow down.

Ooooh, buddy. I wish I could say it didn’t take a global pandemic and pregnancy to be okay with occasionally letting myself work from bed or the couch—or *GASP* take a catnap in the middle of the day—or *DOUBLE GASP* take a day off from working out—but here we are.

I’ve worked for myself, from home, for nearly 3 years and couldn’t fathom doing that before unless I was sick or something had happened. Now I’m like: give me my bed and my pregnancy pillow and my laptop by 3:30 pm, or give me death. Evolution, y’all. It’s real.

The “Every Gal’s” Gift Guide 2020: For Busy, Ambitious + Fun-Loving Women

November 25, 2020

I was helping one of my clients pull together her annual holiday gift guide and found myself sending her link after link of things I’ve bought or had my eye on lately. And then I was like, “Wait a second, why don’t I just pull all of these into one spot?!” I mean, I am by NO means an influencer, but I do think that holiday shopping is often one of the more stressful parts of the season. Sometimes it’s just HARD to think of the right thing for everyone on our list on our own… this year more than ever.

And in 2020 especially, I know a lot of people’s travel plans have adjusted, or they’re gathering for holidays in smaller groups. The stress of a regular holiday season is a bit intensified as we navigate tricky, weird times, so I figured rounding up some things that have been bringing me joy would be a good way to help you gift your nearest and dearest. (Or… just go ahead and get yourself one or two things on this list. You deserve it!)

We’re staying put in California this year since I’m 8.5 months pregnant, so we’ll be missing all of our family and just mailing gifts out this year. Which—honestly?—is sort of a relief. Your girl isn’t good at ordering ahead of time and getting gifts perfectly wrapped, so I’ll let the delivery pros be Santa this year.

(BTW, can we all just pause and acknowledge and thank the REAL heroes of this season, aka the UPS, FedEx, USPS, and other delivery drivers and workers?! They have a thankless, endless job and I am soooo, so grateful for them.)

If you’re looking for the perfect gift for your sweetest gal pals, besties, female relatives, coworkers, or clients, get some inspiration for fun home items, comfy work-from-home clothes and necessities, and practical gifts they wouldn’t think to buy themselves below!

My Approach to Maternity Leave as a Freelance Writer (& My Interview on the Goal Digger Podcast!)

October 6, 2020

When I found out I was pregnant, one of the first things that crossed my mind was: How in the world am I going to figure out maternity leave as a freelance writer? I know, it should’ve been more baby blankets and bottles than worrying about work—or taking time off of work—but I love what I do SO much, and I work with several clients on a weekly basis who I didn’t want to leave hanging just because I’m experiencing a huge life change.

So, I began looking around and researching what my options were. Obviously, I create my own schedule, so that works out in my favor. But I knew immediately I wanted to give myself at least two to three months of complete flexibility and freedom to be fully present with the baby after he or she gets here.

Even though I work from home and have a ton of leniency with my schedule, I still have people to report to, deadlines, and last-minute requests from clients. So I was torn between trying to figure out a way to still be there for my clients, while also completely unplugging from work so I can soak up first-time motherhood…

No biggie.

01. To freakin’ slow down.

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