Discussing work / life balance with Lily

We chatted to freelance writer Lily, ‘The Wordsmith’, about the ups and downs of freelance life and how yoga can hugely influence your outlook and general well-being.

What are 3 things you have learnt from being a freelancer?

1. It’s so important to add variety to your days, otherwise they start to blur together! Being freelance allows me to work on multiple projects with different clients, which keeps my brain engaged and my days interesting.

2. Organisation is key. As a sole trader, you’re pretty much a one-man band, so it’s crucial to stay on top of emails and invoices - even if it’s not the most riveting part of the job!

3. There is far more to life than just your job. Even if you find joy in your work, it’s so important to make time for the other parts of your life - your friends and family, your hobbies, exercise, and rest! Being able to listen to my mind and body and choose my own hours as a freelancer helps me to achieve a far greater work-life balance - something I struggled with at my full time job.

Why have you chosen to go freelance over full time employment?

I was freelance for a few years, before joining a full time role in a company for just over a year. Having experienced both, I know that freelancing is the right choice for me - hence why I’ve decided to go freelance again! It mostly comes down to wanting flexibility and choice over my time and schedule: in my full time role, I found it difficult to be glued to my desk 9-5 all day, every day. With freelancing, I love the fact I can choose my own hours. If I’m struggling to get into a good work flow or if I’m feeling stressed, I can simply take a break and go for a long walk to clear my head, then schedule in some work hours that evening to make up for it.

Another key reason I’ve chosen freelancing over my employment is because of the variety. In my full time role, I was doing largely the same work, day in day out. As a freelancer - especially now that I’m also teaching yoga too - I am able to work with multiple clients, taking on different projects and choosing work that truly interests me. Then, I can pop out to teach a yoga class! This makes my work days and weeks far more varied and engaging.

What is your favourite type of writing?

In terms of copywriting, writing magazine articles has to be my favourite. While I do also enjoy writing for websites and blogs, as there is definitely an art to SEO (and there’s something very satisfying about getting an article onto page 1 of Google!), with magazine writing there is much more creative freedom to really get your teeth into a topic and write it purely for the reader to enjoy - rather than for a search engine to first decide whether it’s worthy of a reader’s eyes!

In terms of writing as a whole, my absolute favourite would have to be fictional writing. I’ve always loved writing stories, ever since I was little. It’s still a long-time dream of mine to be a published author - I just need to find (or make!) time to finish writing my books…

What benefits are there of introducing yoga into a daily routine?

Yoga is a hugely beneficial practice, for the mind and body. It goes far beyond just the poses too, which is just one of the 8 limbs of yoga. Yoga is a way of life, guiding us to feel more content, mindful and accepting of ourselves and our current reality.

If you are feeling stressed out or anxious, taking the time to meditate or try some yoga can work wonders to slow down your thoughts and regulate your nervous system. Alternatively, if you feel sluggish and lethargic, an energising yoga flow can be a great way to add some pep to your step!

Overall, yoga encourages us to slow down, be present and connect with our mind, body and breath - something which I believe is deeply needed in our fast-paced society.

If people feel a bit sceptical about yoga, what would you say?

I truly believe yoga is for everyone - no matter your age, ability or beliefs - as long as you keep an open mind. The only way to experience the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual benefits is to give it a go and see for yourself!

Oftentimes, a beginner may leave their first yoga class thinking it’s not for them - perhaps simply because they weren’t as flexible as the student next to them. But yoga is not about forcing the body into crazy poses - it’s about simply tuning into the present moment and allowing your mind to be still while your body flows through the poses.

If you’re thinking about trying yoga for the first time, I would recommend taking it slowly and joining a class suitable for beginners. Your teacher will be there to guide you and help you every step of the way. Yoga is for everyone, as long as you keep an open mind and allow yourself to experience it fully.

What made you want to become a yoga teacher?

I’ve practiced yoga on and off for many years - it was something I’d often return to if I was feeling particularly stressed or going through a difficult time. Then, over the past 2 years, I began to practice weekly, and then daily, as I fell more and more in love with yoga. I just loved how I felt after every class.

While working at my full time role, I began to realise that I didn’t want to be in a job that required me to be glued to my desk for 40 hours a week - it didn’t feel right for my mind or body. I had already considered going freelance again with my writing, which would allow more flexibility in my hours to follow an alternate career path. I really wanted to then find a more fulfilling role that would allow me to be more active while also helping people. Then, before I knew it, I was googling yoga teacher training courses!

I was immensely nervous and overwhelmed with self-doubt when I booked a spot on a month-long training course in Tenerife - but it turned out to be the most incredible experience I’ve ever had. As a rather shy and introverted person, travelling by myself and training to be a yoga teacher was hugely intimidating and scary at first. But completing my course - and beginning to teach yoga - has filled me with such a sense of purpose and self-belief. I just know that this is something I’m meant to do in my life.

What is your ideal Sunday?

My ideal Sunday would start with a gentle morning yoga practice followed by a stroll around a local car boot sale before heading out for brunch and coffee with my loved ones. Then, I’d go for a long walk in nature or spend the afternoon exploring vintage stores, antique centres and charity shops. After that, I’d head back home to spend some time reading and relaxing, before tucking into a roast dinner with my family. Finally, I’d wind down with a nice bubble bath and get an early night before the new week begins!

What are your top tips for a good work life balance?

1. Don’t only live for the weekend. While I know it’s not always possible to love your job - and every job certainly comes with its trickier parts - I think the most important thing is finding a job or career that is fulfilling for you. If your job doesn’t bring you any sense of purpose or satisfaction, and you find yourself counting down the days until Friday every week, it might be time to look around for a different job or an entirely new career.

2. Get up earlier. Tricky, yes, but I think it’s so important to give yourself some time in the morning, before your busy day starts, to do something just for you. If you get up and go straight to work, then it’s likely that you’ll wake up and immediately be jumping straight into 100mph super-productive mode. Try to get up that little bit earlier, just so you have time for a slow, gentle morning. Prepare and enjoy a nourishing breakfast, go for a quick walk or try some yoga. Start your day on a positive note and feel grateful for every new day!

3. Take regular guilt-free breaks. We are human beings, not robots, and we are certainly not designed to be sat in one position staring at a screen for 8 hours straight every day. Schedule in regular breaks to rest your eyes, calm your mind and stretch your body - and make a cup of tea! I find it helpful to set timers on my phone - both to remind me to take breaks, and to motivate me to get through a chunk of work for a set period of time!

What does the future hold for your writing and yoga?

In the short term, I’m simply hoping to find a manageable and fulfilling balance between writing and teaching yoga. In the longer term, for my writing, I’d like to write for more publications, perhaps even becoming a magazine editor myself one day - and, of course, I’d love to write novels and be a published author!

With yoga, I’d love to eventually teach courses and maybe even run retreats abroad. I’m also hoping to train and specialise in more areas within the world of yoga, such as prenatal and postnatal yoga. My career has taken such a beautiful turn this year - I’m so excited for whatever may come next!

If you are looking to get into yoga, or feel a bit nervous and don’t know where to start, Lily is just the person. She will be more than happy to have an initial chat with you and will put you straight at ease with the most calming and welcoming persona. Get in touch with her on Facebook or Instagram! Click here to visit her freelance writing website.

Sunny wishes,

Jo & Vic