Freelancing Freedom: Crafting Your Career While Caring for Your Health

It's not easy to manage both a career and chronic illness like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD, Crohn's disease, or ulcerative colitis). We need tools and tips in order to keep everything moving and succeed at work while caring for ourselves. I talk with Jen Hubley Luckwaldt about how freelancing can be a valid way of meeting both goals. Jen shares her journey from traditional employment to freelancing, including how it offers her flexibility in balancing work, health, and family. We talk about the importance of setting boundaries with clients, how to identify your marketable skills, and building a supportive community. Jen emphasizes the value of an abundance mindset in freelancing and offers practical tips for finding work and managing time effectively. If you've ever wondered how you can manage to work while still making it to infusions and appointments: we have a roadmap for you.   Episode highlights: Managing a career while living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) Challenges of maintaining traditional full-time employment with chronic illness Advantages of freelancing, including flexibility and work-life balance Importance of setting boundaries with clients Identifying marketable skills for freelancing The role of community and support in a freelance career Strategies for effective communication and feedback in professional settings Tools and resources for freelancers to enhance productivity The concept of an abundance mindset in freelancing   Find Jen Hubley Luckwaldt and The Job Hopper at: The Job Hopper: https://thejobhopper.substack.com Bluesky: @jenlucky.bsky.social Old Mom Things: https://oldmomthings.substack.com/ LinkedIn: @jen-hubley-luckwaldt   Find Amber J Tresca at: AboutIBD.com: About IBD Verywell: Verywell Health Facebook: @aboutIBD Twitter: @aboutIBD Pinterest: @aboutibd Instagram: @about_IBD YouTube: @AboutIBD Threads: @about_IBD   Find Mac Cooney (mix, sound design, and theme music) at: Facebook: @maccooneycomposer  Instagram: @maccooneycomposer Web: Cooney Studio YouTube: @MacCooneyComposer Theme music, IBD Dance Party, is from ©Cooney Studio.   Episode transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD 171   These show notes may contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, Mal and Tal Enterprises, LLC may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.