How to stay connected as a freelancer during the winter

Plus a Q & A with Danielle Wallington, founder of WRKHERE

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As I sit and write to you today, I am bundled up beneath a blanket drinking a hot coffee while my four-year old naps beside me. (I’m going to pay for this peace and quiet later when he refuses to go to bed this evening). But for now it's blissful.

We’re now in the second term of primary school and I’m slowly getting into the rhythm of the school runs, never-ending school events and lively class WhatsApp chat while working out how to juggle work with caring for my youngest (who is now an energetic toddler). I’m still in the tricky phase of wanting to work more but not wanting to forgo time with my him.

I realise I can't have my cake and eat it so, for now, I’ve found a lovely local childminder to help me a few mornings a month. It seems like the best option for the moment.

I'm also very aware after taking part in Pregnant Then Screwed's March of the Mummies protest a few weeks ago, that with the cost-of-living and childcare crisis in full force, it’s a difficult time for pretty much everyone. It's certainly not an easy time to be a parent.

But I’m not here to write about childcare today. I've been doing plenty of that elsewhere which you can read more about here if you’re interested.

If you do have your childcare situation sorted and have been knuckling down to some work, you might, like me, be enjoying the cosiness of the indoors. Or you might be finding it trickier to stay motivated and connected now the nights have drawn in. It might also be impacting your mental health and mood.

I’m the first to admit that I really like autumn. I like cosying up at home, lighting a few candles and drinking endless cups of tea. But if I'm worried about something or feeling the pressure of multiple deadlines, staying in all day can sometimes be detrimental. I often find that getting out of the house and meeting with other freelancers and friends can make a huge difference. Even chatting to a few parents on the school run can get me out of my head (and inbox) and change my mindset.

Working outside of the home can also help with our creativity, allow us to make new contacts, and generally keep the spring in our step. But it's not always easy to find good local spots to do it in. If I go to our local Costa, for instance, I end up bumping into lots of parents from school who want to chat, and I find the pressure to buy endless drinks a bit jarring. Likewise, it's not always the most peaceful or appropriate for phonecalls and interviews.

It’s a problem that fellow freelancer and founder of WRKHERE Danielle Wallington knows all too well and why she’s working on launching the first and only app designed specifically for women who work from home.  

The app will allow freelancers to find and book in at laptop-friendly venues where they can not only be productive but also connect with other local solo workers in their local community. Sounds ideal, right?

Now in its crowdfunding phase, the app will offer a directory of work-friendly venues local to you wherever you are in the UK, specifically curated for WFH women with bookable hourly or day passes for WRKHERE members.

If the campaign is successful, then WRKHERE will launch first in Hertfordshire - where Danielle already has relationships with venues - which will enable her team to get feedback from users and make it the best possible product it can be. Then she plans to roll it out across the UK, one town at a time. 

As soon as I heard about the idea and Danielle, I was impressed and excited in equal measure and keen to support her. So, last week I spoke to Danielle to find out a little more about her and the inspiration behind WRKHERE.

Here’s what she told me…

CAT: You’ve been a freelancer based at home for the past five years. What kind of work were you doing and what’s your background?

DANIELLE: I was an events manager for 10 years before falling pregnant with my first son. I loved my job and my team but I didn’t want to work crazy hours so put in a flexible working request. Unfortunately, it was denied so I handed in my notice and set up an events company called milknfizz. I wanted to connect with other mums who were like me, who didn’t want to lose their sense of self just because they became a parent. It was great and I met so many amazing women who were also diving into to the self-employment route and needed support but were put off by some of the traditional networking groups around. This then led me to launch The Kindred, which is the non “network” network for women in business and freelancers. For the last four years, we have built up a strong community and hosted workshops, events and co-working meet-ups. 

CAT: When did you decide to launch WRKHERE and what’s your aim for it as a company? 

DANIELLE: So, the idea has always been there I suppose, at least the co-working aspect anyway. I have been hosting meet-ups in cafes/restaurants/hotels for the past four years. I just wanted to package it up in a way it was accessible for more women across the UK.

We want to change the way the world works by bringing women who work from home together. 

We believe an inspiring place to work shouldn’t be the thing that holds women back.

Right now, there are women across the country who, given the opportunity, would revolutionise the world of work and business in their own unique way. But they can’t, because the cards are stacked against them. They are isolated, without access to inspiring places to get stuff done that works with their life. WRKHERE is here to change that. 

CAT: There are definitely pros and cons to working from home. What are you trying to offer female freelancers?

DANIELLE: A place where they/you can get some work done that isn’t at the kitchen table and with enough flexibility to fit into the work-life needs. As many of our users are parents who often don't work a full 9-5 week, they might have a pocket of time or a few hours in between pickups, we understand that flexibility is really important to a working parent. 

Ultimately our mission is to combat the isolation working from home brings by creating access to spaces that are not only conducive to getting work done but also where you can feel welcome and connected to those around you - in the form of meet-ups and events.

CAT: How do you think this could help freelance parents?

DANIELLE: I think lots if us would love to get out of the house and work but searching for somewhere suitable – it’s just another thing to add to the "to do list". So, we take away that hassle. We will have hand-picked, recommended venues you know you can book ahead of time and more importantly feel welcome. Also, the fact you are connecting with people local to you can make all the difference when you are working for yourself. I believe in having a supportive network around you and that's exactly what WRKHRE plans to offer.

CAT: How can we stay better connected when working from home, especially in the winter when it’s cold and dark outside?

DANIELLE: I would say, without a doubt, find your people, there are lots of brilliant networks, and communities that offer forums, WhatsApp chats and events so you can stay connected to others. One of the things we offer in Kindred is virtual co-working, so you can still get on with your work but you don't feel so lonely doing it. Being able to talk to others, share ideas and support each other is vital when you’re working for yourself and it helps you stay motivated when you feel like the only one out there. 

CAT: Your crowdfunder has started. How can people help support you?

DANIELLE: Ahh yes, I can't believe it's come around so quickly. You can support us by signing up to my email and following us on socials. WRKHERE is a rewards-based campaign so when it launches on the 8th of November you can pledge your support of WRKHERE and in return, you get access to some fab rewards from WRKHERE and our partners. 

CAT: What advice would you give anyone else thinking about making a big leap and starting a new business?

DANIELLE: I always give this advice when I'm asked this question, and my top three takeaways will always be: Don't wait for things to be perfect. I always hear people say, ‘I'll start on social media when my website is ready' or ‘I'll just wait to write that blog when my branding is done’. I think the earlier you can get people on your journey with you the better. Messy action is better than no action and if you start to build your community from day one when you are ready to launch, you will already have a bunch of fans ready and waiting to buy it. 

Second, find your support network and ask for help - this is vital. Find people who can support you on a professional and professional level. Go to events, find co-working meet-ups, and start to build your network. I can't stress how important this is and I wouldn't be where I am today without the connections I've made over the years.

Finally, just go for it. Often we are the only ones holding us back. If you are going to take that leap of faith, go for it and more importantly have the best fun doing it!

You can follow Danielle’s progress on Instagram, and donate to her crowdfund here.

How do you stay connected during the winter months? Drop me a comment below or send me an email and share your best tips.

Until next time,

Cat x