{"id":30997,"date":"2021-09-22T10:05:22","date_gmt":"2021-09-22T00:05:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress-328533-4778250.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=30997"},"modified":"2021-09-22T10:05:22","modified_gmt":"2021-09-22T00:05:22","slug":"rachel-smith-freelance-journalist-copywriter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/balancethegrind.co\/interviews\/rachel-smith-freelance-journalist-copywriter\/","title":{"rendered":"Balancing the Grind with Rachel Smith, Freelance Journalist & Copywriter"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Rachel Smith<\/a> is a long-time freelancer who mixes up writing work with running Rachel\u2019s List<\/a>, a jobs board and community for other freelancers. She also co-hosts The Content Byte.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Looking for your dream role at a start-up or scale-up? Check out global career opportunities at The Nudge Group<\/a>.<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

1) To kick things off, could you tell us a little about your career background and current role?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m a freelance journalist, copywriter and content producer \u2013 but I also run Rachel\u2019s List and have combined the two for so long. I started off in magazines and was a movie reviewer for many years (a seriously lovely decade of my life). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve since changed things up and added new skills and I do a lot of different things: journalism still, but also heaps of content marketing for brands, and lots of copywriting \u2013 and podcasting as well. It\u2019s a great mix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2) What does a day in your life look like for you? Can you take us through a recent workday?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Everything is in complete chaos at the moment as we\u2019re in lockdown at my parents\u2019 place, so my day is split (sort of) between doing the best I can with home-schooling, and doing all my work in the afternoon and evening. My husband has been overseas during almost the entire lockdown so my parents are trying to help out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Normally though, my day involves getting out of bed at 7.30-8am, running around like a headless chicken trying to get my kid dressed and ready for school, looking for library books under the bed, packing a lunch box before walking him to school. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I then do an hour\u2019s walk around my local area, taking in parks for my dose of greenery, and listening to a podcast or some music, or I make calls to friends. I start work around 10am and it\u2019s always different: interviews, research, writing, chatting to job-posters for Rachel\u2019s List and writing ads for them, doing eDMs, heading to Canva to do social media posts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3) Does your current role allow for flexible or remote working? If so, how does that fit into your life and routine? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Yes \u2013 I\u2019ve worked for myself for 20+ years, and worked from home, remotely, all of that time. I\u2019m not actually sure how my life would work any other way!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4) What does work-life balance mean to you and how do you work to achieve that goal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Exercise is essential, even if there are times I drop the ball on that one. For me, an early workout is the best way to fit it in, or it won\u2019t get done \u2013 and I feel much better when I HAVE done it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I bought a spin bike off Facebook Marketplace which sits in the backyard and if I haven\u2019t walked I\u2019ll do some HIIT on the bike as a back-up. I also love swimming laps so if I can squeeze that in somewhere, I\u2019m happy. The benefits are huge: a boost to my creativity, decision-making and far better mental health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also try very hard to have weekends off, and I\u2019m currently on a mad automation drive to automate as much of my work life as I can. I am always looking for better systems and ways to claw back some time so I can take more breaks! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5) In the past 12 months, have you started or stopped any routines or habits to change your life? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I was given a Kindle for my birthday last year (almost exactly 12 months ago) and it has been a complete game-changer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I never thought about getting one before as I love a real book, but when my husband gave it to me, I fell in love with it straight away. I can read anywhere, usually when I am trapped somewhere (in the dark while my kid drops off to sleep, or waiting in line for something, or \u2013 pre-lockdown \u2013 on public transport).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve read so many books this year and having it has made me realise I really wasn\u2019t reading nearly as much as I needed to be. The delicious escapism it provides and the incredible authors I\u2019ve discovered has given me ongoing joy \u2013 and I absolutely devour FB threads on good books to read. Unfortunately, it\u2019s a habit that hasn\u2019t been GREAT for my credit card, but I reckon it\u2019s worth it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6) Do you have any favourite books, podcasts or newsletters that you’d like to recommend?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Gosh, so many. If we\u2019re talking books, I\u2019m working my way through Maggie O\u2019Farrell\u2019s back catalogue right now \u2013 Hamnet<\/em> and I Am, I Am, I Am<\/em> are my favourites from her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also adore anything by Mhairi McFarlane, her books crack me up. Also adored Clare Chambers\u2019 Small Pleasures<\/em>, Janine Cummins\u2019 American Dirt<\/em>, JoJo Moyes’ The Giver of Stars<\/em>, Delia Owens\u2019 Where The Crawdads Sing<\/em>. I love non-fiction too, especially books on writing, but if I start listing those we\u2019ll be here all day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just a snippet of my favourite podcasts, in no particular order, are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n