How to Balance Freelancing and Family
The balancing act between self-employment and private life is a challenge that demands everything from freelancers. Julia Bandov - founder of MumsFounding - talks in an interview about the obstacles faced by self-employed parents.
Say Goodbye to Perfectionism
exali: What challenges do parents face when it comes to balancing business and parenthood? What personal experiences have you had?
Julia Bandov:
I believe all parents go through a similar journey, trying to figure out how to make both worlds work. It takes a lot of effort to reassess your priorities and get comfortable with unpredictability. You have to learn to be flexible and prioritize ruthlessly, both professionally and personally.
For me, becoming a mom to two kids was a turning point. I realized that the traditional 9 to 5 office model was not the best option anymore—because with small children, time is the one thing you control the least. Being bound to fixed working hours makes it nearly impossible to succeed in either role.
There’s also the question of timing. As a business owner, there’s never a ‘perfect’ moment to have kids—there’s always something going on, something to grow or manage. On the other hand, having a baby often forces you to reevaluate your priorities and work setup, and that becomes a turning point for many to go freelance or self-employed.
One of the hardest realizations was that the life I knew before had changed completely—I could no longer plan my schedule as I used to. This is obviously really hard when you have client meetings and deadlines. You have to be very creative in actually getting things done, especially in the early days.
Before kids, I was a perfectionist. But parenting quickly taught me that done is better than perfect. Now, I focus on outcomes and try to fight the urge to get every detail just right (thank god for ChatGPT). My working hours are also highly flexible: I had to learn to stop work in the middle of a task while in deep concentration, and then continue—sometimes many hours later. I won’t lie, it’s hard and I often need much longer to complete tasks because it takes time to get back into the flow.
Also, I think if you have to do it all on your own, the challenge is much bigger. Having a support system and infrastructure to help you in your day-to-day is absolutely critical. It’s what makes it possible for me to take on more projects and pursue my passions, despite my already very busy schedule. Without that support, there’s no way I’d be able to keep up with everything or show up at events and build my network the way I want to.
Flexibility, Priorization, Organization
exali: What strategies can you recommend to meet the needs of both the business and the family? Does flexible working play a role in this?
Julia Bandov:
For me, a few things really help. Flexibility is a big one—accepting that plans can change at the last minute and being okay with that. In other words, mindset is critical. Prioritization is another. I’ve had to fully embrace that done is better than perfect, although I am a perfectionist by nature, and it takes a lot of effort to put out work I’m not 100% happy with. On the flip side, sometimes deadlines are due and I have to work on the weekend, during a vacation, or in the evenings.
It’s a constant balancing act and a lot of it comes down to compromise—understanding that you simply can’t be everywhere at once. I’ve also had to get really good at planning and scheduling. Honestly, just the organizing part feels like its own kind of job, but it’s what makes everything else possible.
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Seek Support
exali: How important are partners, family, or friends in your daily life as a self-employed parent?
Julia Bandov:
Having a reliable support system of people who understand your needs can help on short notice, and offer emotional support is probably the biggest success factor for a self-employed parent. Also, having a broader community of other self-employed parents makes everything more digestible and helps you feel like you’re not the only one struggling to make it all work.
That’s also one of the big reasons I started Mumsfounding. I needed a space where I could openly speak with other moms who are also building businesses—where we could share the wins, the flops, the stress, and just vent when needed. That feeling of being seen and understood is what helps me most to keep going when things are hard. It’s incredible how a short conversation can be such a game changer and completely shift your mood.
exali: When you are already very busy with business and family, how do you create space for a bit of self-care?
Julia Bandov:
To be honest, this is still a hard one for me. I don’t think anyone has fully figured out how to fit everything they want into a 24-hour day. I do have a routine that works for me: I exercise 3–4 times a week, which really helps me feel more energized. I also try to stay attentive to what my body needs. Sometimes I realize I’m pushing too hard, so I slow down a little, get more rest, spend time with friends, or push back on some projects.
Self-Employment as a Career Prospect for Parents
exali: How do you see the future of self-employment in connection with parenthood?
Julia Bandov:
I think self-employment is absolutely the way forward for parents. It allows the kind of flexibility that makes it easier to structure your day around your family. With many companies returning to in-office models, the benefits of self-employment are becoming even clearer.
This is the only work model that lets you work when the baby sleeps or when the kids are in kindergarten. Your workload is completely up to you, and you can decide when to bring more people on board to delegate work. That flexibility makes a huge difference.
Beyond flexibility, working on something you truly love and believe in gives you the motivation and energy to keep going. I see this trend clearly within the Mumsfounding community as well—more and more parents are leaving corporate jobs in search of more flexibility, fulfillment, and joy from their work.
exali: You are the founder of Mums Founding – a community that supports mothers in bringing their business ideas to life. How does this work?
Julia Bandov:
Mumsfounding empowers moms who want to start their own business or who are already self-employed. We do this through events, networking opportunities, and by providing access to resources and tools (i.e. time management tips, AI tools, etc.) that help moms get better at building and running a business while still being present for their families.
However, above all, Mumsfounding is about creating a safe space for mothers to connect, support, and celebrate each other—through the highs and the lows.
Julia is an ecosystem builder and communications expert with over a decade of experience at the intersection of technology and entrepreneurship. She specializes in scaling communities, forging strategic partnerships, and creating inclusive opportunities across the tech landscape.
She is the founder of MumsFounding and a driving force behind Women in Tech Berlin—initiatives focused on empowering underrepresented groups and advancing access to entrepreneurship. Julia also leads partnerships and ecosystem growth at FoundersBay, an impact accelerator supporting early-stage startups in rural regions.
Vivien Gebhardt is an online editor at exali. She creates content on topics that are of interest to self-employed people, freelancers and entrepreneurs. Her specialties are risks in e-commerce, legal topics and claims that have happened to exali insured freelancers.
She has been a freelance copywriter herself since 2021 and therefore knows from experience what the target group is concerned about.
