Work / life balance. It has almost become a dirty word. How do you give your family the time and attention they deserve, while also contributing financially? How do you fulfill the needs of those around you, while still engaging in creative outlets that inspire and motivate you on a personal level?

While there are many ways to earn a flexible living, many promises of working from home prove too good to be true. Today, I wanted to share a little more about a flexible work from home option that has been a great fit for me in this season of life. Being a virtual assistant.

What is a Virtual Assistant?
A virtual assistant is an individual who does administrative tasks for a client from a remote location. This can include scheduling meetings, keeping calendars, booking travel, and/or organizing and scheduling social media campaigns. The exact tasks can be as unique as the relationship between the client and the virtual assistant.

How Does It Work?
There are a couple different ways one can work as a Virtual Assistant.

• Work independently. Find clients and serve them within your own parameters.
• Contract through an organization who will help you find clients and support your efforts.

I chose to contract through a company called eaHELP and I could not be more happy with that decision. eaHELP connects rockstar virtual assistants with individuals who are in need of administrative support. Not only do they connect you with clients, but they also connect you with the resources and tools you need to succeed. They give you structure, a sense of community, and continued encouragement in yourself and your work.

What I like about Virtual Assistant work:

• The hours are flexible.
  I set the number of hours I want to take on.
• The location is flexible.
  I work from my home office. I am there for my family when they need me. I can also take my work “on the road” and work via remote location when the situation is needed.
• It can evolve with you.
  I currently work ten hours a week on virtual assistant work. I take comfort in knowing that if needed, those hours can increase or decrease.
• It gives me structure to excel creatively in other avenues.
  The structure from my virtual assistant work helps me be more intentional about the other areas of my day. As I’m planning for my virtual assistant work, I also am sure to budget time for other endeavors, such as writing for the blog, family activities, and work for McNary Marketing & Design.

If you’re thinking that it may be time to take on a little something extra as the kids are getting ready to head back to school, consider giving virtual assistant work a try. I would be happy to tell you more about my experiences, or check out my friends at eaHELP. They are a great group to have in your corner. This fun and flexible work option might be just the thing you are looking for.