The last four months have been a bit of a whirlwind, not really to sure where to start. As I sit here finally putting fingers to keyboard again I feel incredibly excited that being a full-time food & lifestyle blogger is my life now. Being a full-time blogger was not something I ever set out to be when I first started my blog and Instagram, it was more a place where I could write freely what I wanted and post what I enjoyed doing on Instagram in my spare time. I’m feeling very lucky that I’m able to wake up every morning and make a living from something that I actually have a real passion for.
My blog and Instagram started nearly three years a go, I had been living happily in London for nearly five years and me and my now fiancee loved eating out and trying new restaurants. He was watching the football in the living room one Sunday whilst I started @eatinguplondon from the sofa opposite. I started posting pictures daily of everything I love doing, majority of it being food related. I’d post new restaurants I had visited, particular food dishes I loved and it just spiralled from there…
Prior to four months a go, I had been working as a paediatric nurse for the last ten years. I left school after I’d completed my A levels and went straight in to my nursing training. I completed my nursing training which I never thought I would get through as let’s just say it’s not the easiest of courses to do. I had my ups and downs and it seemed like every time I settled in to a nursing placement it was time to move on to another. Then all over again, you had to meet a new team, get to grips with the ward environment, processes of the unit etc. From the time I qualified I always had some form of anxiety due to my role having such a huge responsibility of caring for unwell children and their families. However a huge part of it I did enjoy, I loved being around children and I left work feeling like I’d made a difference. Don’t get me wrong it was a very rewarding job. It was the last two years in my career where I had a more senior role that I felt my anxiety got a hell of a lot worse and it was starting to affect my day-to-day life. Ultimately making big decisions about children’s care and being in charge of colleagues and the running of the unit was damaging me and my own mental health.
Eating Up London had also started getting more recognition earlier this year and I was starting to collaborate with brands on sponsored content and attend events regularly, however due to working full-time it became difficult as I didn’t have the time to do it as much as I would of liked. Through months of deliberation I decided to quit. I quit my career as a paediatric nurse. It was a hard decision and certainly not one I took lightly.
It can get really easy to be stuck in a rut, plod along and just keep, keep on going. But there came a time when I just had to focus on me and my own health and happiness. There really is never going to be a right time or a best time to quit your day job and go full steam ahead on what it is you truly want in life, but life is about taking risks, and without taking them we never know what’s ahead or what we could end up becoming and achieving. Worrying about what people would think crossed my mind so many times. Life is way to short to wake up every morning and be stuck in the same unhappy place, hating life. I could have continued and made my anxiety worse, however I knew things had to change.
It has been four months since I’ve left full-time employment and I’ve been asked a million times what is it you’ll be doing now. An influencer? What’s that? My answer is ‘Yes blogging is a real job leave me alone’. I’m embracing the fact I can earn a living doing what I love. My blog/instagram by all accounts is still a very little fish in a very big ocean. Having such lovely comments/recognition from you guys makes it all worth while.
My intention is to post daily on my instagram account and to do two blog posts a week on a Wednesday & Sunday. It’s easy to get caught up in the intricacies of Instagram – the algorithm, reach, the comparison thoughts. However I’m just enjoying what I’m doing and the people I get to meet and engage with on a daily basis is lovely. I’ve got an exciting year ahead, with planning our wedding which is next summer. I’m also trying to get my fitness mojo back which is so difficult in this weather, but I’m working on it. Lots of exciting things coming so watch this space…
G xx
You should be really proud of yourself!
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Thank you, that really means a lot!
Good luck in your new venture Gemma xx
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Thanks so much Karen xx
So proud of you Gem, this is such a huge brave step I completely understand why you have done it, having a happy life as a happy brain is so important.
Congratulations and can’t wait to keep following your blogs xx
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Thanks Emily, it wasn’t a decision made lightly. It just got a lot worse the last year and I definitely had to do something about it. Feeling so much better already so I know it was the right decision. Hope you’re well lovely xxx
Ah gemma very best of luck! You write beautifully and I wish you all the success for the future, from your old work colleague gemma 🙂 xxxx
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Thank you so much, that means a lot! I’ve worked with so many Gemma’s! What’s your surname? 🙂 xxx