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I don’t know how to say this other than to say it: August has been a very, very difficult month for me. It’s not because I didn’t have any work and was suffering financially (thank goodness) but because there were some changes and adjustments at Romper that seriously affected my mental health.

Without going into too many details and completely acknowledging that it is nobody’s fault, my life became extremely stressful this month. Not only was Romper completely overwhelming me, but there were other things in my life that were weighing heavily on me and seriously impacting my work. Not only was my workload basically unmanageable, but my health began to suffer too.

What I am finding out is that my mental health suffers greatly when I am feeling overwhelmed by work and it leaves my general health in shambles. Whenever I am stressing out, the first thing I reach for is soda and candy… so there was a LOT of unhealthy eating this month. After much deliberation, reconnecting with my therapist and support from Adam, I decided to let go of my PT writing gig at Romper (for now?).

What was published: 

• These Habits Affect Your Health and Marriage More Than You Think [Mom.me]
• 7 Delish michelada recipes to enjoy NOW [MamásLatinas]
• 7 Things you should stop doing right now to lose weight [MamásLatinas]
• 12 Healthy pizza recipes that the whole family will LOVE [MamásLatinas]
• Everything you need to know about pregnancy tests [MamásLatinas]
• 8 Questions to Ask Your Fiancé Before Getting Married [HipLatina]
• The Romantic Side of Getting Engaged Without a Diamond Ring [HipLatina]
• 7 Things to Do in Fort Lauderdale When You’re Tired of SoBe [HipLatina]

Romper, specifically: 

• 11 Played Out Tattoos That Tattoo Artists Are Sick Of Drawing
• The Best Sleep Schedule For 12- To 18-Month-Olds, According To Experts
• What Are The Best Sex Positions For Endometriosis? Here Are 6 That Minimize Pain
• 23 Sexy Netflix Movies To Watch With Your SO That Are Better Than Foreplay
• Do You Sunburn More Easily When You’re Pregnant? Here’s The Deal
• 21 Books Every Kid Should Read Before Kindergarten
• 7 Sex Positions To Try If You Have A Bad Knee & Doggy Style Won’t Work
• Is Anal Sex Safe In The 1st Trimester? Moms-To-Be Need To Take Precautions
• How Close To Your Due Date Can You Have Sex? Don’t Worry — It Won’t Hurt Your Baby
• 12 Lisa Frank Back To School Items That Will Melt Your ’90s Kid Heart
• How Much Caffeine Can You Have In The 1st Trimester? Coffee Addicts May Have To Adjust
• 11 Subtle Indications From Your Body That You’re Likely To Have Serious Back Issues Down The Road
• Can You Use Nipple Clamps When Pregnant? The Experts Weighs In
• 18 Things Men Do In Bed That Women Don’t Like

Clearly, I still enjoyed writing for Romper. There were so many fun articles that I got to do this month, so quitting was a difficult decision. But, as I had predicted, the minute that I did, I felt a huge relief off of my shoulders. Romper was great for my career and I loved my time there… But, ultimately, it’s important to do what’s best for me and what is best for my mental health. I’m proud of this decision.

How much I wrote: 24,237 words

How much I made: $1,545

Because I was so overwhelmed with my Romper work this month, I didn’t freelance much and I basically didn’t pitch… Except one.

Pitches sent out in August: 1*
Pitch rejections: 0
Pitch non-replies: 0
Pitch acceptances: 1
Pitch reply with question: 0

Follow-ups with previous pitches: 0
Pitch rejections: 0
Pitch non-replies: 0
Pitch acceptances: 0

*This editor received 8 pitches, accepted them all, and then asked me to write for them regularly, so…. Pretty good start, I think!

In other MUCH more exciting news, I managed to send one pitch out this month (or, rather, eight pitches to one editor), they were ALL accepted and I am now going to start being a regular contributor to the site in question: HipLatina!

I couldn’t possibly be more thrilled about this, to be honest. I have really missed writing personal essays during my time at Romper and I have also missed doing more cultural identity pieces, both of which are going to be very welcome at HipLatina. Hopefully, you’ve already seen some of my first pieces above—but get ready for more.

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