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Freelancing and the meaning of life
Sunday, March 02, 2003Well, one of the things that I learned about being a freelancer is that you get bored...not bored on a concious level, because you're writing and reading and making contacts and trying to be successful enough that you don't have to guilt yourself into looking at the papers to see if there's any jobs you really ought to apply for. It's a low level boredom, but you still have to fight it. Fortunately, it's all easy battles. 1. Keep the schedule simple...if you're like me, you have every hour blocked off into book reviews, then editing, then doing this or that...I think it's better to have a schedule loose. Set goals for the day, then try and meet them. My goals for tomorrow include writing so many words, and two book reviews. This way you don't feel trapped. 2. Don't let yourself go to weed, just because you're only going out once a week to get some groceries. Right now I'm wearing lipstick, and I feel better. So shave, dress decently (but comfy!) and take care of yourself. Who cares if no one sees you? The only reason why you should dress up anyway is to please yourself (and, alright, since we're being realistic, to adhere to a dress code...no one wants fired or kicked out of a restaraunt...and I add attracting unattainable British men to my list.) 3. Shake up the schedule. I've been running this like a business...which it is. Up in the morning at a decent time, exercise so that my body doesn't atrophy, sit down and start doing. After I'm done, usually around after dinner, I can relax...read, play some games, watch some telly, craft. BUT, what happens if you play an hour of your favorite video game first, or quit around one for a bit to snuggle up by the window with a cup of tea and read? Why be a freelancer if you can't enjoy the freedom of it? As long as you meet your goals, who cares if the review gets done around midnight instead of two pm? I know this is all pretty common sense sounding stuff...I think that we never learn so much as exprience sometimes. Someone can tell you 1, 2, 3...but until you've lived in a situation where 1,2,3 applies, it doesn't sink in. Then you "discover" these things, and fit them into your own life. And that's my Sunday sermon. :D Permalink Cindy scribed this at 1:46 PM 0 comments |