MetaChat - Any freelance bunnies out there?

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08 May 2006

Any freelance bunnies out there? how do you do self-control? Specifically, not working too much? This is not quite a shouting thread but is getting that way... →[More:] My translation business is taking off, but it's also taking over my life and I find myself working far more than I need to. It's getting to the stage where I fail to go swimming, even though in theory I've got time to go. Not to mention domestic chores (mr alto does his share) and just chilling out. I'm also in this flat far too much for comfort.

Of course, hanging round here a lot (and on mefi) doesn't help... I guess I know the answers (get out more with laptop even though it's slow, get up earlier for swimming, have mini-breaks during the day to do the damn dishes, etc.) but it's fellow-feeling I want - tell me I'm not alone?!

post by: altolinguistic at: 11:13 | 8 comments

dammit, most of that was supposed to go inside. Hope me?

posted by altolinguistic 08 May | 11:14

consider yerself hoped.

posted by taz 08 May | 11:23

Well, there's organization -- tools like 37signals' Backpack, or the Getting Things Done system. I would try to block out my day into things like swimming, household, and work -- in other words, "go to work" and stay in work mode, then "go home" and stay in home mode. If you can physically separate your office from the household in some way this will be easier.

posted by stilicho 08 May | 11:50

thanks stilicho - Backpack looks great, and I can't believe I hadn't heard of it. I hope it'll help me get better at compartmentalising things more.

posted by altolinguistic 08 May | 12:20

My freelance career is very "feast or famine." The first quarter of 2006 was insane. I made as much in those 3 months as I did in 2005 total. Now? Nothing on my plate at all.

I'm forced into time-management by my obligations, however. I know I have to work from 9-2 on MWF, because that's when the kid is in school. Tuesdays are generally a complete day off (swim lessons and library day). Thursdays, I can fit in a couple hours while she's napping if necessary, but that's generally our day for field trips or visiting friends. Weekends, it all depends. But I do know at the beginning of every week EXACTLY what hours I'll be chained to the computer and that really, really helps.

posted by jrossi4r 08 May | 12:47

i'm usually feast or famine too, and just plow through the feasts and try to stay healthy and semi-balanced during those times. When i'm working at home, i purposely will start or stop at certain times, and take at least an hour in the middle of the day to do life stuff or just watch tv...

posted by amberglow 08 May | 13:07

and if i can't take a whole hour, i still take 10 minutes and make something or run out and buy myself something.

posted by amberglow 08 May | 13:08

thanks guys - there are bright sides to all this, in that the famines are a lot easier to bear now that they are less frequent and much shorter. But I don't have much to give structure to my life, so I'm trying to impose some structure, and it's not working very well so far.

posted by altolinguistic 08 May | 13:14

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