Monday, July 5, 2010

Taking Back the Weekend

I am coming off a much needed four day break from working. It just so happened to coincide with the Fourth of July Holiday even though I didn’t plan it that way. I just really needed some time to rest and recover.

Lately I’ve been allowing client work to invade my weekends (something I try never to do unless I’m working on my own personal projects). This is a dangerous precedent I can’t afford to establish if I value my free time and my health. I’ve visited blogs where other writers regularly discuss how they work seven full days a week. I can see how easy it might be to slip into that pattern if you’re not careful.

Stop being available on the weekends. I got sucked back into working weekends when I took on a very large ebook project and unthinkingly responded to a weekend email message which turned into a series of back and forth messages. From that moment on, my client assumed nothing in my life was more important than her ebook. To some degree I want my clients to feel that way, but within reason. It’s my job to establish professional boundaries. Even though flexibility allows me to work when I please, I’ve learn from past experience that making myself too available to some clients has backfired giving them the impression that all I do 24/7 is write web content, ebooks, sales letters, etc.

Pursue higher paying clients. This is a no brainer – it allows me to earn the income I need without feeling as if I need to work 10 hours a day seven days a week. This means putting forth time to search out clients who value your writing services and are therefore prepared to pay your rate.

Establish passive income sources. I’ve discussed my desire to establish a few passive income sources in addition to my freelance writing. It’s a part of the multiple streams of income I’m working to develop. Knowing that I still have the ability to earn money, even when I take time off. I’ve actually started a couple of side projects I’ll continue working on to build and monitor the residual income.

Hopefully these objectives will keep me from slipping into constant work mode so that I can go back to enjoying my much needed time off with my family.


4 comments:

Lori said...

Damn right, girl! Amen, alleluia! My weekends - even if I choose to take them in the middle of the week - are sacred. No way I'll work seven straight days or even six. I can't be productive if I'm overworked and overstressed.

Glad to see you pushing back!

Kimberly Ben said...

It's so easy for me to slip in work when I know I shouldn't. I know that I concentrate so much better after some much needed down time. You're right-that time is so precious.

JL said...

Hi,

I can somehow relate to your situation.
It' hard to juggle freelance work with other social activities.

Anyway, I just wish that there's around 30 hours in day. LOL

Good Luck!

Kimberly Ben said...

Thanks, louierrific, I know just what you mean about wishing for more hours in the day.

 
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