Lifestyle – Freelance Writing Guide
This is my very last installment of Freelance Writing Guide for New Freelancers. Interestingly enough, it is also the most important as without health, there won’t be a career in freelance writing for you.
While I always knew this in principle, I had to find out the hard way over the last two weeks. If you are not sure what hard way relates to, it is pretty straight forward. Cash!
In the end, many things always come down to cash. We hate it, but we love it. We need it, but wish we wouldn’t. Whatever you think, all of you would have some opinion about cash. To me, cash pays my bills. It allows me to work from home and live a life I have always envisioned before I was able to retire for good from my job.
To me, cash is nice. Especially cash from my own business. I like it because it pays for things and it allows me to help others like you. I’m also not dependent on a boss. For if there was no cash, I would still work in the dungeons of some fancy-schmanzi restaurant and you wouldn’t read any of this.
Health – lifestyle – food exercise.
These are the topics at the forefront of my mind right now. I am still fighting with this damn flu I caught over two weeks ago. Last week I thought I had it all in control, only to find out that I had developed a nasty allergy against codeine, waking up with a swollen head, legs and ankles on Sunday morning.
This was certainly not a fun way to start the day, let me tell you. So, off the medicine I went and back to bed for pretty much all day Sunday and all day Monday. Today is Tuesday and I’m still battling this virus, I can feel it lurking away within. As I’m typing this, I’m sweating like a pig. However, I don’t feel too bad at all. My energy levels are back and besides being very hot, I’m actually fine.
There is a reason why it came to this “meltdown” in my health. It’s called excessive work. Or some might call it mental madness. I call it passion.
I simply love what I do and to me it doesn’t feel like work. Therefore I tend to go overboard most of the time and spend hours on end in front of the computer. This wouldn’t be too bad if it wasn’t for the fact that I totally forget to eat, drink and exercise during those hours.
Not good at all. I warn you now. Be wary of the computer bug. It’s all great, but – you need to learn to find a balance. I’m still struggling with this myself. If I have an idea, I want to research it now. If I want something, I want it now. Therefore I’m not very patient. Least of all with myself.
Now, I’m paying the price for this.
While I knew this all along I guess I kept thinking that I was invincible and wouldn’t get sick, blah, blah blah. As it turned out, I was wrong.
I do know in theory that I need to have the balance of work – life and relaxation. In practice however, things look a little more distorted I guess. You could call me driven to obsession. Especially when I have a target in view which of course I have.
But, I realized that I too had to take things a little easier. I had to learn to say no to certain people. Life is too important to spend sick and too much fun anyway.
Over the next few months I will do my best to find that balance. It will be challenging because there is so much to do.
How do you balance your life with work? Is there something that worked well for you in particular? Let us know please.
Thanks
Monika
About the Author: I'm a passionate freelance writer and problogger. To further build my business I'm also in the process of building my own niche empire which pays me residual income.
Brett Legree | Sep 16, 2008 | Reply
Monika,
This is a very good and relevant post. I usually (usually!) am pretty good with this balance, though of late I let it go for a bit.
So last night, a 2.7 km run for the first time in about 3 weeks, and I felt great. I slept like the dead.
Now it’s up to “don’t break the chain” to help me stay with it. Because the health thing is a factor with everyone, even if you don’t work a freelance job. Your office mates notice if you’re sick, because you’re not as productive.
And if you’re like many of us trying to break free, if you don’t stay healthy, how can you work on your dreams and side-businesses? Thirty minutes a day is probably better spent on exercise than the extra thirty minutes of work.
Thanks for the words today!
-Brett
Wendi Kelly-Life's Little Inspirations | Sep 16, 2008 | Reply
Monika,
Sending you thoughts for healing and good health. I’m sorry this is taking so long!
Girlfriend, like myself, you may be a job for FlyLady. She specializes in people like us!Her timer approach and her e-mails showing up at your computer to remind you to go take care of yourself is a big help.
Also, while you are recovering, there is a very tiny book you might want to pick up and read called “The Richest Man in Babylon”.The smartest book I ever read.
Vered - MomGrind | Sep 17, 2008 | Reply
I workout first thing in the morning.
I also have a pretty rigid meal schedule because if I leave it to hunger, I forget to eat. So I trained myself to have a small meal every 3 hours – NEVER in front of the computer. It’s a good way to make sure I stay hydrated (I drink a big glass of water before each meal) and take breaks.
I am still not very good at getting enough sleep.
I hope you feel better soon!
Cath Lawson | Sep 17, 2008 | Reply
Hi Monika – I try not to take on more than I can do now. I’m planning another business but I’m trying to be sensible about it and not get too obsessesed with super fast growth. Also I’ve been meditating quite a bit, which helps.
lissie | Sep 17, 2008 | Reply
I am very lucky – my partner drags me off to dance practice 5times a week otherwise I would have grown into a big fat blob over the last year! And exercise does make you feel better – weird but true! I am impressed by the hours you work writing but I think I need to focus on the other road to wealth at the moment LOL
Monika | Sep 17, 2008 | Reply
@ Brett: Good on you for doing that run. I can’t wait to feel back to normal again as I want to go walking. Now that the weather is getting warmer I won’t freeze to death first thing in the morning.
Very true what you said. We do need to be healthy to be able to work on our dreams. Without health everything else falls away into nothing.
Monika | Sep 17, 2008 | Reply
@ Wendi: Thank you. I can certainly use your nice healing thoughts right now. I never heard about FlyLady though. Has she got a blog or a website?
That book is part of my library. I will get it out again and do some more reading, thanks for the reminder.
Monika | Sep 17, 2008 | Reply
@ Vered: It looks like you are very disciplined with your workout/eating regime. That is great. Morning workouts are great. When I used to walk every day I did this first up too and it made me feel great, full of energy for the rest of the day. Not sure why i stopped.
I will also heed your advice about not eating in front of my computer as I do this all the time.
Thank you for your well wishes. I certainly hope this will clear up soon enough.
Tumblemoose | Sep 17, 2008 | Reply
Hi Monika.
I loved this post. Life is about balance – always. Getting out from the damned writer’s chair and exercising or taking a walk to enjoy the fall colors is great therapy and I believe it makes me a better writer.
Thanks for helping us keep everything in perspective.
Monika | Sep 17, 2008 | Reply
@ Tumblemoose: Thanks George, I so agree. Because my balanced lacked a lot lately I got sick. Glad it helps you to keep motivated. Nice to see you here too.
Monika | Sep 17, 2008 | Reply
@ Cath: I think your approach is sensible. In the long run you will get more done this way.
I agree with the meditation. It certainly helps to calm the mind and re-focus on what it important.
Monika | Sep 17, 2008 | Reply
@ Lissie: LOL, I forgot you are the next Australia dance star. Hell yeah, I’m with you on that other road. It’s what my focus is with right now.
Rebecca Leigh | Sep 17, 2008 | Reply
Good advice Monika – and some good tips from the other comments about creating (and sticking to) a routine and mixing it up with different activities (dancing sounds fun!).
Hope you’re feeling better soon and congratulations on finishing this excellent series of posts for new freelancers.
Wendi Kelly-Life's Little Inspirations | Sep 18, 2008 | Reply
here, I brought her to you
http://www.flylady.net/index.asp
She will help you organizise your house, your waistline, your mood, your menu, whatever you need help with. pay attention to the part you need and forget the rest if you want but I think you will find, it all comes together afterawhile. This time of the year she will even keep you organized and sailing through the holidays without getting overwhelmed.
good luck!
Monika | Sep 18, 2008 | Reply
@ Bec: It was about time too I finished that series. Took me long enough all up. Finding that balance is probably the hardest thing we all battle with.
There are some really great tips here and I will use them all to help myself. Now I will go and visit the flylady.
Monika | Sep 18, 2008 | Reply
@ Wendi: She flew right in courtesy of Kelly airlines. How convenient and nice of you both. I’ll be staking her out some now and see what she has to offer. Thanks for that.
Deborah | Oct 25, 2008 | Reply
I’m lucky to have another part-time job running our karate school, so I’m forced daily to get up from the computer at least twice (once to take the dog for a walk at my parents house, and once to go there and work offline). My current focus right now is finding a source of passive/alternative income….