That’s right – I’m so freakin’ organized that I actually plan my days in order to play hookey from work relatively guilt-free. See, it’s a gorgeous week here on the east coast. The flowers are in bloom, as are the trees, and it’s going to be scrumptious tomorrow – 80 degrees and sunny. So what am I doing? Working my butt off so I can enjoy a day in the fresh air. I worked 11 hours yesterday and will be putting in about the same today so I can sit back tomorrow after lunch and maybe read a book in the shade of a good tree.
You’re a workaholic too, aren’t you? So tell me – do you ever get the urge to just run away from the office, even for a few hours? Yes? Then do it. Plan for it. Schedule it. Keep your eye on the weather report, pick a day, and do it. Too often we get locked in the notion that because we’re freelance, we have to be “on” all the time. We have to work harder to get by, that’s true. But if we took 24 hours for ourselves, would the world come to an end?
Can’t bring yourself to take a day off? Okay, try this. Take your random midweek day off, and make it up on the weekend. Mind you, I’m all about my weekends. I covet them, protect them viciously, and enjoy every second of them. But if you really can’t bring yourself to justify one day off, it’s okay to switch it up and work a random weekend day.
Or you could think of it this way; If you were working for a company, you’d damn well argue for your vacation days, sick days, and personal days. So why not the same for your freelance company?
Go on. Relax. It won’t kill you. Heck, you might even enjoy yourself. 🙂
I am trying to become this organized… you make me sleepy just thinking about it.
However, I just decided to take a mini vacation in the form of a nap – I am so emotionally and physically drained that my brain hurts from it all.
But… I see a day off for myself next week and I see it as being planned! Thanks Lori – for all the advice I read on and off the blog!
Ohhhh, I am soooo yearning to take tomorrow afternoon off to enjoy this gorgeous (finally) Pennsylvania weather. Why, oh why, couldn’t it have been this warm and sunny last month when business was so slow? And why does business always have to go into overdrive when spring finally arrives? Knowing you, Lori, I bet you’ll have some fabulous advice for me on how to deal with this problem, just like you always do. ;o))
I do, Kathy. Just do it. :))
But seriously – I’d bet your deadlines are flexible enough and you’re organized enough that you can take the afternoon off tomorrow. Right?
I take random days off. I try to stay on top of work so if it’s a lovely day or I just “don’t wanna” I can decide that morning to take the day off and not worry.
Unfortunately no, I wasted so many hours this past week fighting fires that I absolutely have to work pretty much the whole day to meet all my deadlines. The only upside to all this is that I have plenty to blog about. The downside is that I have no time to blog! Think of me while you’re enjoying the 80 degree sunshine, but don’t feel too bad for me. I plan to move out to my porch with the laptop later on. I also plan to take the entire weekend off.
Kathy, in true word nerd fashion, I sat in the park under a tree in my beach chair reading…a grammar and style book. I need a life.
I tend to steal hours here and there throughout the week and I’m pretty relaxed about taking time during the day and making it up in the evening if I need to. It’s what works for me.