You may (or may not!) have noticed that things have been a bit quiet around here lately. I've been focusing so much on getting work done I haven't found the time to update over here very often, or even visit all the blogs I regularly read and love (like yours!). I realised that it's sometimes too easy to let everything get on top of you and after a not so good first half to this year, I just jumped right into my work without allowing myself time to pause. As a freelancer there aren't any paid holidays or any allotted number of days off in a year. It's simple: if I don't work, I don't get paid. So I find it difficult to book time off and to allow myself to enjoy any time away from work without a horrible panicky, guilty feeling that I should be doing something. This can't be good! So, I've come to the agreement with myself that it's ok to take some time off every once in a while to just breathe. I'll be back here in a week or so, but for now I need to just... stop.
I'm looking forward to this much needed break and can't wait to come back refreshed and ready to go again, so I just hope I can learn how to switch off from it all (something I find insanely difficult). Does anyone have any tips or ways of doing this? Do you have any techniques of how to cope when a million things are spinning around in your head 24 hours a day? I'd love to hear them!
Until then...
Good call, Jo. Time off is definitely needed. A recharge can increase your productivity so much when you do get back to work and is key to letting the happy hormones run riot over the negative ones. I'm sure that's not 100% biologically correct but. well, y'know what I'm getting at!
ReplyDeleteThrough a lot of trial and error I've recently embraced being unscheduled and re-evaluating my need to do everything. Focus and completing fewer tasks makes me happier. Trial and error is key, as well as recharging, watching silly films, and giving my iPhone/laptop cable to my fella so I can't do that one thing I just need to finish off.
I hope you enjoy your time off
Emily x
Thanks Emily. A recharge is exactly what I need, and you're so right about focusing on fewer things... I have a horrible habit of having to be in control of every minor little detail, it drives me crazy!
DeleteHave you tried a 'mental screensaver'? I read about it in a magazine once and it really works for me. Every time (usually at bed time) when a million things whirl around my head, I just start thinking about my favourite holiday spot or a happy memory instead. Hope that helps (and makes sense)!
ReplyDeleteThat's a good idea, thank you! I'll definitely give that a go... I find it so hard to block out all the thoughts so this might help. Thank you!
DeleteI have found recently that having a journal handy on my night stand table allows me to write down any last thoughts/ideas I have before going to bed. Reducing my time with the iphone and opening a book instead helps me to calm down as well. It's easy to get caught up in "ME, MINE, SELF" things, but that can be dangerous.
ReplyDeleteHope that gives you some ideas!
Thanks Danielle. I definitely need to reduce my time on my iphone! And a journal next to the bed is something I will definitely do - I normally wake up in the night and grab my phone to type in an idea I've just had... it becomes so tiring. I don't want to do it but I do anyway! Thanks :)
Deletei was wondering why it was so quiet around here! i know how busy you've been, though, so i'm just hoping you get through this busy period (boo, sort-of) unscathed (yay!)... :)
ReplyDeleteas for 'switching off', i'm a huge list-writer, so i list everything i want to do, from the next day's scheduled events, to things i'm thinking of doing in a year from now, or even longer ("in the future" art goals! so, so many of these...). this lets my fingers pull all the brain-chatter out of my head and put it on paper, so i can actually focus again! :)
another help is going for a walk (timed, of course!) down a street or in an area i've never been before. seeing things from a different perspective seems to help to redirect my energies somewhere positive, and it's always nice to have pretty houses to look at, or yummy flowers to smell/photograph (i think this explains my instagram feed? haha).
high five on doing what i know is an awesome job on work-stuffs, and keep on truckin (as they say)... :)
Yeah, so many future goals... it mentally exhausts me! I need to work out how to live in the present instead of always worrying about what will happen in 5 years time. Definitely a good idea to see new surroundings - that always helps me too, thank you Lindsay. And thanks for the encouragement, I shall indeed keep on truckin! ha! (I have an old tshirt with that saying on that I bought when I was in Canada a few years ago...) :)
DeleteI've never been good at switching off - metaphorically and literally.
ReplyDeleteI've been in your situation before and know how stressful freelancing can be, and how hard (near impossible) it is to turn down a job.
I hope you have a lovely break. Thinking of you, Jo!
Big hug,
Ronnie xo
That's exactly it. Fear that if you turn down a job it could be your last... silly but true. Thanks Ron, appreciate that x
DeleteHope you have a good week (or so) off. Taking time off to recharge and reinspire is always needed so don't feel guilty (like you should be working) because you will probably be more productive when you come back.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, I completely relate to this. Actually, this "needing a break" thing has been my life lately-- from the blog and just in general. Enjoy your time off. Sounds like you deserve it!
ReplyDeleteSometimes we DO need a break, a time to recharge, to re-focus... Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteTotally know what you mean, Jo. Am in the same boat. No work, no pay. Kinda scary but thankfully, it's all been ok so far. Come back soon! :)
ReplyDeleteLove your photos, so refreshing to find your lovely blog!
ReplyDeleteHey Jo,
ReplyDeleteJust letting you know that I've been thinking of you. Hope you guys are going well...
Ronnie xo
come back.. I miss you x
ReplyDeleteHi, this is the first time I've checked out your blog, it's beautiful, I love the simple elegance of the design. Hope it all goes well for you.
ReplyDeleteLou x