Promises, Promises

[ladysprite]

Every six months or so, I take a look at my work schedule, realize I overbook myself like whoa, and promise myself that I won't do so in the future. That I'll take the time necessary to catch up on life, to run errands and manage my career and live my life, and not be either hectic or exhausted at all times. And each time I make that promise, I mean it.

And then I get caught up in worrying about finances, and whether I'll still be solvent if I'm not working every possible waking hour. Or I feel guilty when a clinic I know needs me to work on a particular date and I'm confronted with saying no when I don't have a legitimate conflict. Or I worry that if I do say no they won't ask me next time, and even if I'm financially safe now, what if I'm not next time? Or what if I turn down work now, and then next month there's no work to turn down?

And I wind up still overbooked, and unable to enjoy what little free time I have because I'm too tired to see straight, and not enjoying the time I spend working because I'm just counting the hours and slogging through, rather than looking forward to the opportunities I get to exercise my knowledge and skills.

So I'm trying again. September is already a lost cause, as far as work is concerned. But I'm going to keep October light - 4 days a week maximum, if I can, and call the fifth day a work-from-home. Time to balance my books, and plan my CE, and actually get to the bank and deposit paychecks, and figure out what I need to do to maintain my level of practice, and maybe actually get some stuff done for myself, like going to OVFF or hiking some of the local trails. And come hell or high water, I will find a way to take a week off in November. I haven't had a week off since... last November, I think, and I desperately need it.

Right now, though, I think I will just give myself the gift of going to bed before midnight, since I have to be up at 6am. It's a start....

Comments

[spiritdancer]

Dear, if you are that busy, and have been since last November, you should really raise your rates.

Might slow things down a bit, and you'll have more to put aside for the slower times.

Remember, some down time is a Good Thing :)

[wren13.livejournal.com]

Raise your rates, or do what I do and book all the vacation time and social events first! I take 6-8 weeks off a year and do just fine financially, you should be able to do the same. *hugs*

[spiritdancer]

That's actually are really good idea - booking your personal time first, that is.

[pale-chartreuse.livejournal.com]

I guy I used to work for has a tiered rate system. Annoying and difficult to work with people were charged at an increased rate. Really annoying people got charged at progressively increased rates in hopes that they might someday go away. He makes a lot of money.

[joannahurley.livejournal.com]

I recently signed up for a newsletter called the "Freelancer Vacation Clinic": http://somedaysyndrome.com/freelancer-vacation-clinic/ . It's a series of emails telling you that yes, you ARE allowed to take a vacation, and this is why/how you handle it/etc. One thought was: would you take a full time job that had NO vacation days? Isn't the freedom to do some non-work stuff one of the reasons that you're doing relief work instead of looking for a spot at a single clinic?

I've had to forcibly teach myself to say "no" and I've tentatively planned to say that to any inquiries for the next month - I'm wiped out at doing 1.5 jobs for the last two months.

You also might want to make a note of how many total work days each month you plan to work. So if you're thinking 4/week, then you want to stop when you've booked 20 days or so. That allows for blocks of days but still keeps your goal in mind.

*hugs*