I was pretty sick last week (um, ok. Two weeks ago, but I haven't really done much since), and a bunch of stuff piled up. So what do you do when you just forget to do something?
I tend to beat myself up over it. I do. I'm not sure exactly what leads to these extended periods of lethargy, or the complete dropping-of-the-ball on an important project, but it's a long-engrained habit to get angry.
It's a cop-out to say it's because of my parents, but I guess it kind of is - if you're like me, you know the drill. I have wonderful parents, both with their own set of extreme quirks, but my dad has never "just forgotten" about a project or duty. When tasks don't just disappear out of your brain as though they've never existed, it's kind of hard to understand that explanation when it is offered up by your kid.
"Your report card says you missed six homework assignments."
"Yeah, I guess so."
"How did that happen?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know? How can you not know?"
"I just... forgot, I guess."
"How could you just forget about something you had to do?"
"I don't know, I just did."
"Did you write the assignments down?"
"Yes."
"Then how did you forget about them?"
"I don't know."
I mean, really, it sounds like a cop-out. As a parent who doesn't 'just forget' things, I'm sure I'd read that as 'didn't want to do it, was lazy, and is trying to get out of trouble.' And then it's endlessly frustrating to both parties.
Whatever the reason, at this point when I lose my keys or I realize I completely forgot to do my two required blog posts this week, I freak out. I stomp around the house. I shout. When I'm looking for something, I tend to throw things aside with way more violence than necessary. I make pronounced judgements on the quality of my life and my own failures as a human being.
So this week, I'm not going to do that. I'm going to take a deep breath instead, and then do what I need to do to make it right. Forgot to do some blog posts? Write off a quick letter of apology. If they want to fire me, then I will find another job. It's ok.
I suspect that will be a much healthier way of looking at things.
How do you handle it when you drop the ball?
Monday, May 7, 2012
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Shameless Self Promotion
I got a job! My first non ELance, for reals independent freelance gig, with http://www.sparknotes.com/mindhut <-- That's the shameless self promotion part. I will be writing articles for them on various nerdy subjects. At last, a way to profit from my unhealthy obsession with all things fantasy and sci-fi. (I know it's cool to be a nerd now but... well... I make seasoned D&D players and LARPers uncomfortable now and again.)
I have my own contributor blog and everything! Username Jasper. I write about whatever I think is interesting and nerdy. This first week was really hard: I have at least three half written articles that I've been to timid to submit. I'm still kind of nervous about putting myself out there like that - why am I funny? Why should people listen to me ramble on about various and sundry topics? I don't mind people not accepting my topics, but I really didn't want my first proposal to be rejected. Puts a bad tone over things to come.
Luckily, while the Mindhut accepts submissions on whatever you like, the editors also provides some sample topics. When a movie trailer popped up early in the morning, I volunteered for it immediately and promised it within two hours, so I didn't chicken out. And they liked it. So, moral of the story: just try! Force yourself to try! Pick something you think you can do, and do it. You'll surprise yourself, most likely.
And in closing, a friend of mine once sent me this video to illustrate how I treat men. I've scaled it back, but it's why this is a great job for me. Warning: nerd stuff ahead. http://www.collegehumor.com/video/6534168/im-such-a-nerd-with-katrina-bowden
I have my own contributor blog and everything! Username Jasper. I write about whatever I think is interesting and nerdy. This first week was really hard: I have at least three half written articles that I've been to timid to submit. I'm still kind of nervous about putting myself out there like that - why am I funny? Why should people listen to me ramble on about various and sundry topics? I don't mind people not accepting my topics, but I really didn't want my first proposal to be rejected. Puts a bad tone over things to come.
Luckily, while the Mindhut accepts submissions on whatever you like, the editors also provides some sample topics. When a movie trailer popped up early in the morning, I volunteered for it immediately and promised it within two hours, so I didn't chicken out. And they liked it. So, moral of the story: just try! Force yourself to try! Pick something you think you can do, and do it. You'll surprise yourself, most likely.
And in closing, a friend of mine once sent me this video to illustrate how I treat men. I've scaled it back, but it's why this is a great job for me. Warning: nerd stuff ahead. http://www.collegehumor.com/video/6534168/im-such-a-nerd-with-katrina-bowden
Friday, April 27, 2012
Freelancers don't get sick days.
It's maybe the worst part about the whole concept of freelancing.
It's not doing taxes (I say confidently without having done taxes), or
juggling all the jobs or waking up early. It's that there are no sick
days.
On the one hand, I'm at home, right? So I can just stay in bed and work. True. But on the other hand, ohgodawfulsickness - all I really want to do is sleep. That must wait until work is done, however.
I guess I could take a sick day, but I might be out of a job or two. So instead it's sitting around typing about being sick on the internet and being glad that my Male Compatriot is almost better from his bout with the disease.
To add injury to injury, I have one very weak ankle and an athletic personality, so I sprained the ankle pretty badly.. again... yesterday, while I was desperately pretending I wasn't sick. Now I have to do a bunch of work at home AND go in to the last few days of my remaining part-time office job to see if they send me home. Must sort out my bike, I'm really not sure how that will go.
Good night. I'm going to collapse back into a puddle of self-pity. On the plus side, I am already in bed.
How do you handle being sick? Do you insist upon a day? Do you work through it? I'm fresh out of the music industry, where nothing short of hospitalization is an acceptable excuse for missing work, and then only if you can't sneak past the doctor. So I am in the habit of working through illness, but that may not be a good solution.
On the one hand, I'm at home, right? So I can just stay in bed and work. True. But on the other hand, ohgodawfulsickness - all I really want to do is sleep. That must wait until work is done, however.
I guess I could take a sick day, but I might be out of a job or two. So instead it's sitting around typing about being sick on the internet and being glad that my Male Compatriot is almost better from his bout with the disease.
To add injury to injury, I have one very weak ankle and an athletic personality, so I sprained the ankle pretty badly.. again... yesterday, while I was desperately pretending I wasn't sick. Now I have to do a bunch of work at home AND go in to the last few days of my remaining part-time office job to see if they send me home. Must sort out my bike, I'm really not sure how that will go.
Good night. I'm going to collapse back into a puddle of self-pity. On the plus side, I am already in bed.
How do you handle being sick? Do you insist upon a day? Do you work through it? I'm fresh out of the music industry, where nothing short of hospitalization is an acceptable excuse for missing work, and then only if you can't sneak past the doctor. So I am in the habit of working through illness, but that may not be a good solution.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Alarm Clocks and Coffee Addictions
Freelancing and coffee addictions go together like teens and sleeping in; a well known, well worn stereotype that is both humorous and sad.
My personal coffee addiction came about because of my hatred for alarm clocks. And my inability to purchase alarms that simulate the sun, or gently buzz me awake or softly caress my cheek with a gentle sonic massage involving gongs from Shangri-La. Oh, and my hourly job that requires me to work on east coast time (8 am in NYC = 5 am in Flag AZ).
Next best thing? Coffee maker on a timer that sits at the foot of the bed. It's not quite as gentle as fictional monk gongs, but there's a nice soft gurgle and the smell of warm, dark roasted addiction. And in case that doesn't wake you up, it beeps when it's done.
Of course, I might spend as much money, over time, on the coffee, because I've been bitten by the sustainability-ethical-buzzword bug, and get suckered into buying "organic shade grown locally-roasted ethically sourced coffee from wise gurus on mountaintops (probably in Shangri-La with the gongs)" on a regular basis. But, you know, live lightly on the planet and all that. Plus I hear coffee tastes better than a sonic massage. Priorities.
Back on topic, my room mate seems to have the best of it - he has an office job with a decent health package that lets him come in to work basically whenever he wants. He doesn't even have to use an alarm. Then again, his commute is kind of a pain. It's really pretty (though long) by bicycle, but he drives.
I hope to soon have the best of both worlds - no hourly jobs AND no commute. In the meantime, though, it's kind of nice waking up early when I don't have to go anywhere and can just sit and cuddle my cat while I work.
How do you wake up? Are you an alarm clock slave? A caffeine junkie? Do you combine the two like me?
My personal coffee addiction came about because of my hatred for alarm clocks. And my inability to purchase alarms that simulate the sun, or gently buzz me awake or softly caress my cheek with a gentle sonic massage involving gongs from Shangri-La. Oh, and my hourly job that requires me to work on east coast time (8 am in NYC = 5 am in Flag AZ).
Next best thing? Coffee maker on a timer that sits at the foot of the bed. It's not quite as gentle as fictional monk gongs, but there's a nice soft gurgle and the smell of warm, dark roasted addiction. And in case that doesn't wake you up, it beeps when it's done.
Of course, I might spend as much money, over time, on the coffee, because I've been bitten by the sustainability-ethical-buzzword bug, and get suckered into buying "organic shade grown locally-roasted ethically sourced coffee from wise gurus on mountaintops (probably in Shangri-La with the gongs)" on a regular basis. But, you know, live lightly on the planet and all that. Plus I hear coffee tastes better than a sonic massage. Priorities.
Back on topic, my room mate seems to have the best of it - he has an office job with a decent health package that lets him come in to work basically whenever he wants. He doesn't even have to use an alarm. Then again, his commute is kind of a pain. It's really pretty (though long) by bicycle, but he drives.
I hope to soon have the best of both worlds - no hourly jobs AND no commute. In the meantime, though, it's kind of nice waking up early when I don't have to go anywhere and can just sit and cuddle my cat while I work.
How do you wake up? Are you an alarm clock slave? A caffeine junkie? Do you combine the two like me?
Monday, April 23, 2012
Who Needs Sleep Part II: Biphasic Sleeping?
I am a night owl. But I'm also a morning person. In fact, pretty much the only times I'm tired are around 4 am and around 3 pm. The rest of the time it's go, go, go! So I did some research into polyphasic sleeping a while ago, and decided it was too risky. No, I didn't try it for myself. I decided that there wasn't enough evidence that it was safe, and the only research that's been done into sleep suggests that sleep deprivation is quite unhealthy. That's enough for me, sorry, I'm a coward like that.
Biphasic sleep, on the other hand, is a time honored tradition in much of the world - siestas! A mid-afternoon nap. Mmm, yummy. The benefits of working from home. I usually don't get more than 5-6 hours of sleep at night, and I can really feel a difference in my overall performance. And I work from home most days, so I might as well, right? In theory, a 90 minute nap at 2 pm will improve time management and make me way more productive the rest of the day. In practice, it might just make me groggy and not want to do anything else for the rest of the day. We'll see what happens!
Have you undertaken a similar experiment? What were the results?
Biphasic sleep, on the other hand, is a time honored tradition in much of the world - siestas! A mid-afternoon nap. Mmm, yummy. The benefits of working from home. I usually don't get more than 5-6 hours of sleep at night, and I can really feel a difference in my overall performance. And I work from home most days, so I might as well, right? In theory, a 90 minute nap at 2 pm will improve time management and make me way more productive the rest of the day. In practice, it might just make me groggy and not want to do anything else for the rest of the day. We'll see what happens!
Have you undertaken a similar experiment? What were the results?
Friday, April 20, 2012
Synergistic Project Optimization, a.k.a. Gardening While Working
Confession: I didn't actually work on my computer after I got dirt all over my hands. But that's what notebooks are for, right?
If you freelance, how do you entertain yourself while working on projects? If you don't, what does your office look like?
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Speed Reading for High Productivity
The Art of Manliness (yes, I follow a man-centered blog. Whatcha gunna do, it has some great skill based articles and cool insights on life!) had an excellent article on speed reading a while back (2009, to be imprecise... I'm honestly not even sure how I stumbled across this!). In it, they discuss Spreeder, a free website that will help improve your top reading speed.
It's fun to improve your score, too - in the morning, when I have some free time, I go to Wikipedia and either click "random article" (it can take a while to find an interesting one sometimes) or "recent events" and copy and paste an article into Spreeder. I'm learning a lot about random stuff, like the recently Independent State of Azawad.
So why do this? If you're a writer, programmer, or anyone else who's self employed, you'll be doing a lot of self driven research and skill acquisition. If you're working on a science fiction story and can plow through a paper on astrosociology in five minutes, that is incredibly useful. If you're editing a news piece and suddenly run across something you aren't sure about, having the ability to break out your Chicago Manual of Style and refresh yourself on the rule in a minute flat, that's useful, too.
Another place where speed reading comes in handy: investing. I'm no expert, so I won't talk a lot about this, but I will say that wise, hands-on investing depends a lot on knowing what's going on in the world. Speed read the news and the Wall Street Journal!
In closing, there are plenty of things to take slowly. I wouldn't speed read The Brothers Karamazov, for example. But for research, staying informed about the world, even your daily blogreads, speedy reading is a great way to increase your productivity and your range of skills.
P.S. Know when to use it, though. For example, I edit news stories. And it definitely makes people nervous when I am done in two minutes. While I know I can increase productivity by editing more articles in less time, my client's peace of mind is ultimately more important.
How fast do you read? Have you found that it's useful to be able to read fast? Are you going to try using Spreeder?
It's fun to improve your score, too - in the morning, when I have some free time, I go to Wikipedia and either click "random article" (it can take a while to find an interesting one sometimes) or "recent events" and copy and paste an article into Spreeder. I'm learning a lot about random stuff, like the recently Independent State of Azawad.
So why do this? If you're a writer, programmer, or anyone else who's self employed, you'll be doing a lot of self driven research and skill acquisition. If you're working on a science fiction story and can plow through a paper on astrosociology in five minutes, that is incredibly useful. If you're editing a news piece and suddenly run across something you aren't sure about, having the ability to break out your Chicago Manual of Style and refresh yourself on the rule in a minute flat, that's useful, too.
Another place where speed reading comes in handy: investing. I'm no expert, so I won't talk a lot about this, but I will say that wise, hands-on investing depends a lot on knowing what's going on in the world. Speed read the news and the Wall Street Journal!
In closing, there are plenty of things to take slowly. I wouldn't speed read The Brothers Karamazov, for example. But for research, staying informed about the world, even your daily blogreads, speedy reading is a great way to increase your productivity and your range of skills.
P.S. Know when to use it, though. For example, I edit news stories. And it definitely makes people nervous when I am done in two minutes. While I know I can increase productivity by editing more articles in less time, my client's peace of mind is ultimately more important.
How fast do you read? Have you found that it's useful to be able to read fast? Are you going to try using Spreeder?
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