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[PAPER RUSTLING]
Since late July, I've been balancing 40-plus hours a week
at my full-time job with approximately 30
more hours for my freelance work.
Has it been difficult?
Yes.
I'm not going to put rainbow frosting
on a jacked up cake for you.
It's really hard, and some weeks are even harder.
Clients may not pay you on time, and you might miss deadlines
and feel horrendously guilty.
Sometimes you might feel like you physically cannot do it
anymore.
But before you turn into a pile of ashes,
I wanted to talk about how I've avoided that breaking point.
Before I dive in, I just want to make it clear that I'm not
romanticizing side hustles.
Your work and the money you make from it
should never be synonymous with your self-worth,
and productivity is not a competition.
On the flip side, I totally get that a lot of people
have no choice but to work several jobs to make ends meet.
I choose to do this because of the current circumstances.
The mortgage and bills got to get paid and also
because I love what I do.
So here's how not to internally combust
while juggling freelance work and a full-time job.
Number 1, accept the fact that you
may be working 60-plus hours a week,
and work out what that means.
The truth is, you're going to have less time when you're not
working.
I usually work from 8 AM to 9 PM and give myself
a couple of hours to deflate and watch "True Crime" on Netflix,
and I generally either spend half my Saturdays
and Sundays working or a full Saturday working with a Sunday
off.
But that doesn't mean weekend getaways
and traveling to see family for multiple days
are out of the question.
I just plan for it.
For example, I booked a couple nights in the desert
to spend some time away from LA and in a pool,
and I bulked up on assignments the week before.
That week won't be the most fun, but time management is key.
Even if you're the most organized efficient human
being, you'll still be working a lot.
Be mentally prepared for it, and savor the time off you do have.
Number 2, give yourself a cutoff time every day.
Not only does giving yourself a clear cutoff time make it
so that you can't easily procrastinate because you think
to yourself, well, I have all night to finish xyz,
it gives you healthier work life boundaries.
Log off.
Give yourself an hour or two of sugary stupid TV.
Read a book, journal.
You cannot and should not work 24/7.
Number 3, allot a specific number
of hours you're willing to spend every day on your side hustle.
Understanding how many hours you're working
is key to organizing your day as well
as understanding your limits.
And 100% give yourself limits.
You can only handle so much before you burn out
and start submitting work that's not up to your usual standards,
and that can happen when you're overwhelmed.
Number 4, be efficient with your time.
I hate the term "work smart, not hard" even
though the intentions behind it are fine, I guess.
I think you can both work hard and be efficient.
You just need to understand which
tasks need to be optimized and how you can do that.
For instance, I hired several subcontractors
when I realized I couldn't impossibly
layout high level strategy and be the one executing it
for one client.
Number 5, avoid staying up super late to meet a deadline.
Just ask for an extension.
Don't sacrifice your brain energy.
You're going to need it for your full time job the next day,
and you never ever want to let your performance slip when you
work full-time for a company.
At the end of the day, you want to make
sure everyone you're working for is happy with your work.
Number 6, carve out a safe happy place for yourself
in your home.
Whether it's your living room, a small desk
in the corner of your bedroom, or an office you're
able to revamp and truly call yours,
you should try to create a serene spot
to differentiate work time from the rest of your life.
Because otherwise, the two will blend.
And no matter what you're doing, you'll
feel like you're working.
I get that this might not be possible
if you have children, partner, or a roommate.
COVID has made it difficult for us to even escape
to a coffee shop or a library.
But hopefully this won't be the case for long.
In the meantime, invest in noise canceling headphones.
Find a seat that doesn't turn your back into petrified wood
by 3 PM.
Light a candle, and settle into focus mode on your own terms.
Number 7, if you can, ask for help.
Since my husband is at home all day long,
he self-elected making dinners and cleaning the house, which
has been tremendously helpful.
Not all of us had this.
But if you do live with a partner or even a roommate,
see if you can divvy up chores and other tasks
so that when you do have time away from your computer,
you can spend it as leisurely as possible.
When it comes to meals, if you can't rely on someone else
to make them, try to meal prep one day of the week.
And try to keep things as simple as possible.
Number 8, find ways to practice legitimate self-care.
For me, this past weekend self-care
was going to Trader Joe's and browsing the aisles
like I used to do before COVID happened.
I couldn't stay long, but just participating
in an activity I used to love so much brought me a lot of joy
and soothed my frazzled brain.
Also, yes, I bought two bags of maple popcorn and Apple cider
spread.
Number 9, talk to people.
Finally, remember that almost every person
is going through some kind of hell right now, and almost all
of us need someone to vent to.
Sometimes it helps to just text a friend or family member
and let them know you're stressed,
or even ask them how they're doing
so you can take your mind off your own anxieties and worries.
I found that all of my friends are
more than happy to talk it out.
Just make sure you're also lending an ear,
and giving them the support they need too.
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