There are 9 posts tagged home office (this is page 1 of 2).
How do you make yourself go into work on a day you really don’t want to? What do you do to trick yourself into not missing a day? If you work from home, writing or another business, how do you discipline yourself to sticking to a work routine?
I’m trying to just not think about it and follow along the routine of getting dressed, groomed and out the door for the bus. If I act like a brain dead zombie until I actually get there, well, at least I will have gotten there.
What brings you stress? Kids, your job(s), spouse, parents, deadlines, or any of a hundred other things. For me, people give me the most stress. Also, one that will seem odd, my name. You will think it odd that I’d stress out over my name but I do. I gave up my maiden name when I married, the husband wanted me to and I did it to make him happy. Then, we got divorced and I decided to keep my married name, like a marker to show that I had at least gotten that far. Now, I don’t feel I have a last name at all. I get stressed when I have to fill in my last name cause I don’t want to be that name. Anyway, it’s a long winding story.
What odd things bring you to the stress breaking point? Have you ever written about them. Just a freestyle, brain storming type essay to vent your feelings. It’s amazing how much you can discover about yourself and your feelings when you vent on paper. You know you control who reads it, if anyone so you can type things you’d never say and not even dare to think in public. Vent your stress. Maybe all it really needs is an outlet, a chance to let off some steam.
Stressing about family and friends – personal relationships, is something we have to live with. You just can’t get rid of people. I think of various Twilight Zone style stories I’ve seen and read. Those tales of the last person on Earth or the only one, somehow, even for just a day. Doesn’t that just seem like paradise sometimes? I wrote about my adventures as the only person left. It was such a blast, I did so many things I’ve always wanted to do, went to all kinds of places and tried all kinds of things I’d be too shy to do if anyone were watching. But it was great fun to write it and see it all happening in my mind as I wrote.
The best way I handle family stress is to give myself a day off, even if I have to lie to get it. When necessary I tell them I’m working (my day job) and then go out just as if I were working. Then I drive. Most of the time I don’t even have a real destination in mind. I might not have much spending money either. It doesn’t matter. I just go for coffee and read a book in one of those coffee shops where all the soccer Moms hang out. It’s a nice break. I start to feel like I’m really part of the world again and not tightly fitted into my little space squished between family and work. It’s nice to just be me in the world.
Deadlines are another big stress. I have a bad habit (for lack of a better word) of taking on too much. I just seem to think I can never do enough. As if I have to compare myself to some perfect woman writer who probably doesn’t exist outside of my own mind. I have begun to realize this about myself. I handle it by admitting I am not super woman. If I have dug myself in too deep I allow myself to decide what stays and what goes. I’ve learned to make better decisions about what projects I do take on. Rather than saving the world I am just doing what will work for me. (I only save the world every other week now).
Anyway, everyone has evolved different stress management techniques. Do what works for you. Find something that does work though. Don’t wait till you have steam coming out of your ears and you’re yelling and screaming at everyone in your vicinity. That’s not good for anyone’s stress level.
Deadlines sound like a fisherman’s term for a bad day.
How do you handle deadlines? Are you a procrastinator, like me? Sometimes I do get started early, with all the passion and enthusiasm for the topic I’m undertaking. But, I get too caught up in the research and the ideas. The actual article doesn’t start taking shape until I suddenly realize the deadline is looming over me like big black clouds over a tiny fishing boat on the lake. Then, I rush and worry that I haven’t done the article as well as I could have, should have. Days like those your spellchecker can be your good friend.
Undertaking is another good word. It definitely sounds like what the undertaker does and I guess it really is, just not quite the same thing when applied to a funeral parlour. Yes, I’m full of bad witticisms today.
Anyway, a writing assignment/ project/ job/ career requires undertaking and deadlines on a regular basis. Deadlines keep you from poking around, if you’re like me. Undertakings get you started. Sometimes getting started is the hardest part. Any time you feel overwhelmed by the job (writing or otherwise) it’s a great idea to step back and break it into bite sized pieces. That way it’s manageable instead of horrifyingly huge and a massive undertaking. You can also put the least appealing things first, get them done and out of the way so you can enjoy the parts you like and have a better chance of being finished for your deadline.
Keep things simple and work on your deadlines, especially good advice to all the fishing types.
Not everyone can decide to freelance write and then go out and buy up a storm. Likely those are very few and far between. So, for most of us we are looking for ways to cut corners without leaving out something or making ourselves feel we are second rate.
First, consider what you really need versus what it would be nice to have. You can always get those nice extras later, like when you have a first real profit to show for your efforts, buy something slightly extravagant for yourself then. Meanwhile, make a list and cross off those things you can treat yourself to later.
I think the main essential in the computer age, is a computer, printer and matching software. But, don’t think you must invest thousands of dollars. Try thrift stores, ask family for copies of software and look online for freeware. Word processing software comes with new computers, likely you have a CD with MS Word or Lotus Notes. I use Lotus Notes myself.
Although we tend to back away slowly from computers and other hardware at thrift stores you should take a look, try plugging it in, booting up and seeing how it runs and what’s been left in it from the last owner. Printers and scanners are especially cheap (and plentiful) at GoodWill. Thrift stores aren’t likely to let you return a computer but you can test drive it before buying. Also, consider your needs, if you’re just using a computer for word processing and email you can manage without a new, souped up one for gamers and hefty music/ movie downloads. Check the software bins too, you may be amazed at what you find. Make sure software is compatible with your computer and check how old it is. Some software will have free updates online but that won’t help you if it’s too ancient to run on your computer to begin with.
Beyond the computer situation you need basic office supplies and reference books. These are often found at thrift stores, second hand bookstores, flea markets, garage sales, library cast offs, family and friends and office supply stores going out of business, back to school sales in the Fall, etc. Beyond the standard dictionary and thesaurus look for books about writing including grammar, word usage, style guides, editing and publishing. See if you can find general reference books for fact checking and research.
You won’t need a lot of pens and paper with a computer. But, consider having some kind of file system, a way to keep organized with story ideas, story submissions, publishing contacts, invoicing and whatever you use for self promotion and marketing. Find a system for keeping everything organized and work on maintaining it.
Clutter! There, I said it! Are you cringing just thinking about it? I do. You see, I am a clutter bug.
Sitting in front of my computer I am surrounded on nearly all sides with a clutter of my own making. It’s 90 per cent paper, biodegradable eventually, if I let it sit in the same spot that long. But, there is the odd coffee mug (empty but for the dregs on the bottom), a jar of vitamins (because here I know I will remember to actually take them), there are multiple and assorted pens. The pens are kind of funny since I type everything. But, I do make the odd note, maybe once or twice a week. There are also many PC games. Everyone needs their procrastination of choice. I’d be doing myself a favour if I made them less accessible. Like, if I moved them out of easy reach. That’s not likely to happen, get real!
I’m not a complete pack rat, but everything does seem to settle around my computer, eventually. I could throw out some of the newspapers. If I haven’t read them a month later I should make myself give up on them. But, I might find a really great source for something I’d like to write about. Or, I might come across an ad with a great graphic I could use. (Not copying graphics, just using the ideas to make my own.) Or, I might find an article that says something really amazing, even better than I ever thought to say it myself. *Sigh* It’s so hard to let go.
What’s your clutter? If you had to make a dent in it today, could you? What pile could you sort through fastest? Which one did you last trip over or have to restack when it all slid to one side?
We have an endless supply of information. But at some point we each have to find a way to control it. You can’t do much about the source or the temptation but you can try to limit how much you keep. If you’re living with a path to the computer, it’s really time to take action and let some of it go. Don’t worry, there’ll be more information overload tomorrow.
You are the company you keep, don’t surround yourself with paper, it has a really bad habit of bringing those little buggy worm things. Ick!
Happy decluttering, you know you won’t be alone. I’ve just brought a big green garbage bag to the computer for my own clutter.
When did you last buy/ get a new dictionary? How about a thesaurus? Maybe you splurged and got a rhyming dictionary too?
I especially like playing around with my thesaurus. But, tonight, I discovered how out of touch my trusty dictionary is. In fact, good old trusty is down right rusty. There is no ergonomics in my dictionary. Sure, I can spell check it with Lotus Word but it’s just not the same. If you can’t rely on your hand held print dictionary what is life coming to?
It’s coming to the point where I will sacrifice a few (few dozen likely) bucks and buy myself a shining new, updated dictionary. Now, the question is which company to choose from. The current oldie is a Funk and Wagnalls I bought for college English classes. At the time it was the best choice between wordiness and thriftiness.
However, I’m not a college student any more. Now, I’m actually making real cash money every other week. I’ll stick with paperback. It’s easier to transport around and find space for. I can’t imagine hauling out some hard, huge book every time I get the urge to look up something.
Another credential for my dictionary will be Canadian spellings. I’m Canadian and I intend to go on spelling like one. If anyone can’t understand it they can just pull out a dictionary of their own.
While I’m dictionary shopping this weekend I’ll peek at the thesaurus too. It’s more fun than the stuffy old dictionary anyway.
So, how old is your dictionary? Can you find ergonomics?