During my wonderfully restful winter break, I realized I've given a lot of advice about how to make a living writing without discussing the one rule that's really made it possible for me to become a successful, well-paid freelance writer.
So I'm going to tell it to you now. Fasten your seatbelts, because this one piece of advice will be the single most powerful thing I will ever tell you. This one has the potential to completely change your life.
Ready? Here it is:
--Every week, from Friday sunset until Saturday after sunset, I don't work.--
Not ever. I turn off my computer, my phone, my celphone and whatever other devices are around that might lead to working. I am not posting on Twitter, updating my Web site, prospecting for clients, filing articles, or conducting interviews.
Even more radical than not working for 25 hours each week, during that time period I don't think about work, either. I don't plan what I'll do when I get back to the computer. I don't talk business with friends. I slam the door on my business life and leave it completely behind.
Each and every week, I take a complete vacation from working. It's called Shabbat, or the Sabbath. And it's the most amazing tool for personal growth ever invented.
Without that time away to reflect, relax, unplug…we humans tend to just grind along, slowly getting more and more burned out. We don't progress as fast. We don't fully realize our potential.
When Stephen Covey made "sharpen the saw" one of his 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, he was echoing a timeless truth: we need time off to recharge in order to be our best.
There's a reason we're not called "human doings" but "human beings." We need time to just be. To discover who we really are, apart from our ability to earn, meet deadlines, and take meetings. To simply marvel at our good fortune at being alive in this beautiful world.
I'm not trying to convince anyone to practice my religious faith – Jews don't seek converts. But in today's real-time culture of 24/7 connectivity, I'm finding it's more important than ever to carve out a big block of time away from work each week. It'll save your sanity, refresh you, inspire you, and make you a better friend, sibling, spouse, parent…and writer.
It may sound scary to take one-seventh of your time each week and commit to making it work-free. When people start doing it, they're often terrified they'll earn less. But the reality is you'll probably earn more, because you'll be so much more effective. Either way, I guarantee you'll be happier.
Remember, nobody's tombstone says, "I wish I had spent more time at the office."
All I can say is try it, you'll like it! Maybe for you it'll be Sundays, or Mondays, or it'll start in the morning, or whenever. However you do it, know that you deserve a day off. Take it, and see what happens.
Share This
The Secret of My Writing Success
01/04/10
Comments
Carol, this is definitely a post I needed to read today. I tend to work all the time, and you're right--I'd be more effectively focused if I could take a little time away. I think I may try it this weekend. :) Thanks for the nudge.
Good points Carol. There's definitely something to be said for time off. I'm another big believer in not working over my weekends, and on the occasion that I do choose to work at night, that time basically replaces work time the next day -- never in addition to it. I also recently got back from vacation time (a week and a half). I don't normally take many extended breaks throughout the year, but seeing how refreshed I've become, I've vowed to take several more weeks off in 2010 (in addition to the typical personal days and long weekends as needed). After all, that freedom is a big part of why I chose to become self-employed, and the worst thing that could happen would be to burn out and start hating what I do because of that.
Hear, hear!
I too take regular electronic breaks . incl going for walks without my cell phone ... and its in those quiet times that growth does happen leaving me refreshed, recharged and happy to be back at my work
The secret is getting beyond just going for a walk for an hour, and giving yourself an entire, continuous day off. Most refreshing!
Carol, this is SO true. I'm just starting my own freelance business, and I'm constantly planning and working. I've finally decided that I'm not even going to think about work on Sundays (my Sabbath). Thanks for the encouragement!
I never work weekends, and I don't work on public holidays (unless of course it's a personal project). Apart from the obvious, it's not good to get into the habit of doing client work on your downtime because the last thing you want is for people to come to expect that you work on non-work days.
That is so right on, Lucy!
Once clients realize they can ding you anytime, they will! You want to draw those boundaries, for your own sanity. I had one prospective client call me at 8 pm without an appointment recently, thinking he could have a chat...needless to say I passed.
Once clients realize they can ding you anytime, they will! You want to draw those boundaries, for your own sanity. I had one prospective client call me at 8 pm without an appointment recently, thinking he could have a chat...needless to say I passed.
Nice post. Liked the line 'Jews dont seek converts'. When one is on one's own taking time off to reflect is all the more necessary. Only concession I make is carrying a note book and pencil.
Amen on that sister! I too have to watch how much time I spend working. My mind is constantly going and sometimes in my "down" time I take classes or do tons of reading. Those are things that will benefit me in the long run.
However...I do not work on my Sabbath either...which is Sunday and most of the time I don't work past noon on Saturdays and I don't do any client work from Friday until Monday morning.
It does help to spend that time doing something fun and spending it with the ones you love. Nothing can replace those precious memories you create with people that care about you. Those are the things you'll miss out on if you spend too much time working. It is not worth it!
Life is WAY too short and it is meant to be enjoyed!
However...I do not work on my Sabbath either...which is Sunday and most of the time I don't work past noon on Saturdays and I don't do any client work from Friday until Monday morning.
It does help to spend that time doing something fun and spending it with the ones you love. Nothing can replace those precious memories you create with people that care about you. Those are the things you'll miss out on if you spend too much time working. It is not worth it!
Life is WAY too short and it is meant to be enjoyed!
I'm pretty relaxed about mixing work and non-work hours, but I realized recently that this had gotten completely out of hand when a workaholic client emailed to ask if I could meet her for an hour (for a non-emergency, "touch base" meeting) — at 1 p.m. on New Year's Day.
Whew. I was less shocked by the weirdness of her request than by the realization that she didn't think it was in any way inappropriate to expect someone to be available on a holiday weekend.
I wrote back and said I was spending the holidays with family and was not available. It was very hard not to say "Are you out of your mind?" After this experience, am now having second thoughts about working with her company.
Whew. I was less shocked by the weirdness of her request than by the realization that she didn't think it was in any way inappropriate to expect someone to be available on a holiday weekend.
I wrote back and said I was spending the holidays with family and was not available. It was very hard not to say "Are you out of your mind?" After this experience, am now having second thoughts about working with her company.
Thanks for the post Carol! Just the nudge I needed. That is perhaps why I've been feeling a bit 'under' lately. :)
Thanks for the reminder!
Warm regards,
C
Thanks for the reminder!
Warm regards,
C
Love the point about not even _thinking_ about work. Although, habits of thought being the hardest to break, all I can promise immediately is to not _talk_ about it (out loud or in writing) or read career-related materials. I've been one of those emotional workaholics whose mind was always half on tomorrow's duties--and who usually returned to work after a day off wondering why I didn't feel all that rested.
Great advice! When I moved to Arizona two years ago, I was a regular hiker at South Mountain park. Not anymore. I think I'll start next Friday because I already have commitments on Feb. 5. Perhaps I could go on Sunday.
I like the idea of taking a break. For the past two years I've been trying to "make my freelance writing" work for me. I send out resumes, bid on jobs, attend networking events, do social media, etc...I'm grateful for the new client I picked up, but that's not enough.
Perhaps I'm supposed to focus on writing books and screenplays. I have made a lot of connections in L.A. and asked the "universe" to get me to the L.A. area; my lease is up on June 30. Hmmm...
I like the idea of taking a break. For the past two years I've been trying to "make my freelance writing" work for me. I send out resumes, bid on jobs, attend networking events, do social media, etc...I'm grateful for the new client I picked up, but that's not enough.
Perhaps I'm supposed to focus on writing books and screenplays. I have made a lot of connections in L.A. and asked the "universe" to get me to the L.A. area; my lease is up on June 30. Hmmm...
Great to hear from you again!
Ephesus Tours
Ephesus Tours
Great blog.thank for information.i wish you success.avşa