I’m both a morning person and a night owl. But I am not an afternoon/evening person. Meaning, it’s best that I don’t push myself to be “productive” during these hours.
Working non-stop straight through the day is hard to shake when you’ve recently left the 9-5 world. I’m slowly adjusting to being my own boss, to making my own schedule, to balancing it all. I wouldn’t trade this job for the world, of course. Every single day I’m reminded somehow of how lucky I am.
The next 6 weeks will be my busiest of the season. I am learning what I can do alone and where I will need to let go and let others help me. I made a mountain of to-do lists for the upcoming weeks and I’ve told myself to focus on one thing at a time … and not look at the next list item until the current one is crossed-off.
I’m also allowing myself a couple hours each afternoon to step physically away from the computer and take a walk, shoot for myself, read a novel, do a crossword puzzle, sit on my patio, drink another cup of tea. I only get frustrated if I force myself to work during the late afternoon anyway. This is when my work brain takes a vacation.
A few weeks ago I got an email response from someone I had to turn down due to lack of time. She wrote a nice reply thanking me for the referrals to other photographers and then said, “Always be sure to take time for yourself. Otherwise there’s no point in all the hard work.”
Right now I am reading a little Barbara Kingsolver. I love nature writing. Annie Dillard is my favorite and I wish there were more books by her and Henry David Thoreau. If any of you have suggestions for similar authors I would LOVE to know them.
Have an awesome week :)
I am the same way with afternoons and evenings, so I’m going to be holding my office hours during those times :) I wish I could leave my e-mail and blogging and such until then (and maybe I will!), because those things are so fun I can do them anytime.
That’s so awesome that you figured that out and worked your schedule around your peak times! I just started “Let the Great World Spin” and wow. Thinking I’m going to love it :)
What’s the point of not working for the man when you don’t get to enjoy it!
i too have stepped away from the computer a lot more. especially since its summer in SF. i do miss gchats with you though! have a great rest of the week!