"But you don't have a job," my friend said. She seemed to take it personally that I couldn't find a time to meet her for lunch in Zurich.
Story of my life. At least, my freelance life.
Somehow, just because I work from home, people think that I should always be available for an afternoon coffee, a lunch outing, or a shopping trip.
It doesn't work that way.
Here's the thing. I love being a writer. I love the freedom to choose my own projects, decide who I work with, and I love being creative on my own terms. And while my work sometimes feels like play, in reality, it's still work. Yes, I have more freedom than people with office jobs, but in return I also have to have more discipline.
One of the hardest parts about the writing life is learning to say "no". I'm still bad at that. Especially when the sun in shining in Zurich and my friends are going to the pool. But sometimes getting places tomorrow means going nowhere today.
Do you struggle with saying "no"?
I have a friend who likes to chat on the phone in the middle of the day, and just this week, I had to tell her 'no' several times because I have too many assignments already assigned and many more to pitch. I love her dearly but we never talk for less than an hour and there's just no way I'm giving up an hour at my desk because she still doesn't quite get how seriously I take my job (she doesn't have one). Took me a long time to say no to her though so I definitely appreciate this!
ReplyDeleteAmen, sister! Sometimes it's nice to take a break and do a lunchtime Pilates class or meet a friend for coffee, but sometimes I just don't have the room in my schedule, because I'm on deadline. People eventually catch on, but it can take quite a while.
ReplyDeleteYes, thank you for this insightful post from a fellow freelancer! I can't count the number of times I've guiltily ignored phone calls and IMs while trying to send off finished pieces or search for new projects. Maybe from now on, I'll just tell them to read this!
ReplyDeleteGlad some others can relate. Of course I like to take advantage of the freelance life and grab a lunch or take an hour swim when I can, but usually it just eats up too much valuable writing time! Now that I say no more, I need to work on feeling less guilty!
ReplyDeleteoh lord yes. thank you for this!
ReplyDeleteI completely relate! I freelance, work on my own writing, and run a small company with my husband. And sometimes friends don't seem to understand when I don't have free time.
ReplyDeleteI also had a friend refer to me recently as unemployed. That one stung. Freelancing is not unemployed.
Great post. I admittedly had trouble saying no when I started freelancing 5 years ago, however practice makes perfect ;-)
ReplyDeleteAfter a few good long lectures about the definition of work and the respect that should accompany it, my regular bug-a-boo's no loner question what I could possibly mean by, "no."
I'm a full-time student with a part-time job I can do from my apartment. Saying no is incredibly difficult and having the discipline to get everything done ontime takes work. Sometimes I am jealous of my friends who have offices to work in. Even if their offices are just a block from the apartment, it's a place to go that says, "I'm at work right now." But then I get to be working while watching a movie and I'm not jealous anymore.
ReplyDelete<>< Katie
The office thing would be nice--I just read an article in Time how Jonathan Franzen works from a rental office that has no internet. But on the other hand, one of the benefits of freelancing is being able to work from home. It's kind of a toss up for me.
ReplyDeleteThis made me laugh - been there many times. And as you mentioned in the comments, Chantal, being able to take lunch when I want or do something when I want to (unlike my husband with a rigid 50+ hour work week) is one of the pleasures of freelancing. Being able to say no when I need to, and yes when I want to.
ReplyDeleteburberry sale
ReplyDeleteuggs on sale
clarks shoes outlet
hollister outlet
isabel marant sneakers
louis vuitton outlet store
dansko shoes
manolo blahnik sale
ugg boots outlet
north face jackets
ugg boots clearance
coach factory outlet
moncler jackets
yves saint laurent shoes
canada goose jackets
kd shoes
ugg clearance
gucci outlet
woolrich outlet
belstaff jackets
nike air max 2015
fendi handbags
ugg australia sale uk
cheap ugg boots
official michael kors outlet
moncler outlet
coach factory outlet online
ugg sale
michael kors outlet
tods shoes
parajumpers outlet
uggs clearance
cheap uggs
ReplyDeleteugg boots clearance
nike roshe run
canada goose jacket
coach purses outlet
jordans 11
north face outlet
uggs on sale
cheap ugg boots
louis vuitton outlet
uggs for cheap
uggs outlet
ugg outlet store
uggs on sale
ugg boots outlet
ugg clearance
patagonia outlet
parajumpers outlet
discount ugg boots
canada goose jacket
ugg clearance
cheap uggs
parajumper jacket
uggs on sale uk
north face sale
ugg sale
ugg outlet store
michael kors outlet
uggs on sale
uggs outlet stores
uggs sale
ugg outlet
ugg clearance
uggs for sale
genuine ugg boots
christian louboutin outlet store
nike free 3
ugg outlet
ReplyDeletemont blanc pen
ugg australia
ugg boots
hollister clothing
timberland boots
timberland canada
burberry scarf
michael kors outlet
ugg australia
ugg slippers
adidas shoes
supra outlet
burberry outlet
tory burch outlet
michael kors outlet online
burberry sale
toms outlet
michael kors outlet online
true religion sale
michael kors
true religion jeans
michael kors outlet
coach factory
chanel outlet online
cheap jerseys wholesale
burberry scarf
coach outlet
abercrombie and fitch
ugg boots
toms canada
fitflops outlet
beats solo
michael kors outlet online
michael kors handbags
michael kors outlet
christian louboutin shoes
timberland shoes
nike nfl jerseys
christian louboutin outlet
It is hardest to say NO but it should be properly used. Things that should be replied with a "no" , it is necessary to say no then. This is all because of lack of education. People can increase their confidence by enrolling for online education and earning online degree which will help them gain confidence.
ReplyDeletechenlina20151215
ReplyDeletenike trainers uk
coach outlet
louis vuitton outlet
ugg boots outlet
cheap oakley sunglasses
michael kors outlet
hollister
ugg boots
nike roshe run women
cheap ugg boots
louis vuitton outlet
michael kors outlet
michael kors uk
michael kors outlet online
louis vuitton
polo ralph lauren outlet
coach factory outlet
kevin durant basketball shoes
air max uk
air jordans
michael kors handbags
polo ralph lauren
running shoes
nike huarache shoes
replica watches
coach outlet online
hollister co
coach factory outlet
tory burch sale
cheap jordan shoes
coach factory outlet
uggs boots
cheap oakley sunglasses
ugg australia
canada goose
louis vuitton outlet
cheap ray ban sunglasses
air force 1
louis vuitton outlet online
christian louboutin outlet
as
louboutin shoes
ReplyDeleteCheap North Face Jackets
abercrombie and fitch coupons
jordan 11
north face outlet store
burberry outlet
columbia clothing outlet
reebok shoes
coach handbags
gucci
abercrombie & fitch
nike
rolex
jordan
coach
nike nfl
hermes outlet online
Ugg Boots On Sale 70% Off
gucci handbags
michael kors store
nike basketball shoes
air jordan shoes for sale
prada sunglasses
michael kors handbags clearance 75% off
vans shoes
MK Bags
dior outlet store
christian louboutin
michael kors outlet
coach
cheap jordan shoes
hollister outlet store
christian louboutin
nike free
coach sale
Michael Kors Purses
north face factory outlet
michael kors outlet online sale
michael kors outlet
hermes outlet
jordan
air jordan 13
nike discount
cheap jordan 11
Coach Purse
Coach Factory Outlet
Coach Handbags Sale
North Face Jackets Clearance
prada
qwe12.19
michael kors bags
ReplyDeletesoccer jerseys
michael kors factory outlet
montblanc pens
ray ban sunglasses
louis vuitton
ferragamo shoes
beats by dr dre
ugg boots
true religion jeans
canada goose jackets
nobis outlet
nba jerseys
ray ban sunglasses
michael kors handbags
black friday 2015
swarovski outlet
burberry outlet store
michael kors wholesale
mulberry handbags
louis vuitton outlet
tiffany outlet
cheap mlb jerseys
canada goose jackets
swarovski crystal
coach outlet
fitflops sale clearance
ferragamo outlet
beats by dre
louis vuitton handbags
michael kors handbags
ferragamo shoes
oakley sunglasses
ferragamo outlet
tory burch outlet
polo ralph lauren
rolex watches
christian louboutin uk
lebron james shoes
mcm outlet
1230maoqiuyun
chenlina20160119
ReplyDeleteray ban sunglasses
ugg boots
official coach factory outlet
michael kors handbags
cheap ray ban sunglasses
ray ban sunglasses outlet
cheap jerseys
fake oakley sunglasses
toms outlet
coach factory outlet
tory burch handbags
air max 90
louis vuitton handbags
abercrombie and fitch
ugg outlet
coach outlet
cheap jordans
uggs outlet
nike free runs
cheap nfl jerseys
michael kors outlet online
lebron 11
michael kors outlet
canada goose outlet
ugg boots sale
michael kors outlet online
coach outlet store online
coach outlet
ugg boots sale
toms outlet
hollister outlet
ugg clearance
uggs australia
burberry outlet
nike air max
coach factory outlet online
michael kors outlet
coach outlet store
louis vuitton outlet online
cheap nfl jerseys
aa
gud
ReplyDeleteBest deals for Resorts Near Delhi
ReplyDeleteFamily holiday packages for Jim Corbett Resorts
Packages for Hotels in shimla
Tour packages for Hill stations near Delhi
and Group deals for River rafting in Rishikesh
mulberry outlet
ReplyDeleterolex watches
oakley canada
cheap nba jerseys
phone cases
rolex watches
babyliss pro
kate spade uk
swarovski crystal
kate spade uk
mulberry outlet
coach outlet store
toms shoes
coach outlet store
michael kors uk outlet
louis vuitton handbags
burberry outlet
michael kors outlet
coach outlet
longchamp handbags
tiffany outlet
longchamp outlet
tory burch outlet online
true religion outlet
ray ban sunglasses
ralph lauren polo
oakley sunglasses
tory burch outlet online
ralph lauren polo
ferragamo shoes
cai20160314
tory burch sale
ReplyDeletetory burch handbags
tory burch
tory burch sale
true religion outlet
true religion jeans outlet
cheap true religion
true religion jeans women
ugg boots
uggs canada
uggs
ugg boots clearance
uggs outlet
ugg australia
ugg
ugg australia
uggs on sale
uggs outlet
ugg australia
ugg boots
uggs boots
uhren shop
valentino shoes
vans
vans
vans shoes
bride dresses
wedding dress
woolrich outlet
yoga pants
lulu lemon
coach bags outlet
air huarache
air max shoes
air max
coach factory
coach outlet
mcm backpack outlet
michael kors outlet
michael kors outlet online
beats headphones
nike air jordan
north face outlet
supra footwear
uggs on sale
0409wangjuan
ReplyDeletekate spade uk outlet
tiffany jewelry
true religion outlet
coach outlet online
coach handbags outlet
rolex watches for sale
hollister uk
bottega veneta outlet online
michael kors handbags
true religion jeans
nike air force 1
ralph lauren outlet
nike mercurial
christian louboutin outlet
true religion jeans
discount oakley sunglasses
rolex watches
rolex watches outlet
ralph lauren polo
celine outlet
swarovski jewelry
cheap nba jerseys
oakley sunglasses
ray ban sunglasses
nike blazer pas cher
nike air max 90
oakley sunglasses
tiffany and co
fitflops sale
louis vuitton handbags
air force 1
ReplyDeleteray ban sunglasses
michael kors outlet clearance
polo ralph lauren outlet online
ralph lauren outlet online
coach outlet
air max 95
kate spade outlet
running shoes
ray ban sunglasses
mlb jerseys wholesale
michael kors outlet
coach purses
cheap oakley sunglasses
ralph lauren outlet
ferragamo shoes
louboutin outlet
fitflop uk
michael kors outlet online
michael kors outlet clearance
michael kors handbags
true religion outlet
michael kors handbags
pandora charms
kate spade outlet
michael kors handbgas
coach outlet clearance
kate spade outlet
michael kors outlet online
mizuno running shoes
cheap jordans
christian louboutin uk
skechers shoes
michael kors purses
2016509yuanyuan
michael kors outlet online
ReplyDeletecalvin klein outlet
fitflops sale
lululemon outlet
nike free run
police sunglasses for men
cheap oakley sunglasses
hollister uk
michael kors factory online
tiffany and co jewelry
true religion outlet
longchamp handbags
michael kors outlet online
air jordan shoes
coach outlet online
louis vuitton neverfull sale
oakley sunglasses wholesale
louis vuitton sunglasses
michael kors outlet
michael kors handbags
nike store uk
true religion outlet
prada sneakers
babyliss flat iron
replica watches
cheap nfl jerseys
tory burch outlet online
ghd uk
ralph lauren outlet
calvin klein underwear
longchamp outlet
rolex watches
tiffany outlet
tiffany jewellery
mulberry bags
16.6.16qqqqqing
I actually experienced through learn your website posting. Your website currently has awesome information and facts, managed to get plans made by this astounding site. We're continually hunting like that style text. At this moment please click here cash advance spring-valley Hopefully I can find just as before.
ReplyDeletenice post! Our company specializes in providing all kinds of insect repellent door:
ReplyDeletecửa lưới chống muỗi
cửa lưới dạng xếp
lưới chống côn trùng
please come with us!
Nice post! Thai Hung Company is committed to providing consumers and consumers with quality, safety and health products for consumers:
ReplyDeletetrà chùm ngây mua ở đâu
trà chùm ngây túi lọc hà nội
cách pha trà chùm ngây
trà chùm ngây
Please come with us.
https://www.rashed-kw.com/تنظيف-سجاد-بالكويت/
ReplyDeletehttps://www.rashed-kw.com/مكافحة-حشرات-بالكويت/
https://www.rashed-kw.com/فني-كهربائي-منازل-الكويت/
https://www.rashed-kw.com/تركيب-جبسبورد-الكويت/
https://www.rashed-kw.com/أصباغ-ورق-جدران-الكويت/
https://www.rashed-kw.com/شركة-اصباغ-الكويت/
https://www.rashed-kw.com
برای خرید زعفران به این سایت مراجعه کنید
ReplyDelete