By Kristen Fischer

This freelance life is odd, isn’t it? For me, I’ve never had to worry about balance in my life until I stepped out of the cubicle and into my freelance writing career. I know it’s the same for freelance designers and freelance artists, too.

Check in with myself? What does that mean?

This simple practice is actually enabling me to thwart off getting overwhelmed. It allows me to take a quick break and think about how I am doing for a change. I put off that website or resume I’m writing and stop for a second to check in.

• First, I make it a point to take a break. Too often, we get wrapped up in our creative juices…pushing through a project until we emerge fried. Very often, I stop myself in the midst of my work and remind myself that it’s time to check in. It only takes a moment, so I can afford to check in.
• Then, I ask myself how I am feeling. Is my neck sore? Did I make sure that I ate a meal? Do I need to get outside for a little, or get a cup of tea? I ask myself what I need to feel fine and continue the project on a focused, energized level.
• Then I listen to myself. “Why, yes, Kristen, a cup of tea would be perfect,” is the usual reply. I give in. It’s just a few minutes to get a cup of tea! I’ll finish the project!
• If I find that I am very frazzled, I verify my schedule to see how much of a break I can give myself. If it’s noon and I know my project due at 4 p.m. will only take another hour, I give myself the break. I know I’m more apt to run myself down to complete the project, but sometimes a break in between helps. I take five minutes to water the lawn, or I go out for a caramel macchiato. If I can take a longer break, I engage myself with a project around the house, or I take a nap. Sure, this doesn’t happen all the time, but longer breaks are possible sometimes, so I take advantage of them.
• I set a time limit for the break, if I need it, and stick to it. Usually getting away from a freelance writing assignment at the computer—even for five minutes—revives me so I can complete the project and not feel wiped out by the time I’m done.

Little by little, I find this practice helps boost my efficiency. It also eliminates that dazed feeling you get when you finish a project and forget what day it is. The more I check in with myself, the more that I tune into what I need, instead of what my job wants out of me.

Turns out, our jobs don’t have to run our lives. After all, if we’ve got the flexibility that comes with being a freelancer, why not take advantage of it? You can do it without compromising your work. Try it.

Kristen Fischer is a freelance writer living in New Jersey. Her first book, Creatively Self-Employed: How Writers and Artists Deal with Career Ups and Downs is available at www.creativelyselfemployed.com.