C
chevalier
Guest
Don’t really know if this is the best forum, so mods kindly please feel free to move as necessary, but I was after practical more than spiritual advice.
See, I’m a freelancer, and I often pulled out solitary all-nighters in my earlier days… actually not that far ago, we’re talking 7–10 years. That’s how I made a name for myself and paid through post-grad education.
I’ve had ‘blocks’ or struggled with procrastination before, but usually, in the end, I’ve been able to meet deadlines just fine. However, I’ve also picked up the bad habit of working in bursts instead of systematically, not that the feast-and-famine cycles would have permitted a neat structure and system anyway.
These days, actually working rather than resting from this, destressing from that, finishing off something else, etc. etc. (probably not a case of Facebook or gaming addiction) is a problem. My old trusty recipe of ‘just do it’ no longer really works — chances are I’ve turned too much into a princess. Chair not right. Desk not right. Coffee not right. Mood not right. You get the point. I’m not normally fussy like that, so it must be some form of great resistance and aversion to the actual work.
So yes, I don’t like the work so much. Actually, I like the work but don’t like the job — agencies’ and clients’ attitudes and habits, the ups and downs, feast-and-famine cycles, either not enough work to pay the bills or too much work, resulting in permanent fatigue while still have to turn some of it down. I’m not complaining (I wouldn’t dare or want to, this is so much better than unemployment), just providing some context.
My conduct seems to show patterns of avoidance, procrastination, looking for excuses, escapes, distractions, side hobbies (cooking, some stuff to read about or discuss, etc.) and immediate rewards. The immediate rewards especially seem to be a problem or lack of seeing rewards in the work (though the invoices do get paid).
This has been going for a while, perhaps two or three years. I feel there’s a way out of this rut, a practical way, no need to see a shrink or counsellor, just haven’t been able to actually find the way yet.
Have you guys been in a similar situation? How did you get out of it?
See, I’m a freelancer, and I often pulled out solitary all-nighters in my earlier days… actually not that far ago, we’re talking 7–10 years. That’s how I made a name for myself and paid through post-grad education.
I’ve had ‘blocks’ or struggled with procrastination before, but usually, in the end, I’ve been able to meet deadlines just fine. However, I’ve also picked up the bad habit of working in bursts instead of systematically, not that the feast-and-famine cycles would have permitted a neat structure and system anyway.
These days, actually working rather than resting from this, destressing from that, finishing off something else, etc. etc. (probably not a case of Facebook or gaming addiction) is a problem. My old trusty recipe of ‘just do it’ no longer really works — chances are I’ve turned too much into a princess. Chair not right. Desk not right. Coffee not right. Mood not right. You get the point. I’m not normally fussy like that, so it must be some form of great resistance and aversion to the actual work.
So yes, I don’t like the work so much. Actually, I like the work but don’t like the job — agencies’ and clients’ attitudes and habits, the ups and downs, feast-and-famine cycles, either not enough work to pay the bills or too much work, resulting in permanent fatigue while still have to turn some of it down. I’m not complaining (I wouldn’t dare or want to, this is so much better than unemployment), just providing some context.
My conduct seems to show patterns of avoidance, procrastination, looking for excuses, escapes, distractions, side hobbies (cooking, some stuff to read about or discuss, etc.) and immediate rewards. The immediate rewards especially seem to be a problem or lack of seeing rewards in the work (though the invoices do get paid).
This has been going for a while, perhaps two or three years. I feel there’s a way out of this rut, a practical way, no need to see a shrink or counsellor, just haven’t been able to actually find the way yet.
Have you guys been in a similar situation? How did you get out of it?