My Freelancer Self Care Reminder
Work, rest, rest, rest… repeat. I want to do my best, so I’m making time to rest. Rest means quiet time for me. This looks mostly like sitting in a quiet room and at times in the dark… haha!
But Pete, you sit at a desk all day making pictures?
Yes, true that, and long may it continue. However, physically I’m fine, but mentally my brain is kaput after a long day. I always need to decompress when I get home, chill, and centre myself.
This is the equivalent of giving myself a hug. Sometimes I zone out on my phone. Occasionally I have the TV on. Sometimes a bit of music and a little scribble on scrap of paper. Whatever I do, it’s important to distance myself from what doesn’t seem ‘figureoutable’ from the day and get back to being me. In any case, whatever is going on it’ll all work out somehow in some way in the end. That’s another thing to remember.
Be more turtle, Pete!
As I move through my freelance work day I got to be more turtle and less hare. When it’s not rest time I need to think about a gentle pace, just like a turtle… or snail for that matter. Never a frantic haste. Turtles take it easy and are known for living for many, many years. I’m only 43, and don’t want to crash and burn before I get to my silver surfer, senior years. Turtles might be slow, but they keep going and hey, they live long lives and doing their own thing, their own way.
Don’t feel guilty
Someone said to me the other day, that they were trying not to feel guilty having things left on their to do list, and taking time for a swim. It seems crazy to me that we would make ourselves feel bad for needing a break.
I can be guilty of this too, but this is my sign, and yours too, to give yourself a daily hug. Whatever that looks like. I believe as freelancers a lot rides on us doing our best. But how can we if we’re running on fumes instead of a full tank of petrol? Make time from rest, be more turtle and for heaven's sake don’t feel guilty about it. Your future self, and health, will thank you later.
Thanks for reading. Pete :)