I’m not the type to resolve to quit things I’ll never quit or change habits I’ll never change, but my freelance writing career is one spot where I do make the effort to come up with some attainable goals. I try to resolve to do things for the better (for my writing business) each year, and I’ve more than fulfilled my goals in previous years. So, onto 2008…
My resolutions this year are pretty simple, but they’ll take some hard work to achieve.
1) Stop working by midnight each night.
2) Take at least 1/2 a day off each weekend.
Many of you may think I’m joking, but seriously, this is how much I work. I can’t say I’m too bummed about my working life as it is now, but as a precaution for major burnout and/or a pending health collapse, I’m trying to trim my schedule down.
Some of what I’m in the process of doing to attain these goals:
1) Drop a few clients.
2) Drop a few personal projects.
3) Drop a few pro bono (volunteer) projects. (I haven’t wanted to do this, but I added up the hours I spend on volunteer work — all for reputable charities or truly needy people — and have found that I spend more than 30 hours per week on charitable work, so it’s time to cut the cord a bit.)
4) Visit fewer blogs. (This is an area where I can stand to cut back at least an hour per day.)
5) Save my “fun stuff” (like blog surfing and pleasure reading) till last in the day, and skip it entirely if I haven’t gotten a certain amount of work done by a certain time each day.
What are your new year’s resolutions? If you’ve already posted them on your blog, feel free to post a link here in the comments.
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
I wish you the best in achieving your goals. Mine are a bit different, but I posted them here:
My Top Ten Goals for 2008
Happy New Year!
Smiles,
Michele
Here’s to your good health and success in 2008!
–Mer xxxooo
Yes, I think a little work reduction would probably benefit your health. :o)
Meanwhile, my New Year’s resolutions are all about adding projects and income. Not only that, I’m trying to add personal responsibilities as well.
I wonder if my 2009 resolutions might be a little more like yours for this year… ;o)
Hi Amy,
First, congratulations on your top blog award!
This year I’m trying to do better at following up with other writers who link to A Writer’s Edge. I can’t seem to find a working email address for you (the Yahoo! one bounces) … please write to me at Writers.Edge@gmail.com for more details. Thanks!
Georganna @ A Writer’s Edge
Nice to read your resolutions…
Georganna, my personal email address is amy.derby@gmail.com. My write-from-home.com address is amy@write-from-home.com, but I check my personal account more often.
Good girl, Amy! I wish you success - these things I know you can do…and perhaps a full day off on the weekend?
Amy,
Good luck in achieving your 2008 freelance writing goals.
FYI, if you drop those bad clients, you should have no problem quitting by midnight each night (had to smile when I read that beause I remember those days and still — very occasionally — throw in a few of these).
Thanks for the listing my blog (InkwellEditorial.blogspot.com) on your site.
All the best in 2008.
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Hi, Amy!
Sorry I haven’t commented lately; but I’ve been down for the count with another terrible cold–not a fun way to spend the holidays! (This one is a particularly virulent strain, and it’s been hanging on and still isn’t completely gone, yet–though it’s much better!) I’ve been scrambling lately to try to catch up on all the commenting I didn’t manage to do over the holidays!
Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and that you’ll achieve all your goals in 2008! You’ve made some undoubtedly tough but positive decisions for both your website and your writing business for the new year, and I commend you for having the courage to make them–a very proactive way to begin 2008!
Best wishes!
Jeanne
Jeanne,
Thanks for your kind words.Believe me, I know the feeling! Hope you had a great holiday, too, and that 2008 is going well for you.
Yuwanda,
Thanks for stopping by.
I don’t have any bad clients. Most of my clients are law firms — nice people, very decent pay. My problem is that I tend to be a workaholic and take on too much work. It’s a difficult habit to change, but I’m going to work on it this year… Best wishes for 2008.
Deborah,
Thanks for visiting. Hope 2008 is treating you well. It’s a challenge for me to take half a day right now, but a whole weekend day off is certainly something to strive for. Hope you had a good holiday.
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