{"id":1158,"date":"2015-05-25T12:45:06","date_gmt":"2015-05-25T17:45:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ellismorning.com\/blog\/?p=1158"},"modified":"2015-10-29T13:23:16","modified_gmt":"2015-10-29T18:23:16","slug":"the-grand-experiment-1-year-since-the-big-leap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ellismorning.com\/blog\/2015\/05\/the-grand-experiment-1-year-since-the-big-leap\/","title":{"rendered":"The Grand Experiment: 1 Year Since The Big Leap"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"amesjump\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I can\u2019t believe it\u2019s been a year since turning away from the corporate world! I have zero regrets. Defining my own schedule from day to day feels like the new normal, and I’m committed to keeping this going.<\/p>\n

However, it\u2019s fair to say that I brought a lot of unresolved baggage back with me from Corporate America, and the public school system before that. Aside from putting the finishing touches on my novel(s)<\/a>, I\u2019ve been working to identify and address those issues, which has helped me become a happier, less anxious person.<\/p>\n

Looking back on my old \u201cwhat I\u2019ve learned\u201d notes, here are some things I can add to past recommendations and observances:<\/p>\n

Defining a new routine is still important.<\/strong>
\nLike most self-employed, I fell into the trap of feeling like I could, or should<\/em>, be on the clock all the time. After all, I was now working on my passion, right? It didn\u2019t feel like work (mostly), and I had the time- why not<\/em> be working?<\/p>\n

This is the quick path to burnout and resentment. Instead, figure out when your<\/em> work hours are. What\u2019s your ideal time of day for working, and how long can you keep at it before your brain gives out? For me, it\u2019s 8AM – 12PM, with occasional breaks in between to stretch and let my mind wander. Yeah, I realize that\u2019s not a \u201cfull\u201d 8-hour day. Screw that. During those four hours, I tend to have my nose to the grindstone, and get more done than I would\u2019ve in a full day at my former office.<\/p>\n

Once I get to 12PM, I\u2019m done<\/em> with work that day. If I choose to work beyond that, it\u2019s overtime<\/em>. Usually, though, I don’t. I spend the rest of my day on chores, reading, and play- i.e. stuff I do just for the fun of it. Play time is just as important as work time, and shouldn\u2019t be ignored!<\/p>\n

Likewise, it\u2019s good to give yourself weekends- one or two days a week when you do no work at all, allowing your brain to recharge. And when you finish a big<\/em> project<\/a>, a longer break is warranted.<\/p>\n

Checking in on goals and todos is still important.<\/strong>
\nNot just to ensure you stay on track. In truth, the plan always<\/em> needs amending<\/a>. I’ve learned I\u2019m horrible<\/em><\/span> at estimating how long it will take me to do something<\/a>. I also find priorities shifting and disappearing constantly, as Life throws curveballs.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve also found it\u2019s easier (and more satisfying) to stick to one thing<\/strong>, and see it through, rather than trying to take baby steps on 1000 things at once.<\/p>\n

Giving yourself little rewards and\/or visible signs of progress is also important for feeling like you’re getting somewhere. This could be something as simple as a checklist or burndown chart you post on your wall, and update as tasks get done. In Scrivener, my favored word processing tool, I’ve taken to marking all of my incomplete scenes with a red flag icon. When I finish the scene, I get to remove the flag.<\/p>\n

Being your own dream boss and cheerleader is SUPER important.<\/strong>
\nOver the past year, I learned I\u2019m not<\/em> my own dream boss- at least, I wasn\u2019t. I tended to be overly demanding and self-critical, angry at myself when I couldn\u2019t stick to my own arbitrary timetables. My inner voice, quite frankly, was a nagging slave-driver.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve worked on revising that- developing an inner voice who\u2019s laid-back, encouraging, and doesn\u2019t get pissed off when things don\u2019t go as planned. Let me tell you, this boss is a lot easier to work for, and has eased my anxiety considerably.<\/p>\n

The Money Front<\/strong>
\nStill not a millionaire ;) But my income has gone up since my promotion to Editor at The Daily WTF<\/a>. I now make roughly $260\/month. Enough to cover a couple of bills, not enough for self-sufficiency. I\u2019m still relying heavily on my husband\u2019s income, and the savings that Past Me socked away during her corporate career.<\/p>\n

The good news is that financially, we\u2019re on about the same ground that we were last year, just prior to leaving our jobs. We\u2019ve bought another year off- and we’re more than happy to take it!<\/strong><\/p>\n


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