Geeze. I know I’m not 20 any more, and mostly I’m glad. Getting older has some definite advantages. But physically…
I’ve been moving. It’s a good move for me. My office overlooks a canyon, and so does my deck.
MzTiz, my 14 year old tabby, has been exploring the canyon and who knows what.
There may be an easier way to move, but I haven’t found it. There’s the packing, and this time I did quite a bit of clutter clearing – which meant hauling books and other stuff to various stores to sell or donate.
Even though I had two strong guys with a big truck coming I still had to move boxes from here to there – well you know.
And at the other end, in the new home, I’ve worked my not-so-little tail off. I’ve hauled on rugs, moved boxes from one place to another, emptied the car who knows how many times, figured out what goes where.
In short, I’m tired and I’ve earned tired.
So what does this have to do with freelance writing?
I’m declaring a pajama day!
A pajama day is a day when you do next to nothing. And you don’t feel a whiff of guilt about doing little or even less than that. It’s a personal day without personal chores.
I prepared by going to the library and picking up several mysteries. I’m not capable of thinking more deeply than mind candy.
I didn’t make the bed because I’m getting back in it shortly. (MzTiz is smart enough not to get up at all yet. She hasn’t moved a thing, but apparently exploring new territory is, well, exhausting.)
The ability to declare a PJ day, whatever you name it, is one of the glories of being a freelance writer. It’s one of the ways I take care of myself.
How do you take care of yourself?
Write well and often,
Image from http://www.sxc.hu
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My brother-in-law used to call his personal days “personality days.” Enjoy yours!
lol, nice term… better in some ways than pjs
Enjoy your pj day, Anne! You’ve earned it.
P.S. I hope that’s not a picture of MzTiz.
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Fair enough. MzTiz probably deserves a ‘human dormitory’ day as well!
I don’t normally need ‘personal’ days because I have a pretty strict policy of not working on weekends and public holidays (occasionally I might finish off something to get ahead for the next week, but I never ever let clients know – don’t want them to come to expect it!). Sometimes in the summer I’ll say stuff it and take a book out onto the lawn, but that’s more to do with the fact that I’ve really struggled to be productive when the sun’s shining since I had three back-to-back winters due to travel!
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I love it! I took a PJ day last week and it was wonderful. I went to my mother’s and did some stuff for her, read in bed and watched as much NCIS as I could stand. We used to call them mental health days when I worked in retail.
Your new place sounds wonderful, I hope you post some pics when you get everything in place. I’d love to see MzTiz and the canyon. I share my “swamp” with 5 cats although I don’t let them out much. Too many creatures that will eat them!
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I take care of myself by getting up when I feel like it. I’m retired, so I gave up setting an alarm clock and wearing shoes except when absolutely necessary. I declare a computer-free day every now and then, resting my eyes and my wrists. I walk around the block every day. I write every day, too, as I’m inspired. If I have a client, I try to get that work out of the way as soon as possible, so I can get back to my fiction and whatnot. I take a trip up to Ojai every month or two for R&R, visiting friends, having fun.
I love PJ days. I do this on Sundays every once in a while, if I’ve been busy all week. Or on Saturday, if I’ve got nothing pressing. Chores can wait until the next day and then I have to go back to my job, alas.
They’re better in the winter, or when the weather is really nasty outside. Then it’s so fun to curl up under the blankey, read, nosh, watch TV and play on the computer. I MUST have my interwebz if I’m going to be home on the couch!
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A PJ day sounds awesome, I’m declaring one even though I’m not a freelancer
By the way, this is my first time visiting your blog, but now I’ve subscribed to it in my rss reader and you’ll be reading my comments a lot from now on
Marketing and writing do go hand-in-hand, don’t they.
Yes they do. My goal this year is to write my first novel, I’m leaving my job for two months… I’m really looking forward to it.
Do you think 2 months will do it? Or rather, share how well that concentrated time works for you… you could even do a guest post.
I think 2 months will do it in order to get started on something. After that, I’m not going to be working 100% at my “old” job, but 60%, I’ll be working on my project during the other days of the week.
A guest post would be great.
Guest post – both of us? Writing for each other?
That would be awesome. I’m not sure when I’ll have something ready, but within a week should be possible.
Is it ok that I write about why I’m leaving work and my plans during the two months?
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