Take A Day Off

TAKE A DAY OFF All the hustle and bustle of the brand new yr has got me all revved up, and I’m working tougher than I actually have in a long time. I’ve received a serious new consulting client for whom I’m buying classic SF, fantasy, and horror e-e-book rights; still working to shut a deal for Némopolis; two extra huge shoppers lined up that should be closed by the end of the month; a novel in circulation; my Fathomless Abyss novella begging for more consideration; and more. I promised myself (and everybody else, via this blog, Twitter, and now, suddenly, Facebook) that I would hit the bottom operating in 2012, and I actually have done just that, despite the fact that 2012 is only nine days old. I’ve prolonged that elevated work ethic out into my private life, too, driving down to Portland with twelve hours’ discover to look at a university with my highschool senior daughter, and at present we start making use of for financial aid and to that and different colleges. I actually have a ho me to do list so long as my work to do listing, and I’m knocking little issues back left and right, though the canine nonetheless must go in for a nail trim, and the storage door opener that solely kind of works is past the purpose of everyone’s persistence . . . sigh. I’ve always thought that the really ugly to do list, the point where you need to start to worry, is the one with no items. If you have nothing to do, that probably doesn’t mean you’ve finished every little thing since you’re so awesome. Lets face it, it’s extra doubtless your absence of to do record items is a results of nobody trusting you to do work for them, or a symptom of your personal laziness and disorganization: You haven’t gone out there to get some work. But even solely 9 days in to the super-lively all-success 2012, I’m thinking about possibly a day off. The weekend was spent with faculty visits, National Portfolio Day, and a long drive. I already really feel like I need a day without work . I considered perhaps right now, since my spouse is taking the day without work from work, and later this evening we have a school event, however I needed to be on the phone with an overseas consulting prospect at 7:30 am, this weblog should be serviced, I even have something I’ve been meaning to write down for a Gamasutra blog, too, and I even have to file my state taxes for Athans & Associates and the National Buy a Book Day Foundation (which has a to do list all its own), and then there are these college issues we have to do. Okay, then, so no day without work. But finally I will take one. I have to, and so do you. Most of the authors I know maintain down some type of “day job.” When I had a day job like that, I used to inform people that I wrote books instead of playing golfâ€"which is to say, everybody has some pursuit, pastime, avocation, and so on. that is separate from work and residential, and sleep. Mine generated slightly cash, which golf doesn’t are likely to do (except you’re good and you gamble), however nonetheless, I put in an honest day’s work, then a second trustworthy day writing. Now all that’s mixed up. I even have deadlines and tasks to do for purchasers, and a writing projectâ€"that Fathomless Abyss novellaâ€"that I’m horribly behind on. I can mix up my work day nevertheless I wish to. No one is tapping his fingers waiting for me to get back from lunch. No one is expecting me to punch in at a sure time. I have no “sick day steadiness” or something like that. And I’m lovin’ itâ€"don’t get me wrong. None of this ought to be read as a complaint. I’m not bitching that I actually have an excessive amount of work to do, or too little. In fact, I need extra workâ€"can do more work, and am actively seeking out more work. And I spend more time with my household than the typical American dad. Of that I’m positive. I have been keeping up with my favourite TV reveals, too, and exercising, and studying. But nonetheless I’m worried that I’m doing it wrong. Have I actually achieved that Hoy Grail of up to date America, the optimum work-life steadiness? Yeah, probably not. In explicit, I never actually take a time off anymoreâ€"not completely. To some degree I blame my cellphone. I used to need to work to sign into my wizards.com e mail tackle from house. Now, my Athans & Associates email is with me always, with two sharp little vibro-buzzes alerting me to incoming emails, actually 24/7. My little business is worldwide in scope, and I’ve always had unusual sleeping patterns, so sure, I do read emails at 4:30 am, or 6:30 pm, or every time I happen to be awake. Instead of working so much for eight hours, 5 days every week, I work no less than somewhat virtually all the time, with concentrated bursts of sit-at-the-desk-and-get-busy for a couple of two to four hour blocks 5 days per week. For a habit-pushed guy like me this can be a little powerful to handle. I’m a deadline guy, a detail man, wit h a robust Midwestern/Greek immigrant work ethic, too, and it’s exhausting to show that off. Or am I simply being too self-involved now? Everybody thinks about “work” once they’re not formally “at work,” right? Especially in the event that they’re as lucky as me and there’s a very nice line between “work” and “enjoyable.” If I end up the actually related gadgets on my to do listing before lunch today can I take the remainder of the time off, and spend slightly time with my spouse? Of course I can. But that cellphone shall be with me the entire time, so if you should e mail me about that factor, properly, you go right forward. Writers: Write! But don’t overlook to take a time off from time to time, too. From each the day job, and the novel. Both shall be better off for it tomorrow. â€"Philip Athans About Philip Athans