When I started my blog, I said to myself, “it’s going to be an easy task”, little did I know I was wrong.
Being an online writer does not exactly have a lot of restrictions and demands since you can do it at any given time. As much as this can seem pretty easy, to think about it, it is really not what it seems.
Depending on the nature and structure of your online writing tasks, whether you work in an office 9-5 or remotely as an online writer, you should consider the following tips for a healthy work-life balance.
Have Boundaries
As an online writer, there are really no restrictions on what you can do to create your own boundaries. No one can make the rules for you, you make them yourself, and it is up to you to abide by them.
Learn to say no when you really mean it.
Setting boundaries doesn’t have to be a big deal; it can be as simple as creating a morning or evening routine. Do not make it complex at all.
Boundaries are a great way to keep you on track, and you set them for yourself first. To do this, write down some of the things that will help you manage your tasks smoothly without overspending your time on those tasks. Look through your tasks of the day and try to understand how you can handle them without feeling overwhelmed.
Ask yourself:
What are your priorities?
What’s most important in your life?
What should take priority over the other?
Your answers to these questions will help you understand your priorities, and set boundaries accordingly.
Break down your life into compartments.
Life can be difficult if you do not plan yourself. You have personal interests, family, and work. These three factors contribute to life. What you can do to ensure that you balance your time between these factors is by creating compartments in your life.
These compartments are the leading solution to dedicating your time equally, to yourself, family, friends, and work. Sometimes you might spend more time at work, for instance, and that is okay because you are fully aware that you have to distribute the remaining time to other factors.
If you want to change your habits, start small
Balancing your life doesn’t happen overnight. You have to start small.
Small changes are worth it. If you’re used to one habit for a long period of time, changing it might take a toll on you. The best thing you can do is to do it step by step. You can just start by adjusting your working hours and pick it up from there.
It does not have to be a big change for it to make sense, after all, you know yourself more than anyone else does, and you know your weaknesses and strengths.
Evaluate your priorities
Your priorities are the driving force behind how your work-life relationship will look like. Understand what matters to you and what doesn’t.
I can’t stress this point enough — what you do, and how you do it, matters. If you’re spending your time doing something you’re not passionate about, you may have a problem.
So, take a step back and evaluate your efforts. Ask yourself if your primary objective is to be successful, or if you want to make a difference. The two often go hand in hand, but they’re different things.
Take breaks
I already talked about writer’s block. You might think about taking breaks, but then they turn out to be writer’s block.
You may think you need to take a break from work every day, but that’s not always the case. Taking breaks does not mean running away from your work.
You can have breaks in your writing schedule or once a week, or once a month, but don’t let the idea of a ‘break’ become an absence of work.
Breaks are meant for recharging your energy. It can really get frustrating if you don’t have any breaks in whatever you do.
You might need a work break once in a while, but most of the time you simply need a break. You may be rushing through your days because you have an open manuscript and a deadline looming, but this doesn’t mean you need to take a break from all your work.
When you require a break from work, take a break — don’t make your break a break from work.
Networking is your best friend
You don’t have to be well-known to have successful online writing. What is well-known, though, is that networking is one of the quickest ways to get your foot in the door, land a paying gig writing online, or gain experience in any field.
Networking doesn’t have to be about formally meeting someone for coffee — it can be as simple as sending a quick email or making a few calls to someone you know in the writing industry.
Having a network of useful people in your life and career will help you manage your time and energy at work. Just one email or call, and you have your problems solved.
Networking is very crucial and should be a leading strategy in your online writing career.
There’s nothing like a ‘perfect’ work-life balance
In this article, I do not want to sit here at my working desk, giving you all these hot tips and act like it is going to be ‘perfect’ for you afterwards. There is no such thing as a perfect work-life balance. Do not force anything if it doesn’t work at all.
This morning, I was scrolling through my Twitter feeds, and I came across a thread that read “for the next 6 months, become addicted to these 9 habits, and you will be unrecognizable by May 2023…” I immediately clicked on it because who doesn’t want great advice? I read through it, and it really made me think about the ‘perfect life’ that we all want.
My point is, I can write hundreds of articles about making your life better, but in the end, it will never be perfect. Some advice you can take, some you can’t.
Think of someone who has children and someone who doesn’t. If I tell these two people that the best way to start your day is waking up at 5 am and exercising. One with children will not wake up at 5am because that will mean, the children will also wake up and he or she will have to spend 2 hours entertaining them. The work-life relationship is never perfect, even if you try.
Finally – be kind to yourself
The best work-life balance is one that’s based on self-awareness and kindness. Successful online writers, like successful authors, are driven by their passion for what they do. However, If you’re struggling with a lack of motivation and passion in your work, but are still trying to juggle a full-time job and the online writing hustle, don’t feel bad about it.
There are ways around this. For example, you can take a part-time job or freelance on the side. You can also look into online classes or seminars that can help you bring your passion for writing to the next level.
Perhaps, the best thing you can do is to be kind to yourself. If you find you’re lacking in one area, but want to continue working, don’t make it feel like a sacrifice. If you need to take a break from work, don’t feel guilty about it — make it a work-free break.
Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll be well on your way to a healthy work-life balance. Now, get to it!
If you find this article meaningful, let me know.
I picked out some relatable articles you can read to improve your online writing:
10 traits every successful writer has
10 effective ways to begin your writing journey
Writer’s block: 7 creative ways to manage it
The digital era of writing: What to consider when starting a blog
7 best practices for becoming a confident freelance writer
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