Here I am, working on a new "essential" part of my business, blogging at 11:00 on a Saturday night. These are my hours - productivity at its' finest... or most desperate, I'm not sure. Working from home, and working within the framework of a busy, hungry family often leads to late nights either at the computer or sewing machine. Or cutting out patterns on the living room floor.
I don't mind staying up past the normal bedtime... sometimes my brain doesn't really wake up until after 11 pm. I feel rejuvenated and ready to tackle detailed tasks. But it doesn't leave me a very pleasant person in the morning.
I have always worked a wide variety of hours in my work history: overnights as a supervisor in 24 room service, God-awful 6 am shifts in hotel restaurants, weekend nights almost always and only once have I worked in an office. And even that one was open until the evening and on Saturdays. My husband also works quirky hours: always has, always will.
This new engagement as a full-time human being/parent/spouse and part-time business owner often leaves me confused about what I should honestly expect from myself in terms of productivity. When I look back on photos of projects, I am amazed by how much I have accomplished. Those quilts take some serious time! But, then, I still want MORE. I want time to brainstorm, to take classes, to develop new ideas and most importantly, the time to make mistakes. Sometimes a mistake in sewing can cost hours of time and quite a bit of money. Both of those concepts scare the hell out of me!
Am I better off that I can work a bit here, a bit there? Or would I hate my life if I worked seven hours a day without interruption? My youngest is home all of the time, except for two days of preschool a week. He falls victim to my work hours (too many tv shows), but will gladly ask for a snack every 15 minutes. I often try to multitask to the point of insanity, but it's really, really nice to hear the embroidery machine working away while I make dinner!
I just took a week long vacation and brought the sewing machine. It wasn't as bad as taking a conference call from the beach house... but it was very calming to me to finish a project, and hand deliver it on our drive home. That is certainly work flexibility. And also a job you never walk away from.
Which is better? How do you manage your time? Or non-manage it? :)
I don't mind staying up past the normal bedtime... sometimes my brain doesn't really wake up until after 11 pm. I feel rejuvenated and ready to tackle detailed tasks. But it doesn't leave me a very pleasant person in the morning.
I have always worked a wide variety of hours in my work history: overnights as a supervisor in 24 room service, God-awful 6 am shifts in hotel restaurants, weekend nights almost always and only once have I worked in an office. And even that one was open until the evening and on Saturdays. My husband also works quirky hours: always has, always will.
This new engagement as a full-time human being/parent/spouse and part-time business owner often leaves me confused about what I should honestly expect from myself in terms of productivity. When I look back on photos of projects, I am amazed by how much I have accomplished. Those quilts take some serious time! But, then, I still want MORE. I want time to brainstorm, to take classes, to develop new ideas and most importantly, the time to make mistakes. Sometimes a mistake in sewing can cost hours of time and quite a bit of money. Both of those concepts scare the hell out of me!
Am I better off that I can work a bit here, a bit there? Or would I hate my life if I worked seven hours a day without interruption? My youngest is home all of the time, except for two days of preschool a week. He falls victim to my work hours (too many tv shows), but will gladly ask for a snack every 15 minutes. I often try to multitask to the point of insanity, but it's really, really nice to hear the embroidery machine working away while I make dinner!
I just took a week long vacation and brought the sewing machine. It wasn't as bad as taking a conference call from the beach house... but it was very calming to me to finish a project, and hand deliver it on our drive home. That is certainly work flexibility. And also a job you never walk away from.
Which is better? How do you manage your time? Or non-manage it? :)
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