How to Tell if You’re Spreading Yourself Too Thin
December 27, 2007 by Deb Ng
Filed under Freelance Writing
In order to make way for a more lucrative blogging gig beginning December 1st, I trimmed a down my client list. It was a difficult decision because I love all my blogging gigs, but I’m working on a full time gig and something had to give.It turns out December 2007 is not only my highest paying month, but it’s the month where I’ve done the least amount of work.
I’m sure many of you can relate. With freelancing, I never turn down gigs. That’s good for the bank account, but I find myself waking up at 4:00 AM and working well into the night in order to meet all my deadlines. I’m cranky, my family is cranky and my work suffers. Now that I have one full time and a few fun side projects, there’s less stress and less mess. This is the first December in 3 years I’ve been able to really enjoy the holidays without having to worry about work.
So how do you know if you’re spreading yourself to thin?
- You’re spend all your free time working – I love my job so it doesn’t bother me to sit behind a computer all day and night and blog. It bothers my family though.There’s no obligation more important than my husband and son and I’ll gladly give up work for them. If you find you have no downtime because you have too many clients or deadlines, you’re spreading yourself too thin.
- Your work isn’t up to par – It’s not enough to meet your deadlines. Your work needs to be clean and free of errors. If you rush through posts and articles only to turn in sloppy work, you’re spreading yourself too thin.
- You’re always cranky – All work and no play makes Deb a very cranky blogger, bet it’s the same for you too.
- You find yourself turning down work- I knew I was overdoing it when I realized there was absolutely no way I could complete certain tasks. I don’t like turning down work at all, but it’s better than spending more time with clients than your family.
I just had the greatest month of my freelancing career. Not because of the money, but because I enjoyed the holidays stress-free. I had time for family and friends, did lots of cookie baking and game playing with my son, met all my blogging obligations and now I’m about to take a few days out to visit with family. While I may still log on from time to time, I can enjoy myself knowing I don’t have to.
Don’t spread yourself to thin. Take some time to reflect on how your work is affecting you and your family. If it’s not all good, you may need to cut back.
I know nothing about this
Actually, I think it’s ok to spread yourself thin for a bit if the end result will be positive. But I agree that going all the time is bad. It’s hard though as a freelancer because there’s always that little worry in the back of your head that a job will end for no reason and you don’t want bills going unpaid.
I think I’ve quit and turned down around eight-ten gigs since summer because I realized that I had too much going on. Like you used to (or still do), I like to collect jobs so it’s hard to say no. It gets easier.
I can definitely relate, as this has happened to me more and more often this past year. I wouldn’t mind spreading myself too thin if it didn’t hurt my husband and kids in the process. I’m trying hard to find the right balance of projects like Deb has, so I can maximize my earnings while minimizing the hard labor. Hopefully I’ll get there soon!
One way to avoid spreading oneself too thin is to schedule family time just like you schedule work time.
I’ve also found it helpful to take vacations, even if I spend some time working. I try to take an entire vacation, but sometimes certain elements of projects can’t be completed ahead of time, despite my best efforts. But I know plenty of entrepreneurs who feel they can never even attempt a vacation. Getting away is important to refresh.
One caveat, though. Clients can leave quickly, so it can be important for financial reasons to be spread “a little” thin, though what that means is different for everyone. I took a lot more family time when kids were younger. Now that they’re teens, they spend a lot more time with their own interests.
What a timely post! Thanks, Deb! I had been spreading myself way too think all of Nov. and Dec. I was down to about 2 free hours a week (yes, including nights and weekends), in which I would watch a Netflix film, IF I could stay awake through it, that is.
In Dec., I had my almost-full-time corporate client, a huge freelance journalism project and I released my first audio book, which meant working with my publicist to send out press releases, etc. Not to mention preparing for the holidays and doing the coaching and teaching work I do in the personal growth field.
Although I am usually a go-with-the-flow type of person, I found myself overwhelmed and stressed out. I lost touch spiritually, which is key to my happiness and abundance, too. I actually teach people about why NOT doing what I was doing is so important to their success! So I’m taking it easier now and getting back in touch with the why behind my work and not so much in the details. I even hired a graduate student to handle lots of the details for me. Why do that stuff when I can make 2 to 3 times what I pay her?
One thing is for sure — I have been blessed almost from day one with an abundance of purposeful projects. I certainly do turn down freelance gigs, by the way. I only do work within my life purpose, and consequently, my worklife seems to always be full of meaningful projects.
And I mean, remember why you’re doing this – if you wanted crazy stress and pressure, you’d have a 9-5 with a boss!
good post. i think i’m involved in too many projects. and yet, i don’t seem to learn my lesson…
I can definitely relate!
This has been happening to me recently. My workload would be ok but the other stuff like life that keeps throwing a kink in my plans, lol
The holidays, sick loved ones, and my daughter wanting my attention every second of her waking hours has me spread to thin. It will turnaround.
I definitely spread myself thin to the point that I worked Christmas Eve and for a couple hours Christmas morning. In the end, my kids are old enough to understand why, and in this case my steadiest client has suddenly dropped off the face of the planet without paying me three weeks ago. This has never happened in the past year, and now the company is in breach of my contract with them and that was the money I was going to use for Christmas shopping. After reading the financial section I discovered they’ve apparently sold their website in a frenzy two weeks ago and have vacated their offices, so the writers who were working on projects are now left in the breeze.
Ann G.,
Ouch!
I had nearly the same thing happen about four years ago, though I didn’t know about it til January. Finally got a kill fee for about half of what I was due (ability to pay kill fees was standard in agreements with the publisher — as they are with many — but it hadn’t happened before).
However, I still had my other clients, unlike the publisher’s employees, who were left high, dry and broke.
What type of writing do you specialize in?
About four months ago, I made a similar decision and quit taking on anything below a certain rate. It just wasn´t worth it to me to be working for so little with two small boys (2 and 7 months). It kind of surprised me to find that as soon as I set my worth as a writer higher, people were willing to pay that and I actually make more money now for less work!
I agree with others here though, it´s good to have more than one paycheck coming in, just in case.
You’ve definitely pulled my card, Deb. I’m usually guilty of at least two of these, particularly being cranky (due to lack of sleep) and spending all my free time working. Streamlining is definitely in order for me. Maximum benefit with minimal effort is the smarter way to work when done properly. I’ve been reluctant to drop some of my steady clients, but it would certainly help. I can give more time to higher paying jobs while carving out special moments to actually enjoy life.
Whoo! I think I might be spreading myself too thin. I work full time outside the home, I am a full time university student, I have two kids and a husband, and I am staying up late writing and looking for freelance jobs. I really want what I once had–the freedom of working from home again.
Happy days off everyone.
Oh Deb, I love your work, so I hate to complain, but…TOO not TO!!
I spread myself too thin last year and had a cranky Christmas and New Year. This year I opted to reduce my Christmas earnings so that I could spend time with my family. Next year, I will factor this break into my earnings targets for 2008.
Will this comment go through?
It did! Errr okay…just wanted to say that you got me on the “cranky” part, Deb. I went to the mall last December 5 and half-shouted at the sales lady. I really felt sorry afterwards, but by then it was already too later. I miss my happy-go-lucky always happy self.
I mean it was already too “LATE” to apologize…
…(does not want Leisa’s life)
Phil,
Before I had my son, I’d been a travel agent for four years. I’d gotten out of that business (horrible pay–people think $2 articles are bad – try $6 an hour after four years with a boss who says she can’t afford to give anyone a pay raise, but then went right out and bought a new Caddy because her car was two years old and needed replacing…) After that, I landed a job as the right-hand gal to the president of a mailing firm just in time to find out I was pregnant. Thankfully, my newer boss was the kindest man on the face of the planet and even though I was a new employee and he knew I’d be leaving when I had my son, he spent the 8 months I was there teaching me all about payroll, corporate taxes, and how the postal system really works, so I learned a lot in those 8 months. I still have friends in travel and it’s easy for me to write about different places – especially when Texas, Louisiana, and Florida are the only states I’ve never visited. So travel is certainly my niche.
I do have other clients, but this is a blow to me because the articles were paying $80 for 2,000 words and the subject matter was something I could easily do two articles by noon and then have time to myself and then be ready to help my daughter with her math homework struggles as best I can–I’m not fond of that new math that the school is using which makes it hard to teach her anything.
Ann G.,
As my business expands, I’m trying to build a list of potential subcontractors to work on items that I can’t either due to lack of time (my oldest had a lot of health issues about a year ago, causing me to outsource some work) or lack of subject knowledge. If you’d like, send me some background on yourself at spenterprises@wowway.com.
I’ve been in touch with a few others here that I expect to work with in the future, but it sounds like you have a background that offers some different capabilities.
I agree, definitely.
That is why I find myself, from time to time, wondering if it wouldn’t be easier to drop freelancing and work at some company, on a regular basis…
Your sentiments are so true. Most writers love what they do and because of that, it can become all-consuming.
I have to confess that I spend hours at my keyboard and work multiple opps.
The great thing about freelancing is that it allows us to work from home; however, that doesn’t necessarily mean fewer work hours–on the contrary, if anything, we probably work harder.
Your site is a great resource for writers.