Totally Overwhelmed
Just received a project yesterday that’s rather huge. Mind you, my job is to reformat, reduce the page count and proofread 300 pages. In ten days. Are you thinking what I’m thinking? Yep, it’s going to be close to impossible.
Worse, I have other projects that have deadlines. One today. Another tomorrow. Another in a week and a half. Another in two weeks. I’m going to be busy. Time to either work overtime or, God forbid, turn down some work. There’s the thought of working the weekend, but I’m usually so spent at the end of the week I need that recharge. And this being a holiday weekend, I very much need the break.
What would you do in this case? I know what I plan to do, but I’d be interested to hear your thoughts.
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Lori,
I find it difficult to turn down work, so I end up working more than I should. Sometimes I try to find another writer to help me with a project, but I still usually spend a lot of time reviewing the work to ensure I maintain a good relationship and reputation with the client.
I wish I could give you some good advice, Lori, but I’m another one who has a hard time turning down work. I guess I still haven’t gotten over the lean times I experienced when I first started out and thus feel the need to take on everything while I can…just in case nothing comes along again for a long while. Of course, that never happens anymore, but just the notion that it might is enough to motivate me to do more than I probably should.
Lori:
I always choose the “screw the vacation” option and work, work, work. Boring, but effective! 🙂
Angelique
I’ve decided to keep the vacation to myself. I’ll be working later each day to compensate. Plus my volunteer work is being done over the weekend – it feels less like work because it’s a cause I believe in. 🙂
I’d get some energy boosters and get it done at the beginning of the weekend and then have, say, Sunday and Monday off.
300 pages in ten days is 30 pages a day, or, if you give yourself 2 days off, 37 pages per day. That’s do-able. And there will be some days when you can do a bit more.
I’d say do 37 pages today and tomorrow on that, wind up a couple of other deadlines, take Sun. and Mon. off and then attack again on Tuesday.
OR, take the whole weekend off and then work extra hours today and next week during the workweek.
If you think you can turn down work right now, then go ahead. Sometimes they want you more when you do that.
But also remember the really stressful times when you were worried you didn’t have enough coming in to cover the bills.
Figure out which way to go is going to serve YOUR needs best — pushing a bit more now and not worrying if there’s a fallow period in a few months, or feeling sure there won’t be a fallow period and easing up now. You’re the only one who can make that decision.
Thanks, Devon. It was wonderful seeing you yesterday! Next time, your neck of the woods. :))
I’ve managed to get up to page 58 and to whittle down 20 pages of copy. It doesn’t sound like much, but I’m erasing pages on the back end, too.
Tomorrow will be spent on my volunteer pursuit.
It’s so comforting to read these responses and find out I’m not the only one who has trouble turning down work and saying “ah, maybe later” to free time.
What did you end up doing?