What I’m still reading upstairs: Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
What’s on the iPod: Thunder Road by Bruce Springsteen
How bored can a working person get? If you’ve worked in an office, you’ve been there. Nothing at ALL on your desk and you’re forced to look busy lest you send the message that either you’re slacking or your job is no longer necessary. But when you freelance, there’s no looking busy. There’s wishing you were busy. That’s where I am right now.
I got a small project out of the way in the morning, and then…I waited. And I searched. And I sent out proposals. And I checked and rechecked my email. Nothing. It is a holiday week, so I shouldn’t be surprised.
I busied myself. First, I did laundry – essential. We were out of clothes.
I helped him change the oil in my car in the morning – also essential. The car was due.
I sent out some queries.
I baked snickerdoodles. I would argue these are also essential as they help me think.
I wrote poetry.
I put up Christmas lights.
I set up a new e-newsletter form right over there on the left of this page (please subscribe – I won’t use your emails for anything but the e-news).
I painted fingernails.
Jeezuz, is it only three pm? Okay, now what?
Sometimes, you just have to walk away. It’s frustrating not having a project to keep you busy, but it’s also okay to turn off the brain a bit.
Still, I did get quite a bit accomplished in a short amount of time. If you’re sitting there with a holiday lull ahead of you, here are some things you might try to boost your business profile and feel like you’ve done something useful:
Learn a new tool. Mine was MailChimp. I’ve wanted an e-newsletter for a while, so I took the time to learn how to send one. The idea is to increase blog traffic while providing you with something useful. You could do something similar. Learn Twitter. Join LinkedIn. Check out Twellow. Do something for your business that will increase visibility.
Organize. I should have known when I started on the closet this weekend that my need to organize would spread like a virus. That’s okay, since I work better when my desk is neat. Take your free time and file those files, scare up those bills and invoices (tax time isn’t that far off), or create a spreadsheet for tracking expenses and income.
Write. Remember doing this for fun? Now is your chance. Open that file you’ve been avoiding or wishing you could get to, turn off the phone and guilt, and immerse yourself in something just for you.
Research office equipment. Well, for me this is fun. Remember, I have a serious Staples addiction, so looking for office supplies and products is like looking for new shoes. Indulge your magpie-like tendencies and price out the shiny new printers and laptops. If you have the spare cash, now would be a great time to buy as everything is on sale for the holidays.
Learn how to monetize your blog. My next slow day will be spent doing this. I’m all for a quick-and-easy Google AdSense, but when it earns a penny a day, that’s a sign I could be doing it better. Like me, you should be learning how to bring in more passive income as you’re going about your daily routine.
Assess your business practices top to bottom. Everything from how you market to where you host your website – give it all careful consideration. What’s going well? What could be better? What haven’t you bothered to put time into that maybe you should?
Find new markets. Arm yourself with a Writer’s Market or get thee online and find your next clients by doing some research into their company and their practices. Locate contact people, create a letter of introduction, and convince them you rock. Also, brainstorm about where you’d like to be going and how you’ll get there.
If you spend idle time working on improving your business and the way you work, you’ll increase your work and your earnings potential.
Writers, how do you use your idle time?
13 responses to “Boredom and Creativity”
Okay-there's what I should do versus what I usually do (you'll notice many of "should do" are on your list.
Should do organize documents for taxes, file project files-DEFINITELY need to work on passive income-Lori-maybe you can become an expert and sell what you learn :-), clean up emails-delete, file, work on my eBook
Usually do Play at Creative Copy Challenge-fun, creative place for writers (and non-writers)-check it out,hang out in social media, catch up on other blogs
What idle time? I don't think I've had any since I left Broadway — thank goodness!
Lori, you're funny!
I have those days, too, and they're frustrating. But I learned while practicing law that the downtime you have today will be swapped out for a huge crunch tomorrow.
It took me a lot of consternation, but I finally gave in. When I have a few hours or even a slow day, I mostly go with it.
I do errands I've been meaning to get to, organize (like you did), handle minor admin tasks that sit for a while, and have a decent lunch "hour" rather than the rushed lunch I usually take.
But mostly, I don't worry about not being busy because unless it's a sign of trouble in my business–which I usually know it's not–it'll pass more quickly than I want!
Happy Thanksgiving!
P.S. Today will be one of those days. I'm heading to Costco for a few things and then relaxing most of the rest of the day. Taint nobody gonna be responding to my emails/calls today!
Lori, the operative word is "creative". My down time, such as it is, is filed with play scripts and jazz organizing — just spent the past two days cutting videos from the house concert we hosted two weeks ago. And sometimes silver polishing is exactly what you need. Do I hear some latent guilt behind that "boredom"?
Joseph, I'm a recovering Catholic – you do indeed hear latent guilt (maybe not so latent?). I think I like what you spend your "down" time doing much more than what I'm doing. 🙂
Enjoy Costco, Gabriella! It's that time of year where I avoid any type of retail operation. And since our Costco is across from the mall, no way I'm going there until January!
Devon, I knew your dance card would be full. 🙂
Cathy, do NOT tempt me to go playing on Creative Copy Challenge! I've avoided it because I know it's going to be my newest addiction if I don't. 🙂
My business list is EXACTLY the same as yours. Quit spying on me!
When I walk away and turn off the brain: 1) Running a half-marathon in January, so I'm in Week 8 of training. And 2) we just moved into an old house, so every time I finish one project, two take its place. (Today, installing a recirculating pump in our bathroom, so it doesn't take 10 minutes for the shower to warm up all winter!)
Happy Thanksgiving, all!
Right now, I'm working on something for my sister. She's working in the missionary field and we've been kicking around an idea for something, so we're trying out a few things to see where we can take it. It's not a paid gig, but it does have its benefits as far as the church is concerned.
Today, not much is going to happen. Freezing drizzle has hit here and it's supposed to turn to freezing rain, so the school is letting out. My son will be home in a bit and that means no work will get done. I don't have anything pressing, so it's not a huge deal, but I did like the quiet…
I like this checklist of things to do in downtime. I always have high hopes, and then end up on Facebook. Not good! I will add these to my "need to do" list of possibilities. Today, though, will be full of food prep so I don't have so much to do tomorrow.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
I try any and all of the things you mentioned, but I try to avoid baking unless I'm expecting guests. Otherwise the goodies prove too tempting.
Organizing is not easy for me. I'm an "out of site, out of mind" type person, so as soon as something is filed I forget about it. Files for me are what my dad called his morgue. He had a file cabinet filled with images and ideas he could cull for future inspiration. My morgue is old records and papers I need to hang onto like contracts and tax stuff.
Even when I do have an idle day, I'm usually in the office making work. Today I have a pie to bake and cleaning to do. I have a big Christmas project I need to hide before my sister arrives. I also want to finish assembling the Girl Friday sweater I've been making for myself. I hope it looks half as cute on me as it looks in the pattern photos. I'm note certain I like the button placement….we'll see.
Today isn't an "idle" day in my mind. It's a holiday eve. Different rules. I have a lot of transcribing to do over the weekend, so I feel I've heard time off today. (You can pick yourself up off the floor now, Lori.)
Don't have much to add to this thread, but wanted to take a bit of my "spare time" to offer my wishes for the happiest of Thanksgivings to Lori & all the regular commenters here (and what the heck, you irregular commenters, too 🙂
Among the many things I am thankful for this year is having stumbled upon this wonderful online community. Wherever you are & whatever you're doing this weekend, hope you all know you are truly appreciated!
– Hugh
Amen, Hugh. 🙂
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
What is this "n o t…b u s y"?
Oh well, I imagine you'll be quite busy tomorrow! And you could always go shopping on Friday …. LOL!
Take time to enjoy your leisure — you know work always comes in bunches.
And I wish you the happiest of Thanksgivings!
Happy Thanksgiving to you too, Hugh, and to everyone! I'm at my daughter's at her college, and she's preparing her first official Thanksgiving meal. 🙂
Wherever you are, enjoy the day, the company (or solitude) and count your blessings. I am. :))