In the last couple of months, I’ve been faced with an interesting quandary. I’ve got work coming out my ears. I’ve got life stuff needing my attention. I’ve got that “Phew, it’s been a busy year” feeling hitting me every second day.
We’re all good at some things, less good at others.
Left unchecked, I’m good at working too much. (Which is to say, I’m naturally bad at finding life balance.) It’s why I’ve spent so much time and energy over the past seven or eight years at setting boundaries, ensuring I stay healthy and motivated for the long haul. Because let’s face it: there’s no point burning out.
In my quest to get better at creating balance, over the years I’ve also become better at knowing when to press the pause button. I was re-reading my post I wrote recently for Samantha Nolan-Smith, and it struck me that while I wholeheartedly believe my own advice, I also need to take it. Usually, I do. But writing that post made me realise, I needed to press pause on the blog, just to give it (and me) a bit more breathing space.
Over the last six months, I’ve focussed on sharing lots of useful tips for freelance writers through this blog. In the process, I discovered I actually enjoy blogging. And I really enjoy connecting with you through the blog. So instant! So different to life as a journalist. It’s been fun to do and it seems like the advice is genuinely useful to you too. Fabulous.
But I’m ready for a shift. To what? I don’t know yet. Which is why I’m taking a pause from the blog for a while.
Over the next few months, I’m going to craft the existing posts into an ‘ordering’ of sorts, to help you navigate freelance life and better find the advice already written here. We’ll also be doing some work behind the scenes to instal all the bells and whistles that keep my website and blog looking their sparkliest selves. Once that’s done, and once I’ve regrouped (yes, after summer!), I’ll be back blogging again.
So where do you find me in the meantime?
So many options. I’m still writing feature articles for magazines and newspapers. Many articles a week. Mostly for the SMH and The Age, also for ABC and various others.
You’ll also find me teaching at the wonderful Australian Writers’ Centre. I’d love you to join me on a course. I teach this one, and this one.
If you want one-to-one advice about your writing, you can book a mentoring session with me.
If you’re on Twitter, I’d love to see you @suewhitewriter. (I’ve got a Facebook page in the works too, coming soon.)
And we’ll also be unveiling my new look website and blog over the coming months.
In the meantime, enjoy the warmer weather, take the chance to go back and poke around posts you may have missed, and do one thing for me: have a think about your own big picture. Are your energies being put in the right place? If not, are you courageous enough to press pause?
See you in 2014!
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Sue
Very sensible advice and a great last post for 2013. I have enjoyed/benefited from your blogs and tips but I think this was the best one of all. We all need to learn to say “pause” or “no” at times.
Best,
Craig
Thanks Craig – a wonderful response. Much appreciated. Sue
Oh I love this willingness to stop and let it breathe and see what shows up. Yeah for you!
Thanks Sam! Yes, stop and breathe…so easy to forget.
I seem to do this every few months but out of necessity (burn-out). I’m catching on though that I need to press the pause BEFORE I come to a forced STOP. Thanks for telling us cause you could have just stopped posting but I think you are too responsible and committed to your readers to do that.
Namaste
Thanks Jennifer – yes I love my readers! (And I really think the power of the pause is valuable at times.) Thanks for the lovely comment.
I guess when life/work takes over, some things have to wait…I know this feeling well too.
Thanks for sharing so far, and look forward to seeing you back when you are ready.
Take care!
I think it’s about balance…It’s easy to want to do everything, all at once, but I think given the choices many of us are lucky enough to have, that’s not realistic. Or maybe it’s realistic, but not sustainable. I’m really interested in my work (and life) being personally sustainable – as I said, it’s not my strength, which is why I’m always working on it! See you back in 2014 🙂
Enjoy your “pause” and I do hope to see you back in action when you are ready. Thank you for being so generous with your knowledge. I have learnt a great deal form you and I have to say that I look forward to your Friday posts very much. The timing of which just happens to coincide with a rare 45 minutes of solitude whilst my daughter has her ballet class! It won’t be the same anymore, but I wish you well and hope to hear from you soon. Best of luck x
So nice the timing was so serendipitous! Maybe that 45 mins you could go back to one of the blog posts that resonates with you that week and think about how to put part of it into action. (Or just read a book – your choice!). Thanks for the lovely comment Michaela. 🙂
Great article. I’ve also been on pause while I rethink how I wish to spend my discretionary time. Important to take pressure off and encourage people to re-read the great content you already have! Go play – you deserve it!
Well, it IS summer and I DO live by the beach. 🙂 Glad you enjoyed the piece. Thanks Helen.
A huge thanks for all of your posts about working better and smarter Sue. Wishing you some more balanced months ahead. Your pause will also give ME some time to read through the posts I didn’t have time to take in over the last few months. Best wishes, Libby.
Perfect! Thanks Libby. And a pleasure.
A lovely reminder about the importance of stopping and being still. Thanks Sue for your generous advice – enjoy your time behind the curtains – look forward to your new look blog and your wisdom when you return.
Thanks Linda! A total pleasure.
Hi Sue, Thank you so much for being such an inspiring and generous teacher. I have you to thank for my success in freelance writing. I wish you all the best for your journey and can’t wait to see you back online.
Thank you Carla. Made my day with that comment 🙂