Hey friends
Hope you all had a good holiday season, the last week and a half has been all over the place for me.
Forced disconnect
So during this little break for Christmas time, I was both sick and completely away from my workspace.
I stayed with family at an Airbnb which was a nice enough change of pace but I couldn’t help but feel that anxiety of wanting to get back to work.
It’s not to be forced to unplug and step away from the daily grind every once and a while but it never seems to come during a time when you want it.
I had a brand deal for a new video I needed to work on, falling a bit behind on my hardcore personal work series and trying to kick off some client projects for 2024
Not exactly the perfect time to be completely away from my computer and design tools.
Sometimes I miss doing everything on my shitty Intel MacBook, design was very simple and streamlined back then.
Now I have all these plug-ins, physical tools, a giant PC that heats up like a personal space heater, and a bunch of other trinkets that go into my usual workflow.
That’s a tangent for another day though.
Right after Christmas once I got back from the little staycation we had planned for the holidays I wasn’t feeling too hot.
For some reason, I have gotten more sick this year than at any other time in my life.
That came at the worst time because after that little break I was so excited to hop back into my design work and editing.
I still got a new video done (that should be dropping soon) but my body is definitely not thanking me for it.
Since I work for myself as a freelancer, it’s really difficult for me to take full days off just for being a “little sick”
I never learn my lesson though, instead of taking a few full rest days and beating a common cold, I try to work and play through it and then these annoying little sicknesses end up lasting for weeks.
I’ve spoken about this before but I think there is always such a scarcity mindset in the world of self-employment.
Even when things are going well and I have enough money to get me by for multiple oncoming months I can’t help but feel the pressure to keep working.
It probably is not a good mindset for my mental health but it has gave me comfort financially at the very least.
I’ve found for me it’s important to look for new projects when you are already swamped instead of running around trying to find the next gig with all this free time on your hands.
I’ve said it time and time again though and I am trying to give myself more grace in the work and hyper discipline department.
I’m still slightly getting over this cold so I’m happy to tell y’all the only type of work I’m doing today is writing this little newsletter.
This forced break has applied to instagram and most social media sites as well.
I haven’t posted in a few weeks and guess what
It’s 100% fine lol
I used to put so much stress on myself if I want posting on IG multiple times a week, doing a podcast every week, a newsletter and multiple videos in a month + freelance designer work.
It was a perfect recipe for something not sustainable.
Now I try more to take the work as it comes, give myself a lot more freedom with posting schedules and quite honestly live my life.
I’m not perfect, and my partner will tell you how much I anxiously talk her ear off or pace around the house when falling behind on a video or missing my weekly design post.
At the end of the day though I’m just trying to do the best I can with the hand I’m dealt.
I hope you all were able to enjoy some good meals during the holiday, take a break from work and enjoy family.
Much love and talk soon.
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Thanks for reading!
I plan on keeping this newsletter free, but if you want to support, the best way is to buy me a coffee:)
Not taking sick days as a freelancer is one of the realest things. Always ends up biting us in the ass. Here's to healthier 2024 Jesse! Bless up
I love reading your newsletters & as a freelancer also - I’ve found that if I don’t choose to take sick days off, they’ll choose to take me! Take care of yourself & your mental for this bright new year Jesse! Balance is key. Bisous from Paris 🙏🏼