What I Published in October 2022
If there’s one question I get asked a lot as a freelancer business owner, it’s this: How do you manage your time? Friends, acquaintances, dates, and even bartenders have wondered how I keep the plates of multiple clients spinning, all while ensuring that I get paid, exercise, grocery shop, and essentially have a life outside of work. I wish there were an easy way to answer this question, because my situation couldn’t possibly be copied-and-pasted on to another life. But there is one thing that I think makes a difference, and can be applied to most 1099-ers. I keep a daily planner.
I organize my calendar at the beginning and end of every month — which is pretty standard for most writers who work on publishers’ editorial calendars — but I also jot down my to-do lists by week in a spiral notebook. On one side are all of the interviews I intend to hold, assignments I plan to write, still more I need to edit. And on the other are all of the little things I have to do to keep my business afloat: sending emails to sources, following up on pitches, filing invoices, reaching out to new editors, and so on. When I finish a task, I simply check it off my list using a good ol’ fashioned pen. And if I don't get around to one (or two or three), I add it to the list for tomorrow. Then, at the end of the week, I cross-reference my planner with the monthly assignment tracker I keep on my computer. I work regular hours most of the time, and fully clear my desk daily so that I can focus on other things when work is through. It’s a method I’ve maintained for years, and it helps me feel like I can acknowledge progress I’ve made as my own boss.
I also figure that when people ask this question, they’re also slyly hinting at the fact that distractions are everywhere. When you work from home, it’s easy to watch television in the middle of the day, take a two-hour lunch, and blow off work until someone comes banging at your door looking for bills to be paid. I have to tell you, I’ve always been a sucker for meeting deadlines. My college roommate used to make fun of me for finishing homework days before it was due. Nerdy personality trait aside, the written to-do list helps, and often lets me figure out where I can take advantage of not having a standard 9-to-5. A weekly planner holds more power than meets the eye, given how satisfying it can be to check tasks off.
Here are the tasks I checked off in October:
The Kitchn: The Best Weeknight Wine Is This California Bubbly
Arch Digest: A Kitchen Shines Again Years After a Reno ‘Fail’
Arch Digest: How to Fold a Fitted Sheet Without Going Crazy
Afar: For Wheelchair Users, Air Travel Can Be a Nightmare—But It Doesn’t Have to Be
Real Simple: Cheerful Wallpaper and Secret Storage Make for a Smile-Inducing Entryway
Real Simple: This Coastal Kitchen in Sydney Features the Best Sage Green Paint
Real Simple: This Historic Home’s Dining Room Got a Modern Makeover—With a Timeless Twist
