I’ve been writing this article for over 2 years alongside a full time job, and have by no means missed every week. I’ve written 107 newsletters, and 99% of them have been between pre-planned and pre-thought.
That is the first time I’ve sat down to put in writing and been uncertain of what I’m sending out to you all. Yikes!?
That is ironic as I now not have a full time job so my newsletters to you ought to be deliberate to the T.
I’m placing it all the way down to not but having discovered my very own time administration course of. I do know I’m spending an excessive amount of time on paying tasks and pitching for potential paying tasks, one thing I by no means needed to fear about with a full time job.
The brand new tasks which have come my means require additional consideration as I construct new relationships for what might be long-term work, while I get my private tasks into motion.
This has been extra time and power consuming than I imagined, leading to inconsistencies with my very own tasks.
I have to discover a higher system of time administration in any other case I’ll by no means transfer the needle by myself tasks.
I haven’t been making use of Parkinson’s regulation sufficient and the truth that work expands to the time you give it couldn’t maintain extra true. Reminding myself of this made me put a tough cease to some work yesterday in order that I didn’t spend the remainder of the night on it.
Maybe too many issues. Here’s a abstract:
Skilled challenge work:
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When it comes to challenge work I’ve been fortunate to get some straight after closing out my job. I’ve 3 paying model journalism tasks in the intervening time, with yet another within the pipeline. This has potential to usher in chunk of cash month-to-month.
The objective of this work is to maintain me out there place, do some attention-grabbing work, and have some earnings.
Private tasks:
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This article! I’ve seen a surge in subscribers over the past two weeks (thanks and welcome!) which is actually encouraging. I’m over 500 subscribers now and actually wish to guarantee I’m bringing worth to you all persistently.
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I’m constructing The AI Content Co, a generative AI useful resource for content material writers & journalists. I consider that generative AI won’t take our jobs; those that know the way to use it, will. The useful resource goals to chop by means of the noise and share what issues most, notably for the media and communications business. Extra on that later.
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I’ve been publishing low and medium content material books on Kindle Direct Publishing – KDP (17 to date). This has not moved ahead in any respect this 12 months, however it’s on the plan as it may well probably be a stream of semi-passive earnings.
The objective of my private tasks is extra long-term, in order that someday they’ll turn out to be my full time tasks. That is when I’ll really have time and monetary freedom.
What this doesn’t exhibit is the quantity of labor that goes on behind all of the tasks:
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Analysis, writing lengthy kind
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Interview analysis, coordination; doing the interviews and writing them up
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Planning and creating content material for social media
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Social media monitoring and engagement
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Studying the way to construct a web site, studying search engine optimisation
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Studying the way to self-publish
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Admin. SO a lot admin.
I want higher frameworks for my time and my work and have been in search of new methods. Here’s what I’m going to strive.
For my time, I’m going to strive working with Oliver Burkeman’s (best-selling writer of Four Thousand Weeks: Time administration for mortals) 3-3-3 method:
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Spend 3 hours of deep work on my most vital present challenge, having outlined some sort of objective for the progress. Burkeman claims which you could’t persistently do work that calls for severe psychological focus for greater than about 3 or 4 hours a day.
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Full 3 shorter duties, normally pressing to-dos or duties I have been avoiding.
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Dedicate time to 3 ‘upkeep actions’, issues that want my every day consideration as a way to preserve life working easily (answering emails, scheduling content material, social media engagement).
I actually like the thought of this. It’s sensible and never over structured. Will let you understand how it goes.
For my work, (I’m referring to the method that goes behind doing all duties that requires some kind of organisation of ideas, concepts, assets and information)
If you’re a daily reader right here I take advantage of Notion for all the things. It’s a implausible software with so many capabilities that I haven’t even touched the floor of, which is why it’s now my Notion dump.
Simply all my work there, I do know the place all the things is because it’s my mess, nevertheless it’s not sustainable.
I not too long ago went to a Notion meetup within the UAE (sure I’m such a nerd haha) and found Taigo Forte’s PARA Method.
It’s primarily based on the truth that that there are solely 4 classes that embody all the data in your life. Primarily based on this, you may manage your total information throughout gadgets, in a means that’s easy, logical and straightforward to search out! See picture beneath.
Additionally right here is an efficient video abstract of it in case you are .
So that is the place I’m at. I’m additionally giving myself grace by reminding myself that I’m nonetheless in a transition section. That is solely my second month not going to an workplace. It’s been summer season holidays and we’ve been touring so much.
I’m trying ahead to the children going again to high school this week and us having a routine once more. I by no means realized the significance of a routine till I had youngsters! 🙂
That’s all from me for now. I hope you discovered this convenient.
Wishing you a fantastic weekend.
Love,
Abha
