I’ve been writing this article for over 2 years alongside a full time job, and have by no means missed per 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 jot down and been not sure of what I’m sending out to you all. Yikes!?
That is ironic as I not have a full time job so my newsletters to you have to be deliberate to the T.
I’m placing it right down to not but having found out my very own time administration course of. I do know I’m spending an excessive amount of time on paying initiatives and pitching for potential paying initiatives, one thing I by no means needed to fear about with a full time job.
The brand new initiatives which have come my method require additional consideration as I construct new relationships for what may very well be long-term work, while I get my private initiatives into motion.
This has been extra time and vitality consuming than I imagined, leading to inconsistencies with my very own initiatives.
I must discover a higher system of time administration in any other case I’ll by no means transfer the needle alone initiatives.
I haven’t been making use of Parkinson’s legislation 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 mission work:
-
When it comes to mission work I’ve been fortunate to get some straight after closing out my job. I’ve 3 paying model journalism initiatives in the meanwhile, 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 available in the market place, do some attention-grabbing work, and have some revenue.
Private initiatives:
-
This text! 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.
-
I’m constructing The AI Content material Co, a generative AI useful resource for content material writers & journalists. I imagine that generative AI won’t take our jobs; those that know the best way to use it, will. The useful resource goals to chop by the noise and share what issues most, notably for the media and communications business. Extra on that later.
-
I’ve been publishing low and medium content material books on Kindle Direct Publishing – KDP (17 thus far). This has not moved ahead in any respect this 12 months, however it’s on the plan as it might probably be a stream of semi-passive revenue.
The objective of my private initiatives is extra long-term, in order that sooner or later they’ll turn out to be my full time initiatives. That is when I’ll really have time and monetary freedom.
What this doesn’t display is the quantity of labor that goes on behind all of the initiatives:
-
Analysis, writing lengthy kind
-
Interview analysis, coordination; doing the interviews and writing them up
-
Planning and creating content material for social media
-
Social media monitoring and engagement
-
Studying the best way to construct a website, studying website positioning
-
Studying the best way to self-publish
-
Admin. SO a lot admin.
I want higher frameworks for my time and my work and have been searching for new methods. Here’s what I’m going to attempt.
For my time, I’m going to attempt working with Oliver Burkeman’s (best-selling writer of 4 Thousand Weeks: Time administration for mortals) 3-3-3 technique:
-
Spend 3 hours of deep work on my most vital present mission, having outlined some type of objective for the progress. Burkeman claims which you can’t persistently do work that calls for critical psychological focus for greater than about 3 or 4 hours a day.
-
Full 3 shorter duties, normally pressing to-dos or duties I have been avoiding.
-
Dedicate time to 3 ‘upkeep actions’, issues that want my every day consideration with a view 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 an everyday reader right here you understand I take advantage of Notion for every thing. It’s a unbelievable device 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 every thing is because it’s my mess, nevertheless it’s not sustainable.
I just lately went to a Notion meetup within the UAE (sure I’m such a nerd haha) and found Taigo Forte’s PARA Methodology.
It’s based mostly on the truth that that there are solely 4 classes that embody all the data in your life. Primarily based on this, you may set up your whole information throughout gadgets, in a method that’s easy, logical and straightforward to seek out! See picture under.
Additionally right here is an effective 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 part. That is solely my second month not going to an workplace. It’s been summer time holidays and we’ve been touring so much.
I’m wanting 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 handy.
Wishing you a fantastic weekend.
Love,
Abha
