free time on your hands? here's why you shouldn't fill it with busy work
I started writing this blog this time last year and never got around to finishing it. Now feels like the right time to release it to the world with original thoughts from 2020 and more insight from 2021. Enjoy!
Thoughts from 2020
I recently hopped on Instagram to share with y'all the challenge I set for myself: Mix up my daily routine every single day this week so I can get out of this rut I'm in at work.
Full disclosure: This rut is the fact that I have like 2 extra hours in my day not filled with client work.
It's not dire, but it's frustrating for a freelancer to not be working as much as you can.
I had a realization that if I wanted my situation to change (i.e. onboard a new client or find a new stream of income), I should probably change what I was doing.
Nothing changes if nothing changes, right?
So, this week I've been on a deep-dive to answer a very particular question for myself related to mixing things up...
If I were ALREADY successful, what would I be doing during the day?
What would I wear? How would I act? What would I eat? How would I approach work?
One thing's for sure — prioritizing things outside of work (like editing videos, blogging, traveling to see friends, and my personal development) instead of forcing myself to find a client immediately after I lose one has led to a much happier, more relaxed, more trusting of what's to come Erin.
Especially since I have more time on my hands. Like, I've literally been WAITING for the perfect opportunity to come my way.
And guess what?
An opportunity was presented to me.
It appeared seemingly out of thin air. It's a perfect opportunity.
Think what you want, but I don't believe in coincidences.
Insights from 2021
Do you ever have one of those moments where you just PINCH yourself and wonder how you got to where you are?
I did the other day.
It happened when I was driving to Starbucks at 11 AM on a Monday to grab coffee. It happened when I made a Reel about my life as a freelance copywriter. It happened when I sat across from my fiance at 10 AM sipping coffee and talking.
It's totally random when it hits. A blip in time and space where you're out of your body and can see the full picture of your life and who you've become. You sit there giddy, bursting with pride as you realize the risks you took and what you overcame to get there.
If you're like, "HUH, ERIN?!" … this blog is for you.
Has it been a while since you checked in with yourself about where you are in your life? If so, now’s a great time.
I know this likely won't be the first time you hear someone recommend you "check-in" with yourself, but give me a chance to share my perspective.
WTF is a check-in?
This isn't a body scan, a goal-setting activity, or a list of things you've done. When you check in with yourself, you get to the root of YOU at that moment.
Let me explain.
At the core of each one of us is a desire to live our livfe the way we want. Without expectation, without pressure, without guilt, without stress.
But that's not how life typically turns out, is it?
Our family sets expectations for our future, the education system puts us in a box, society pressures us to conform, and work stresses us out.
But where are YOU in all of that?
To check-in with yourself means to get curious about what you want, who you want to be, the impact you want to make, the people you want to meet.
These are a lil something I like to call ✨LIFESTYLE GOALS✨
What do you want your mornings to look like?
How available do you want to be during the week?
Do you work weekends?
Do you dream about taking an afternoon off to cuddle your pup, kids, or partner?
How often do you want to travel or work?
These desires of yours? They matter.
And to SHOW them they matter… you have to prioritize them. Because when you do, you get closer to the lifestyle of your dreams.
But I know… easier said than done.
To provide some guidance, here's how I do a check-in with myself that helps me make the conscious choice to prioritize MYSELF.
What to do with free time on your hands
STEP 1: Write down what you want out of life, out of your career, out of your relationships, yourself, your body.
STEP 2: Get really, truly, brutally honest about whether what you just wrote down is true. Ask yourself Q's like, "Why is this important to me?" or "Is this true for me or someone else?"
STEP 3: Find the pattern/connect the dots. By combing through what you wrote, you can uncover your core values, what you believe to be true, and what you know you want for yourself at some point in time.
STEP 4: Prioritize your values. When you understand WHY you want (or don't want) certain things, your actions shift. And it's much easier to shift your behavior to align with your values when you're strong in your beliefs.
Let me be the first to remind you: There is a beautiful, full life to be lived outside of the "should's." Outside of the "what if's."
It's YOUR life.
Would you rather fill up all your free time with MORE work or make the intentional choice to play and enjoy the fruits of your labor? I know what I'm choosing...