Finding more freedom in your work (even if you're not a rock star)
Work or play? The line gets blurred sometimes. (Image by Ana Krach)
When I was in my teens and early twenties, I wanted to be a professional singer-songwriter. I loved music and figured there would be no more enjoyable way to spend my time than to write, record, and perform.
I found the life of an artist especially appealing. “Well, after my last album and tour, I needed some time. I spent six months in Bali. When I started to feel the spark again, I met up with my band in France, where we wrote and recorded our new album in three weeks.”
The success, fame, and world travel seemed impossibly glamorous, but the idea that you could explore and enjoy your work without the constant pressure of needing to be somewhere or measure your time became a vision for my own future that I held onto. Maybe someday, I could have that kind of freedom.
As a matter of fact, I was able to work toward that vision when I started my own business. It took a long time because I didn’t realize at first that it was possible, and then longer because I held onto feeling like I had to do everything myself. But eventually, I was able to build a team of fantastic people who made it possible for me to have a little more space to work on things according to my own interests and schedule.
I wasn’t jet-setting around the world or spending months making art without a care. There was still plenty of work to do. Now, however, I had more choices about when and how to approach it, and I did occasionally have the option to play hooky for an afternoon instead of working evenings and weekends like I had before.
There are times when I really don’t feel like working. If I allow myself to do something else (play music, visit with a friend, tidy up, make art, or sit and stare off into space), I will eventually get to a point where I do want to to work again.
This process can take days or hours — but sometimes, I only need five minutes away from my work to rededicate myself to it. And when I return to my work, I feel focused and alert and get more done in less time.
The freedom to choose when and how long to work has allowed me to see work as another activity among many that I enjoy. Because I’m not constantly under pressure to work, I actually get to look forward to doing it. This leads to better results. It’s actually similar to the way an artist paces her efforts, with or without the restorative trip to Bali.
What I’ve learned can actually be applied to the habits of students and knowledge workers of all kinds, whether you work for an employer or not.
I see my employees and students slogging through something that is making them miserable, refusing to take breaks because “I just want to get this over with.” Ironically, this leads to slower results, because the resistance is so heavy that everything is harder. It’s like wading through mud up to your chest.
It’s so much better to take breaks, do something else for awhile, and handle unappealing tasks in smaller doses.
We often have more freedom than we think. Many of us have exercised that freedom in destructive ways, like turning in work late, rushing through it, or spending hours wallowing in anxiety without being able to take action. It’s far better and far more fun to take advantage of our choices sooner, however limited they may seem at first.
You can do the work when you’re feeling good. And just knowing that you have that choice — for instance, to work on something for ten minutes every hour instead of spending an entire hour on it — can make us feel less resentful about the work we have to do. Our resistance begins to break down and we find ourselves in alignment, maybe with a favorite beverage or snack by our side and some beloved music to ease the way. And if we take a moment to appreciate our accomplishment and feel good about ourselves, the next onerous task will be easier.
Whether or not you are self-employed, you are still your own boss. You get to decide how to approach your work and what kind of effort to put in. Even if you’re not living the life of a rock star, you have choices. The more you look for them, the more you will find. You may be surprised at how far you can go and how much autonomy you can discover.
Where might you find a little more freedom in your work? Where could you make space to choose to come to it willingly? What has worked for you in the past? I’d love to hear in the comments.