The website project I undertook literally nabbed a whole month off me. I was immobilised for four weeks, preventing me from working on any of my personal work because all of my working hours were occupied by client activity.
I’m not on it.
I knew it was coming and I didn’t really have anything else planned over this time period, but with me it’s always about the what-ifs. There was a time last year when I was trying to put together a new project (minimum) every month and I was loosely hoping to continue it this year.
I could have done all sorts in that time.
Doing this website properly threw me off and, although I hated the time I was losing to it, I’m glad I’ve seen the other side now. I’ve had a break. I’ve had time to reconsider and I’ve had the time to see where there are holes in my game.
It’s a fresh reminder that the freelancer lifestyle really just is not for me, and an even greater reinforcement that I couldn’t go back to a regular job again. Feeling responsible for anyone else’s brand just doesn’t sit right with me these days and I’m glad that it’s now something I only rarely have to do.
I have to give thanks for Amazon. It’s been the big winner over this period. I try to minimise how much time I dedicate to Amazon, so these days it only really occupies a couple of hours per week. Continuing at the same pace as usual, sales were completely consistent and kept the cashflow running.
In terms of maintaining my many websites, not blogging through that month annoyed me more than anything. Feeling as though I didn’t have time to reflect on what I was doing just felt alien, after having done it so consistently for such a long time. All of my other sites just had to take a backseat and make do with whatever content I may (or may not) have had time to schedule.
Once the month was complete and the website was all the way live, my brain felt like it had rewired itself. Rather than getting back to my usual stuff, I had a sudden urge to just declutter. I did two tip runs, bagged three Ikea dimpas full of toys, and started listing things on ebay for the first time since 2017.
I’ve just dipped into my third week of this new era. It’s the first time in forever where I haven’t got any specific plans, I don’t feel like I need to catch up on work and I haven’t got a bad boy idea of something that can make me loads of money, so I’m going to make the most of it while I’m in the midst of it. I’ve earned it.