Do you need to change your work situation?
Almost every day, I read something about a writer struggling to find time to write because of a difficult day job.
Writers want to write, but after a full day at a demanding job, they face all sorts of barriers, from mental to physical fatigue to a packed after-work schedule that includes making meals, caring for kids, and performing other similar tasks related to living life.
I’d like to help writers overcome this issue in two ways—first, I’m going to share my own story of how I got past this “day job” roadblock, then I’m going to give you some tips you may be able to use to do the same.
How I Changed My Work Situation to Suit My Writing Dreams
My first professional job was as an associate copywriter for a corporation. I’d held various other positions before that, but this was my first salaried writing position and I was thrilled to have it, as it marked the beginning of my professional writing journey.
I spent about 3.5 years with the company, and during that time I was promoted three times, first to copywriter, then senior writer, then managing editor. I learned a ton and I’m grateful to this day for the opportunity. But there was one problem—I had little time to do anything else.
If you’ve ever worked as a salaried employee for a corporation, you know what I mean. I was always working nights and weekends for “rush” projects that couldn’t wait, as well as frequently traveling to serve as the health spokesperson at conventions.
Like many other writers with day jobs, I was coming home exhausted with not a lot of energy for anything else. Yet I had goals related to writing fiction, and I was frustrated I wasn’t making progress on them.
Taking the First Steps Toward a More Flexible Job Situation
The second year in, after I’d gotten my feet on the ground with the company, I decided to do something about it.
I started going into the office an hour before most of the rest of the marketing team arrived. Our department had a separate room behind a closed door in a large building, so I could get there, turn on my computer, and have at least 30-45 minutes to myself to write.
It wasn’t easy having to get up early every day to make this happen, but I kept doing it because it worked. Not only did I start amassing pages, but the morning spurt of creativity helped me be more creative in my company writing projects throughout the day. Plus it put me in a better mood because I was tending to my dreams first.
It helped a lot, but it wasn’t a permanent solution. That 30-45 minutes wasn’t enough if I was serious about becoming a novelist. I needed more.
Finding the Solution to Work Situation Problem
About halfway through my second year with the company, I started brainstorming solutions to my problem. I knew the best path for me was to become a freelancer, but I was concerned.
At the corporation, I had a guaranteed salary along with health insurance and an IRA match. As a single lady, all those things were important to me, and I feared going out on my own without that security.
There’s one thing I’ve learned—a writer’s dreams care nothing about security! It’s when I’ve been brave enough to take leaps of faith that I’ve made the most progress toward becoming the writer I wanted to be.
At the same time, I wasn’t reckless or stupid. I spent another year preparing for the change, and then at the 3.5-year mark with the company, turned in my resignation and went out on my own.
Now, over 20 years later, I’m still a full-time freelance writer. Meanwhile, I’ve never lost sight of my main goal—to give myself more time and flexibility to build my book-writing career.
Because of additional changes I’ve made along the way, I now work only about a 5-hour day on freelance projects. The rest of the time I get to devote to my book writing and platform-building and living life in general.
I can honestly say that now, my day job suits my writing career just perfectly. It took a while—several years—of making incremental changes, but it was worth it.
5 Ways to Change Your Work Situation to Better Support Your Writing
In my case, change came in stages. The first change was the decision to forego security for the sake of my writing dreams. You may or may not want to make the same decision. Writers with children, for example, may not be able to let go of employer-sponsored health insurance.
But no matter what your situation, there are things you can do to make your day job better suit your writing dreams. You do have to be proactive about it, though, and you will probably have to hang in there and make several small changes before you reach your ideal situation.
How much do your writing dreams mean to you? Let that be your motivation to keep moving toward them no matter what.
1. Build Up Your Savings Account
It’s kind of hard to believe, but according to media reports, a $1,000 emergency like a car repair or emergency room visit would push most Americans into debt. That’s a very scary statistic and leaves many families in dire straits if they miss even one pay period.
If you do nothing else in your efforts to make your day job better suit your writing dreams, build up your savings account. Having 3-6 months’ worth of expenses socked away does wonders for your nerves, particularly if you’re making a change that may put your regular paycheck in question.
Even if that’s not the case, having those reserves gives you a lot of flexibility and peace of mind.
Some Tips to Create an Emergency Fund
If you have trouble saving, here are some tips:
- Take advantage of automatic programs at your bank that put money into your savings account every month. You can set the amount, and then they do it for you so you don’t have to think about it.
- Set up a separate “emergency fund” account and contribute to it every month.
- Put all your earnings from any side gigs into savings. I send all my money earned from my musical performances, for example, into a separate savings account. If you do any coaching on the side or have a weekend part-time job, funnel all that money into savings.
- Collect your extra change in a jar and turn it into the savings bank at the end of the year.
- Choose one subscription service you have right now that you don’t need. Cancel it and send that money to your savings account every month.
- Do a “no-spend” challenge for a set period. For a full month, challenge yourself not to spend money on eating out, for example, or entertainment. Then put all the money you would have normally spent on these activities into savings.
Find a method that works for you, but save and save consistently until you have 3-6 months of expenses built up.
2. Find Ways to Write More Now
That one action I took early on while I was still working at the corporation—going in early to write every day—helped me in so many ways. In addition to giving me needed practice on my writing and boosting my creativity, it also kept my writing dreams front and center in my brain.
There’s something about taking action toward your dreams now, no matter your circumstances, that teaches your brain what’s important to you. Every day you show your commitment to writing through action, you marshal your cognitive forces to figure out a day job solution.
Find a time to write even amid your crazy schedule. Even if it’s only for 20 minutes, if you do it consistently, it will work its magic on you. Get up a little earlier, write on your lunch hour, or take 20 minutes after work before you go home to get a few hundred words down.
By the way, if you think you can’t jump into writing that quickly, it’s because you’re allowing your perfectionist tendencies to get the best of you. Just write—no judgment.
3. Start with Changes to Your Current Work Situation
When working for the corporation, I often felt like I had to work overtime. The company culture made it seem like if I didn’t, I might be seen as less dedicated.
Sometime in my second year, though, the company hired a new marketing manager for the skincare department. She came in highly recommended and was well thought of from the beginning. I worked with her to create copy for the products, catalog, convention materials, commercial scripts, and more.
During that time, I noticed something—she left on time almost every day. Occasionally she would come in on a Saturday, but her regular schedule meant leaving on the dot of 5:00, no matter what. It didn’t hurt her reputation with the company. She still got her work done, but she wasn’t burning herself out.
I decided to try it. I started leaving at 5:00 no matter what. I’d just walk out the door. It was a little scary at first, but I soon learned that all the so-called “emergency” projects weren’t as time-sensitive as I’d been led to believe.
It helped that I had already decided I was going to leave the company. I wasn’t as invested in my position there by that point, and that gave me the courage to be bold about my schedule even as many of my colleagues continued to work overtime. Looking back, I realize that we often put excess expectations on ourselves when we don’t need to.
Changes You Can Make To Your Work Situation Now
In addition to leaving on time, here are a few other changes you may be able to make at work right now that will free up time to write. Brainstorm others that may fit your unique situation:
- Delegate those tasks you don’t have time to complete.
- If you’re overrun with work, talk to your boss about finding someone to share it with.
- Track how you’re spending your time during the day, and try to eliminate any non-productive tasks you may be doing.
- Get away on your lunch break, even if it’s only to take a walk outside. It will help refresh your brain so you can be more productive through the afternoon.
- Take your vacation days. It’s easy to feel indispensable at work, but you need time off to maintain both physical and mental health. Plus you can use some of those days to move your writing career forward.
- Tackle your most difficult project early in the day if possible.
- Prioritize projects that need to be done today or tomorrow. Then leave on time.
- After you’ve left work, leave it. Don’t check-in during your off-hours.
4. Decide What Your Ideal Work Situation Is, then Start Taking Steps Toward It
When it became clear to me that corporate life was not what I wanted for the rest of my life, I began to brainstorm what I did want. I was a newbie when it came to writing careers, but the idea of being able to work from home and set my own hours was super attractive. It didn’t take me long to decide that’s what freelancing would fit my desires perfectly.
Once I decided, I researched the job extensively. I read books, magazines, and websites about how to set up a freelance writing career. Then I started taking steps to set up my home office. I bought a cheap hutch, got some supplies, and set up my computer and printer.
After I had everything in place—and while I was still working the corporate job—I began taking freelance projects on the side. Some of my colleagues who had left the company contacted me for writing help. (This is where doing good work comes in handy—you build up a reputation.) I took time in the evenings and on weekends to do these projects, gradually building up my freelance clientele.
I followed this routine for nearly a year before making the break from my corporate job. It helped a lot to have some clients in place, as I could count on at least some income while I pursued other potential clients for the future.
Take Little Steps Every Day
If it’s not freelance or consulting work you’re shooting for, maybe you are looking to get a job that will be less demanding. Determine what that job may be by matching up your skills with various opportunities.
Talk to a job counselor for help if you need to. Then begin putting together your resume and sending it out. You can do all these things while still working your regular day job, making your eventual transition much easier.
The point is to take little steps day after day, week after week toward your eventual job-change goal. It won’t happen overnight, but if you stick with it, you will find something that works better for you.
5. Keep Adjusting Until You Create Your Ideal Work-Writing Relationship
Once I had my freelance life established, I was excited, but not out of the woods yet. In the beginning, I worked hard and often for very long hours. It was during the first several years of freelancing that I injured my back because I was spending too many hours sitting at the computer.
That woke me up to the fact that though my hours were more flexible, I was still falling into the same trap of spending too much time on my clients’ projects rather than my own. So I set new goals to reduce the number of hours I was working per week.
That meant finding higher-paying clients and becoming more efficient at my work so I could get more done in less time. (Amazing how much the latter of those two matters in terms of the money you can make per hour!)
After many years of continuous effort and change, I got to the place where I am today—working 5 hours or less per day for a group of clients that I love.
Once you land your perfect day job, don’t stop there. Keep adjusting as needed to increase the time you have to spend on your writing career. Keeping your end goal in mind makes the difference in eventually achieving the sort of work-life balance you hope to enjoy.
How have you adjusted your day job to suit your writing dreams?