In fields as competitive as freelance writing and editing, setting yourself apart as one of the best is crucial to maintaining a thriving business. Once clients discover your high-quality work, they are going to spread the news. Not only that, but they’ll be willing to pay what you’re worth, especially once they’ve had one or two encounters with your less-than-professional colleagues. If you incorporate these 12 disciplines into your writing or editing life, you’re sure to deliver an excellent product every single time.
1. Prioritize Sleep
The most important tool you have in this career is your brain. And to help your brain function at its highest level, you should get enough sleep. It’s tempting to want to “grind it out,” especially if you’re trying to meet a deadline or if you’re tight on meeting your budget, but if you sacrifice your sleep, you may be sacrificing the quality of your work. It’s not worth it. Commit to getting good-quality sleep right now. Keep your priorities straight, so your clients don’t suffer. If that means missing a deadline, simply let your client know right away that it’s going to take a little longer than you thought, and then adjust your estimates for the next job to allow for more time.
You might have trouble falling asleep. Often, our minds race when we hit our pillow, and we just can’t fall asleep. I went through years of insomnia due to a fussy baby, post-partum depression, the death of my spouse, and a major cross-country move. But there were a few things I discovered about sleep that helped me start snoozing again. It is easier to fall asleep when you have a deep sense of being loved and valued and when you feel safe. If you are having difficulty falling asleep, think over and over about how loved you are and how valuable you are. You have a purpose, and your life is significant. In regard to feeling safe, I mediate on Scriptures from the Bible about how much our Father loves me and His promises to keep me safe. Find what works for you. Another thing that has been very effective is to think of the things I am holding against myself or others and say out loud, “[My name or name of the other person] I forgive you for [whatever the offense was] and I release you from the debt you owe me.” I’ve gotten some of the sweetest sleep after going through this forgiveness ritual.
2. Prioritize Good Nutrition
Our guts are so interconnected with our brain function that we shouldn’t ignore what we’re eating. Eat high-quality, unprocessed foods. This includes fresh fruits and vegetables, grass-fed beef, organic chicken, and wild-caught fish. Instead of looking at the nutrition label on packaged foods, rea
d the ingredient list, and avoid foods that have ingredients you can’t pronounce or are mysterious. One of the easiest ways to eliminate inflammation in your body and increase clarity of mind is to eliminate cow dairy products (switch to goat dairy) and gluten.
3. Exercise
You’ve probably heard that movement is life. Get out and take a walk or a short run at least twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. You can also find some great exercise videos for free on YouTube. One of my favorite exercises is Pilates. It’s designed to incorporate dynamic stretching and strength movements that build your core muscles, which are the foundation for all your muscles. The deep, regular breathing during a Pilates workout oxygenates your brain and invigorates your body. Even 10 minutes of this workout a day will make a notable difference in your performance.
4. Don’t Worry
In a culture where stress and anxiety are the norm, it’s a rare thing to find an editor or writer who isn’t worried about some aspect of the job. But humans do their best creative work when we are super chill and confident. If you can master this discipline, you’ll set yourself head and shoulders above your colleagues.
I’ll tell you how I discovered what works for me, but you can use what works for you and feed the rest to the birds if you like. Several years ago, I had a dear friend try to convince me to start using marijuana to help take the edge off the anxiety I was experiencing. I assured my friend that marijuana would only be a coping mechanism, not a cure, and I wanted a cure. In the course of our conversation, it surfaced that trusting in Jesus was the answer, and a switch inside of me flipped. I realized that while I’d been a follower of Jesus most of my life, I didn’t really trust him to take care of things for me. I decided I had more to lose by taking my own responsibility for my career than by turning everything over to Jesus. I told him He was now responsible for my reputation, for meeting my deadlines, and for my quality of work. And that day, I started practicing casting my care on Him—taking the things I cared about and letting Him do all the caring about them instead. Practicing means I messed up quite a bit and got to try again. But the more I practiced the better I got. And since that time, I’ve never missed a deadline or disappointed a client. I attribute the success of my thriving business solely to the Boss Man, and work is more play to me. I hope you find your own way to let go of worry even while you diligently work.
Pleasant penning,
Rachel Bradley
NAIWE Copyediting Expert
www.RevisionsbyRachel.com
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