Remember to Breathe!
I know how much work it takes to build your platform! Believe me I do. I swear when I started IndieLove Magazine I didn't sleep. I had already begun a career as a writer and doing that, raising kids, marketing, running our carpet business and life in general was already hectic. THEN I go and decide to start a magazine from an idea I was so passionate about. I don't regret it at all! What I do regret was my time management. I wanted things to work out so much, other things in my life took a back seat. When I was tired my kids missed out on my attention because I was simply burning the candle at both ends.
Like I said I know that whether you're a writer, Artist, creator, Musician etc, I know how much work goes into building your brand. It's not just a matter of creating, it's the work that comes after it. Marketing, getting your name out there, building a following. But we need to learn to do it right. Yes our work is important to us, I get that, but it will be no good to anybody if we burn out and simply quit from being to run down.
Stop and breathe - This was the first thing I did this Christmas. I stopped responding to emails and placed an away on holidays message, promising to get back to them. That was the first breather I took. I didn't write, respond, design... none of it.
Make a plan - The start of January I made a plan, one I promised myself I was going to stick too this year. I needed to make sure to prioritise everything in my life and schedule in family time which is just so important to me. So I cut my writing to two days a week, Magazine work three days a week and weekends completely free for family times. I also had to know when to place cut off times for the day. So after 5pm the computer is shut down and untouched until the kids go to bed.
Find that balance - Along with scheduling how much and when I work I had to figure out what days I would create on, what days I would market on and what days I would answer emails and get the line ups ready for magazine and blog posts. You need a schedule and I can't stress that enough and you need to stick to it as best as possible. This will keep you on target but also gives you that chance to use your free time to destress, wander around and be inspired, family time, coffee dates. Because if I have learnt anything as an independent owner and creator it's that sometimes we are over worked and under paid. But we can find balance and we need to! So start making your plan!!!
