There are of course things I’d like to look at and improve on in the 2nd year.  Surprisingly, most of the things I’d like to work on revolve around allowing myself adequate time away from the computer to relax and recuperate. I’ve learned, on reflection, that although mobility and flexibilty are a freelancer’s best friends, working whilst on holiday is not necessarily a great idea for your sense of sanity.

I think most of us fail at taking time out of our daily routine to focus on our own wellbeing, rather than just the wellbeing of our business. This is a serious and potentially costly misjudgement. YOU are your business’s greatest asset, and to neglect that asset could damage your business.  Without sufficient breaks, holidays and mental (i.e. doing something different to your primary skill) and physical exercise, you are not giving yourself the regular M.O.T. you need to keep running your YOU-BUSINESS efficiently.

I should practice what I preach. I’ve been guilty of allowing myself to sit in front of the computer for ours on end without taking a break or stretching, and sometimes days go by without leaving the house. It’s great that I can be so enthralled in my work that it doesn’t even occur to me to move myself away from it, but I usually find that if this goes on for too long I find myself feeling a little less well-adjusted than ‘normal’ (not to mention that my weight has been ballooning out of control, and my eyesight has deteriorated rapidly).

So, to kickstart my new approach, I plan to implement the following into my ME-BUSINESS:

• Do 5-10 minute stretches at my desk every 60-90 minutes
• Check my sitting position at my desk every so often (I’m guilty of sitting cross legged at my desk)
• Get out of the house at least once a day – get some daylight!
• Do some form of exercise for at least 30 minutes everyday – even if this is just walking around the block
• Drink plenty of water
• Eat a proper lunch, and eat it away from the desk at least twice a week
• Try not to work too late into the evening, and plan something completely different (i.e. not computer bound) after work
• Allow for at least 22 days’ holiday a year (I’m ashamed to say that last year fell woefully short of this)

Shouldn’t be too hard to achieve, right? I’ll keep you posted.

To kickstart your own healthy new YOU-BUSINESS,  take a look at the excellent tips in this article on Freelance Switch.

Much as I have tried to resist the constant vocabulary of disaster and fear used in the news at the moment, it seems that a recession is fast approaching, if not already upon us. It is hard for most people to stay positive and confident about parting with their fast dwindling cash reserves in the current climate, but when you are running a business of any kind the panic can start to set in. And that includes freelancers, whether they’re freelance translators or freelance plumbers.

I recently read this article by Michael Melcher on The New York Times Shifting Careers blog and it reminded me that even in this climate there are still opportunities out there if you remain proactive. Now is not the time to waste too much energy on introspection. The same marketing guidelines apply, but we now need to reserve more energy than ever for seeking out or creating opportunities. Provided you still have a roof over your head and some food on the table, remember how lucky you still are and don’t allow yourself be beaten down by all the bad news…Alternatively, you may want to consider going into hibernation until it’s all over!

*Update 09/12/2008: another good list of tips for weathering an economic downturn is on FreelanceSwitch today.*