**RANT ALERT**

Don’t fool yourself.

When you’re self-employed, freelancing, working for yourself, there is no such thing as the “9 to 5″. In my case, yesterday saw an 8am to 1am while today saw a 6am to 6pm, so apologies in the down time on the blogging front.

The last two days have been a rollercoaster on a particular project I’m working on. The highs, the lows, uncertainty, testing, bending code, flexing designs, threatening Internet Explorer with violence, doing the same to Firefox about four hours later…

But when you actually hit the milestone you’ve been looking at in the distance for so long, the one that seemed almost out of reach, you might be amazed at the sense of relief that sweeps over you. At least I was anyway.

This particular project has been rather testing - of both my abilities as a designer and my patience as a human being.

Thankfully, it’s Friday and while there is no 9-5, there’s also no office work after 6pm on Friday. That’s my rule.

Of course, I also run a music PR outfit and a theatre company so I’ll be donning another hat at 9am tomorrow

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In the lines of work I find myself in (I say lines because I have more than one business interest, but all are strongly interconnected) I have to be able to work on the move. I usually try and keep my travel load to one carry bag (like a laptop bag), though depending on the situation, I might require a second bag.

I have the ability to work anywhere - in my office, from my bed, the kitchen table, the passenger seat of a car, on a plane. But wherever I go, my mobile office comes with me.

What’s in the bag?

• 15″ MacBook Pro & charger - I rely a lot on the laptop’s WiFi connectivity and bluetooth connectivity, never mind the software I’ve got installed
• DVI to VGA adapter - for use with extra monitor / projector where needs be.
• Sony Ericsson K800i (being upgraded to a Nokia N95 8GB this week)
• Nikon Coolpix S200 - While the K800i is a terrific cameraphone, if I require extra detail while on a job, I’ll use the Coolpix
• Nokia N770 Internet Tablet - When a laptop just isn’t suitable in a WiFi environment. Likely to become redundant when the N95 arrives
• Stereo mini-jack to jack audio lead; stereo phono lead
• iPod and USB cable (though I should, I don’t use USB keys)
• 1 large refill pad (spiral bound), 1 small refill notebook (spiral bound)
• Six pens
• Fifty business cards (you never know who you’re going to meet)

Once I’ve got that much with me I can pretty much work anywhere. The best thing is, all of the above fit into the one laptop bag with great ease.

How about you, do you travel light when working away from base on a design or writing job? Is there anything you absolutely *must* travel with?

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A few weeks ago I had an angel card reading. A few members of the family had been for readings before and, while travelling for a job, I was presented with the opportunity to experience the same. On one level I was simply curious, wondering what lay in store me in the not-too-distant future. On another I was looking for some guidance. I had a number of thoughts in my head about certain aspects of work life and I wanted to see if the cards would highlight or clarify any of these thoughts.

The one big thing that came out of it was watching for the signs.

Not road signs or directions, or big events that come up and smack you in the face. But the subtle signs, the twist of a conversation, overhearing something in the street or in the pub, a chance arrival in the post, an article in a newspaper…

The lesson taught to me was that if you’re looking to welcome something into your life, in my case a change of work practices, then you will get what you’re looking for - if you can read the signs.

How Does This Apply To You?

If you’re considering entering the world of freelancing and working for yourself and you’ve been looking for a sign or a way out, something to get you in line, my advice is to keep an eye out for the signs.

I say this because from five very different sources in the past ten days, I’ve picked up tidbits of conversations, suggestions and rumblings that assure me I’m on the right track in relation to a project I’m commencing later this year.

I’ve asked for the change and the chance to start this project and slowly but surely things seem to be moving around to let me move forward.

I think they might be right when they say “don’t look a gift horse in the mouth”, don’t you?

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You may think the question sounds silly, but I beg to differ - are you using the right chair?

For the past 2-3 years I’ve had a high-backed leather swivel chair. It is comfortable, my feet reach the ground with ease and the back is adjustable (in that you can sit in a fixed upright position or leave it loose to swing back and forth).

My desk space is large enough to hold a 19″ flat panel monitor (connected to PC under the desk), a set of speakers, my in/out tray (which houses bits of newspaper clippings, loose sheets for the printer, nothing pressing I assure you), my laptop and a second 17″ flat panel monitor for dual display, while also leaving room for writing / drawing.

The space under the desk could be utilised better though remains relatively clutter free, hiding away a PC (tower), a sub woofer for the speakers and a 4-way power adapter.

The problem was the chair. I could never quite get it in all the way under the desk or flush to the desk, and while it wasn’t uncomfortable, I found myself on occasion sitting on the edge of the seat without any support at all for my back.

About two weeks ago I offered my chair up to a client and I grabbed a small low-backed and cushioned chair from the back of the office (I’d had two sitting there from the office owner - I rent). I should have asked the client would they like the leather chair gift-wrapped and delivered - there was no way I was going back.

In the space of two weeks I’m surprised at how much my productivity has been boosted by the simple change of chair. My posture is better, the seat is about an inch lower than the high-backed leather chair which. While both chairs retail around the same price mark, I was so impressed that I’ve brought the other chair home with me for work in the evenings, ditching the same high-backed leather one I have here.

While the leather swivel chairs might look nice and executive-like, I can’t argue with the fact that I’m sitting better and more comfortable at my desk. The result? Less slouching, less fidgeting about in the chair, certainly less “swivelling” and a happier, more productive worker.

Given I’m in the line of work where I spend most of my hours sitting down (as many designers do), I’m surprised I never noticed the issue earlier. I now know, I was using the wrong chair - what about you?

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About two months ago, I decided “enough was enough”, I was carrying a few stone in excess weight (we’ll call it three) and I decided to kick my office diet into touch.

Working as a web and graphic designer, I spend an awful lot of time sitting down, as I’m sure many of you do. The serious lack of movement, coupled with the long hours involved in work, running a business and crazy eating habits (no breakfast, hot wrap or roll at 11, fizzy minerals in the afternoon, chocolate, crisps, supposed “high energy” foods, craving for that “bit of sugar” to get me from 3pm to 5pm…) had taken their toll on me.

January 2008

I was tired in the afternoon, tired again in the evening, my sleep was interrupted which would leave me cranky on certain mornings. The tiredness was having an impact on my work, on how I earn a living. Being tired in the morning meant it took longer to settle into the day. Being tired in the afternoon could have an impact on my day-to-day office work. Being tired in the evening meant that any freelance opportunities or hobby work would suffer.

March 2008

Flash foward two months and I’ve dropped two of the three stone being carried (still with a month to run to tackle the third one - like any project, I set myself a deadline or a goal date). I’m also eating a breakfast - a simple bowl of cereal and a vitamin C drink (tablet dissolved in water, slow release over the day) so I’m that bit perkier in the morning and I can work through to lunch time with great ease.

At lunch time I shut off for a half hour to actually have a lunch. I feel it’s important to actually sit down and enjoy your lunch, rather than wolf it into you while pouring over code (or like I mentioned here in trying to get some freelance work done). A fresh lunch will see me through to 6pm with no probelm. Top it off with a decent home-cooked meal and I’m set to go for the evening (to the extent I found myself putting in two nights at the weekend to 5:30am and 4:45am respectively without batting an eyelid).

Things You Can Change To Boost Your Energy In Work

• If you’re a heavy coffee or tea drinker, try cut down a cup or two. Better still, why not switch to green tea? It’s pure, has a surprisingly great taste and it’s also good for the digestive system.
• Leave the junkfood behind. For the first two years of working for myself, I had recycle bins full to the brim with Diet Coke cans or Coke Zero cans, any fizzy mineral. Now I’ve got a bin full of empty water bottles.
• Ditch the sugar, ditch the salt. There’s little taste difference between a packet of regular sweets and sugar-free sweets (think Polo mints), or between regular milk and skimmed milk, full fat yoghurts and low fat yoghurts… you get the picture.
• Take breaks! No client is worth killing yourself over to get a job done. If you take regular breaks (10 minutes in the morning, ten minutes in the afternoon - outside of your lunch) you’ll find the brief down time can awaken your senses a bit and recharge your vital batteries.

They’re only small things and you’ll be surprised at the ease which you can make changes to your diet - even the smallest of changes can give you an energy boost during the day!

Think about it - you’re saving money by not stocking up on junk food, you’re eating healthier, you’re sleeping better at night, you can work more hours in the day (or get more work done in your work hours during the day) and ultimately you’ll earn more money as a result!

Update April 1st: Welcome to all Stumbleupon visitors! If you want to see what I’ve done with my eating habits since January, why not stop by Weight Nation to see what I’ve eaten and changed in order to get more energy at work.

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