Tips on Working Overtime as a Writer Without Sacrificing Family Time

Deadlines, screaming kids, neglected spouses... welcome to the typical home of the overworked freelance writer. Because writing demands a great deal of attention and man hours in order to ensure success, it can be difficult for family members to understand that the home office is a revered sanctuary for their keyboard-crazed loved one. If that sounds a bit like your own dilemma, take a glance at the following tips on working overtime as a writer without sacrificing family time.

Tip #1: Leave the office door open after 5 pm. While it's certainly understandable to require complete privacy during traditional work hours, family members may start to feel neglected should they be cut off from you altogether during the evening hours. While you do not have to leave your desk at 5, consider being more open to communication at night when everyone is home for the day.

Tip #2: Leave the house for lunch. Join the kids at school or meet your spouse at a restaurant a couple of days a week during hours in which you'd be taking time off to recuperate anyhow. A quick thirty minute lunch will strengthen bonds without making a tremendous dent in your schedule.

Tip #3: Devote one day a week to family time. Try to prioritize your time during the week so that at least one day can be devoted to soccer games, date nights, family dinners, etc. The free time will also rejuvenate your mind and refresh your creativity for the next week's work.

Tip #4: Take notes, don't write. That is, of course, when you're out of the office and working past normal hours. Keep a low-tech notebook with you to jot down ideas, deadline reminders, and anything else that may plague your thoughts during times that family attention must be paid. While you may not be able to set aside your work completely on some evenings and weekends, you can minimize the time spent actually locked in the office behind your computer. Learn to multi-task as efficiently as possible.

Tip #5: Make your office family-friendly. Sometimes loved ones just want to be near you. Whether it's a child's desk full of art supplies and books, a couch for adults and teens to lounge on, or a bed and toys for your black lab, consider adding a few places where family members can come and spend their quiet time in your presence.

Tip #6: Make living areas writing-friendly. Whenever possible, leave the office and do your research, note taking, transcribing, etc, in rooms where the family actually convenes together. The simple act of witnessing everyday life in your home when working overtime can mean a great deal to both you and your spouse and/or children.

Tip #7: Dedicate a special daily time slot for family activities. You may not be able to make every ballet practice if you're facing an editor's deadline and trying to support your family, but make it a habit to set aside a specific amount of time each day to being outside of the office and in the middle of your loved ones' lives. Even half an hour of your undivided attention can make a difference during overtime days.

Tip #8: Involve your family in your projects, and get involved in theirs. Ask for advice, tips, and insight from those you love to enhance your work projects when you can, and don't forget to offer your own help in their lives. Offering and requesting input requires giving a certain amount of extra attention to the details, something your family will notice on your part.

Working overtime often comes with the package for most writing careers, making learning how to juggle family and work responsibilities key to success and fulfillment. Try to keep a few of the above tips in mind the next time your daughter wants you to watch her practice her latest karate move, your spouse wants your help picking out new blinds, and your editor is breathing down your neck for your revised work....all in the same evening.