This weeks design rule to live by has has to do with maintaining a balanced workload. It can be very easy) especially when we are starting out in the design/dev field to take as much work as we can get our hands on. Which initially sounds good so that we can build a strong portfolio. It can also be tempting to take as much work as is offered when we strike out on our own as freelancers due to feeling the pressure to pay the bills. This weeks design rule is geared towards that approach.
Don’t bite off more than you can chew
It is a very fine line to walk to be able to find the balance of taking the right amount of work, and still building a portfolio/paying the bills. A lot of it has to do with where you are in life. If you are single and have the time to burn the midnight oil working on project after project, then maybe you can pull this off, but even then you are setting yourself up for burnout. Someone with a family will have more to balance with their workload.
In reality whatever situation we are in the truth of the matter is that if we are not careful we will overwhelm ourselves, stifle our creativity, and end up doing more harm than good. Each of us has to find that balance, and do so with “quality over quantity” as the mantra.
This may not be easy at first, and even if we are in a rut currently it can be a goal that we set, where we steadily pursue higher quality projects (that pay better) that will then allow us to slow down take our time and put out great work that we are proud of.
Another great way to find this balance is by building a design community, and collaborating with other designers(especially those who may have a different skill set than you), that way taking more work isn’t as daunting because you will have others to collaborate with, and each of you can specialize in what you do best while still getting the project done, and at the level of quality you hoped for.
I would love to hear your experiences, and how you balance your work load.
I’ve been walking this fine line for a while now. I currently have a 9-5, and the desire to one day to be 100% on my own has pushed me to take on more and more independent work. Last year was decent, but this year I’ve been fortunate to have landed steady work and have been crazy busy for the past 6 months straight.
I balance things by being upfront with clients in saying that I am working on their projects on nights and weekends. They’ve been pretty understanding and have appreciated my honesty. I make generous schedules and give myself more time than usually required. Because of this, I often deliver ahead of schedule, making everyone happy.
Also, my wife has been great. She often takes the kids (I have 3) and leaves me alone when she sees that I’m swamped.
I’m in pretty much the exact situation that Dan (comment before me) is except I’m getting married in June next year. There’s a lot going on with working full time in a design studio as well as working for myself nights and weekends. The wedding plans and budgeting on top of that!
I guess j just wanted to encourage Dan and anyone else in our situation that if your goal is to leave the 9-5 and you really want it then there’s no reason it won’t happen.
Great read Aaron, I’ve really been enjoying your Design Rules to Live By series. Keep up the good work!
The wpTouch plugin is awesome by the way, definately going to check it out.
@Dan,
great idea about being upfront with the client, and making generous schedules, giving yourself that extra deadline padding to relive stress, and prepare for the unexpected.
@Michael,
Thanks for the kind words. Just keep working at it, and maintain the balance and you will come out on top!
~ Aaron I
Balance is very important. It’s hard to turn down the work, But ultimately our clients suffer as well as the quality of our work. If we take on to big of a workload we run the risk of rushing through projects just to get them done and not putting the correct amount of time and care into them.
I agree with the comments above. If you are open with your clients upfront and explain the situation and give yourself enough time, then things will turn out the way you intend them to.
Good article, important issue!
Nice tip and good advices.
I started working 2 years ago and when I was single it was so easy to just go all out and sleep only at 5am working on projects with some nice chillout music and no other distractions but now that I’m married and have a family, it can really burn you up when you take more work than you should.
If you are not carefull, you will find yourself having no time for family or being frustrated to delay project deadlines, so go for quality projects and good time management.
Keep up the nice posts Aaron.
I’ve been working a 830-630 Design job for and IT Firm for nearly 3 yeas now and I’m leaving to go back to freelancing. I can’t tell you how much the transition is doing to minimize my stress, but only because I’ve developed short and long term plans to avoid design burn out while still managing the bills. Part of that secret was to get 3 months a head of my billing curve so that I can focus on taking design jobs that interest me with clients and I can work with and understand, rather than just “Taking what I can get”. Design can become “painful” when you have to deal with clients that you aren’t compatible with and have problems communicating your ideas or process to. If you position yourself properly you can hopefully be able to “only work with people you like”. Great post, thanks for sharing this, keep up the good work!
.-= ´s last blog ..Featured Artist EJ Santiago =-.