F**k stress
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- mg330
Start your day with a glass of water mixed with this:
http://www.amazon.com/Vibrant-He…
and
http://www.amazon.com/Navitas-Na…
and
http://www.amazon.com/Emergen-C-…- < interesting thanks. Never ever heard of Maca...SunSunSun
- It's been great. Been taking it every day for a couple months and feel awesome.mg33
- Oh - also gives good, healthy, strong boners. They sell it as a Viagra alternative in some places.mg33
- So maybe it's not for women...hahaJaline
- No, women can take it too. Good overall libido booster for anyone.mg33
- boobs0
StressStressStressStressStressSt...
- SunSunSun0
love you all. Just had a massive whiskey.
- vvvv0
Do not work at home!
- Horp0
Don't take it too seriously.
Put your tools down and bid everyone a poolite 'good evening' at 6pm without exception.
Switch off your smart phone for at least two hours in the evening.
Focus energy and time on something you love but resist the temptation to make it a profitable business. It is profitable to you, keep it away from business, make it your personal pleasure and have no ambitions for success or recognition. So Scarabin... Shelve your plans to become the world's first premium performance angry wanker.
- 'Poolite' hahahaahHorp
- when the fuck did you become all logical and shit. pfffftt.lvl_13
- +1 " Don't take it too seriously."ohhhhhsnap
- SunSunSun0
Guys, thanks for all the supportive tips. All really helpful stuff.
I'm just going to be careful in the future about saying yes to stuff when they don't have exact dates and leave plenty of room around it.
Everything came in at once at the end of the year when I've been waiting around for months for them to get their shit together.
- Horp0
^ That there was the defining motif of self employment for me and it drove me very close to insanity through the sheer consistency of it...
I would get an enquiry about a job in August. A book cover. It would go nowhere. I would get an enquiry in September. A record Sleeve. It would go nowehere. I would get an enquiry in October. An ad illustration. It would go nowhere. I would get an enquiry in December. A magazine illustration. It would go nowehere.
With nothing coming in, I'd eventually decide to take a day off, and I'd arrange something. Maybe a day out with my family. We'd all be ready and excited. That evening, without fucking fail, every single fucking time. I'd get an email from the publisher. Its going ahead. Its needed by Thursday. An email from the record label. Sleeve art going ahead. needed Thursday. An email from ad agency. Artwork going ahead. needed Thursday. An email from the magazine. Illo needed, deadline Thursday.
These emails would all be in caps. All headlined URGENT, and would all claim the deadline was Thursday. Honestly, it tested my sanity that it could always happen like that but it always did and it nearly drove my whole family to the nut house. Every time, without fail.
That wasn't the end of the insane coincidences though, because somehow I'd work like a dog to meet all the Thursday deadlines, and then on the Friday, I'd get a load of revision through due to the rushed nature of doing it, and they'd all say 'Need these revisions by Monday morning 9am'.
There would always be up to a month's additional amednments time mysteriously available after the urgent deadline.
Told a LOT of people to fuck off over those years. Got poor, but it felt good.
- This seems to be a big problem in the industry. I just wonder what the best way to deal with it is.Chimp
- I used to become convinced they were all conspiring against me, it was so uncanny, it was the only rational explanation.Horp
- This is EXACTLY what I'm dealing with constantly!SunSunSun
- Its not your fault. Don't let it drive you mad. Learn to say no. They always have more time, always. Make them use it.Horp
- elahon0
- I know where I'd like to be positioned.Horp
- That looks like where I wanna be.SunSunSun
- That looks difficult to do.CygnusZero4
- This is easy to appreciate and her legs form a V for victory which eases stress.CyBrainX
- sureshot0
When I'm stressed out, I get drunk and watch lethal weapon movies..
- maquito0
I run & cook.
- marychain0
Have a kid....you'll soon learn to appreciate late nights at the office
I joke ..............sort of
- hahamoldero
- There is something oddly true about this. I love my kids but if my train home is delayed it means I don't have to do the...Horp
- ... supper, bath, bed routine, which is a LOT harder work than sitting on a train farting politely.Horp
- +1ArchitectofFate
- Chimp0
Perhaps try freelancing, this worked for me.
- ?monospaced
- Freelancer working for agencies. Less politics in the office, better hours...Chimp
- bort0
I smoke weed. Exercise is important too.
- formed0
To the deadlines and extensions....that's just human nature. Everyone wants things done tomorrow, most don't have anything but some vague idea in mind when they make deadlines.
My standard line for short deadlines is:
#1 when will the final/approved information be available?
#2 is this a hard deadline (you'd be surprised at how many "deadlines" are just something someone would "like", but have no really meaning...which usually means the scenario above - race to Thursday, the on Th get a notes for revisions that must be due by Monday, like taht is some great break for you to have a few more days and a weekend to work on it!)
#3 - short deadlines limit communication time and feedback - what you get at the end you must accept "as is"
#4 - changes past the deadline constitute additional fees (unless otherwise specified - we'll do something less detailed for a deadline, then finish after, BUT it must be clear)
#5 - Get paid up to 90% (depending on the size/budget, small I just go 50/50, larger 30/30/30/10) before delivery the final (start with 50% down, etc.). That way, if they are too much of a pain you don't have to stress about the money and know that you both can walk way and you'll still be ok. This is HUGE.Don't burn bridges - unlike some above, I never, ever, tell someone off. I'll add fees if think there's a pain in the ass coming or headaches. Overall, it all averages out. There are good clients and bad clients. Money is money, business is business. Some of the most difficult clients recommended me to others and brought in tons of money, etc., etc. Business is business.
If you want your own business, figure out a balance everything. Find people that offer the talent you want so you can manage them (I used to think I would not like giving up the "doing", but I like the creative direction much more, and you make much more money with significantly less stress).
- formed0
Deadlines - I agree with most of what mantrakid says above, BUT I will never, ever put a specific date in a contract. Too many things can go wrong and that could be used as a reason not to pay (or worse).
For my company, many clients are dealing with $100's of millions in projects, so missing a deadline can cost them substantially. If they were to try and sue for damages, that could get really ugly.
That said, I do make it clear that we have never, ever missed a deadline.
Just be careful, you not only have to look out for your own mind, you have to protect yourself too.
- cannonball19780
Care less. Remember that it's all just a big game. Like all games there are more important things to do, and people will throw tantrums when you don't want to play anymore. You aren't the only person with the skills, and they aren't the only one with money.
- 74LEO0
Do you freelance, work for a company?
Depends on type of co. you work for. got a gym at work? Do yoga, meditation gym tred mill etc. The fastest way to remain calm stress free is to exacerbate the body, strengthen the heart, also if you want to stay in the GD business eat right, don't drink too much, smoke too much etc and don't forget what matters most to you outside your career.Save your moneys and design a t shirt on cafepress.
- vaxorcist0
OK... I read the original poster's comment about being a freelancer....
My experience was in the past that I was sometimes stressed due to:
1. insanity in other parts of my life affecting me, like a divorce
2. accidently over-promising, not managing expectations and basically not confronting miscommunication early only to face a bigger mess later
3. having some surprises mess up my schedule planning...
Not sure about you, but a short "difficult" conversation with a client, being very, very honest, and being willing to give up a project you're unable to do on schedule .. these things can save your sanity, even if it may wreck your bank account...
a larger lesson for me has been to ask the client what their budget is upfront, and try very hard to not be in a position where I "have to take any project"... being able to turn down an anticipated overwhelming project is a godsend for a freelancer...