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It's sometimes really hard to balance out my personal life and work because all of my work is from home as a freelancer. No boss to tell me what to do or when to work. I think I mostly have a handle on it but I work some wildly different hours. One project is at 930 at night now because the time changed recently and it doesn't change its time with it. I'm open for suggestions to not feel like I HAVE to work all the time..

It sounds like you're juggling a lot with your freelance work, especially with the varying hours. Finding a balance can be tricky without the structure a traditional job might provide. One suggestion is to create a routine for yourself as much as possible. Even though your projects may demand work at different hours, try to designate specific times for work and personal activities. This can help you mentally clock in and out, giving you a clearer division between work and personal time. Another

I get the idea of scheduling time for breaks and whatnot but I'm not really excited by rigid things and I think I might get anxious if I have to use apps and tools that force me into that kind of mold. I mean the work I do is lucrative at different times and it's impossible to know when that will be (except for that one night time thing). Ideally I wouldn't have to work at all at this stage of my life.. but it is what it is I guess

It sounds like flexibility is really key for you, and that totally makes sense given the nature of your work and your personal preferences. It can be challenging to balance the need for structure with the desire for flexibility. Since the idea of strict scheduling and tools doesn't appeal to you, maybe you could try a more fluid approach to integrating work and personal time. For instance, you could identify priorities for each day or week—both work-related and personal—without assigning them t

Even though I hate the idea of alarms and apps to "make me" work or not work at certain times, I worry that I will have trouble balancing things. Like if I decide I don't want to work, then I feel like I slide into not doing it at all and that's not good since I obviously have to pay bills. I'd like to figure out how I can naturally feel like working when I need to and relax when I want to. I tend to get stuck in one or the other sometimes

It's completely understandable to feel that way, especially when you're trying to find a balance that feels natural and not forced. Since the traditional structures like alarms and scheduling apps don't appeal to you, it might be helpful to explore more intrinsic methods to motivate yourself and manage your time. One approach could be to tap into your internal rewards system. Start by identifying what aspects of your work you find most fulfilling or enjoyable. When you need to motivate yourself

So if I decide to dedicate a certain amount of time to a project or set of tasks, I could just kind of eyeball it instead of using some app with an alarm and timer. That might be less rigid and intrusive. I get so stressed when it comes to being boxed in. I think it's sometimes hard to find the rhythm when the work things are constantly changing as far as when they show up

Absolutely, going with a more intuitive approach like "eyeballing" the time you spend on tasks can definitely work, especially if you're someone who feels boxed in by strict schedules. This method allows you to maintain a level of flexibility and spontaneity in your work routine, which seems to align more closely with your natural workflow and personal preferences. Given the unpredictable nature of your work, it might also help to adopt a mindset of adaptability. Seeing each new or changing tas

Okay, thanks a lot for your input. It sounds like I just need to trust in my intuition about what I need for the most part as long as I keep doing what I need to pay my bills. This has been helpful

You're welcome! Trusting your intuition and finding a balance that works for you are key, especially when you're navigating the flexibility and demands of freelancing. Remember, it's okay to adjust and reevaluate your approach as you go along. What's most important is that you're meeting your needs—both for work and personal well-being. I'm glad I could help, and if you ever need more advice or just want to chat, I'm here. Wishing you the best on finding your perfect rhythm!