howdy do it with margot: spring cleaning

March 29th, 2010 · 9 Comments

Howdy Do It came from “how do you do It,” the question Ellie & Margot found themselves asking about their freelance lifestyles, and so Howdy Do It was born, a weekly column about the things we do to keep ourselves organized, inspired and on track. Margot will be here on Mint each Monday, and Ellie will be over on Margot’s blog Pitch Design Union at the same time. If you have any questions for Margot or Ellie, you can ask them on formspring.

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Phewwww. You guys I have been floundering the past couple weeks, buried under work, email, bills, and not enough sleeping.

Then I be-grudgingly started my taxes and discovered that in 2009 I actually took in way less than what I thought. (Lame) And my 18 months allotment of el-cheapo subsidized COBRA health insurance is ending on the 31st. (Lame-r).

Here’s the surprising part though: it’s not as discouraging as I expected. These are just facts, and frankly, their existence doesn’t really change all that much in the long run. I had the same realization that Ellie talks about in her post on Pitch this week: it is just work. Only work. Loving it is great, but I’ve been letting it own me and that is a slippery slope to one heck of an epic headache. Equally importantly, working all the time doesn’t necessarily equate more money or better projects. It just means you work all the time.

Regardless of finances or what happens with my health care it is most important to me that I still love what I do. So I’m doing some spring cleaning and cutting back. Instead forcing myself to take a day off once a week or so, I’ve been experimenting with a new pattern: 3 days on followed by an easy do what I want day. When I’ve been able to pull it off, it’s been wonderful way to break up my time AND still feel like I’m getting enough done. Also, I’ve been checking my email less during the day, I’m on ichat less, purposefully putting my phone on silent at times, and I deep-cleaned my laptop with this tutorial by Mighty Girl.

And you know? Taxes can be super intimidating, but I get better at managing them every year. It’s not so bad, especially because I have an accountant whom I love.

So, what about you guys? Any spring cleaning realizations? How are you faring with the dreaded taxes?

{Photo credits: 20% off letterpressed prints by Orange Beautiful}

Categories: Howdy Do It

Responses to “howdy do it with margot: spring cleaning”

kayla

March 29, 2010 at 2:58 pm

This post is like a breath of fresh air. I had been feeling the same way and this weekend finally took three whole days off work, put my phone on silent, and actually spent time with my husband on his days off (gasp!). Glad to hear I’m not the only one in this crazy boat. :)

Rachel

March 29, 2010 at 3:01 pm

I’ve enjoyed reading your little tidbits on this howdy do it column. I am just starting out and feel a bit overwhelmed by the process, but it’s nice to know people like you exist out there…it’s a good combo you have going- good design + thoughtful honesty :)

cathie

March 29, 2010 at 3:35 pm

i’ve felt so overwhelmed too… i took a breather on sunday with my husband — i think we both needed to step back a little bit & get a little perspective. it was good for us :]

claire brewster

March 29, 2010 at 3:52 pm

It’s so easy to get overwhelmed by emails, the phone, keeping up with blogs etc. This time of year I always get itchy feet to do stuff outside and to get rid of things, which I’m taking action on this year rather than thinking about it for another year! Its easy to get so tied up in work that you forget why you are doing it and why it makes you happy.

Yari

March 29, 2010 at 4:34 pm

I’ve been a little lazy about starting my spring cleaning. I finally got my taxes done the other day. Surprisingly enough, once I sat down to get everything together it took a lot less time. One of my biggest problems is probably itchy feet, like Claire said, it’s nice outside and I want to be there instead of indoors. But with sun and nice weather I find has also come a lot of inspiration and creativity, so I’ve been working on a lot of new projects. Just have to learn to take them one by one and make room to rest as well. Great article!

Andrew

March 29, 2010 at 5:00 pm

Thanks for the perspective. I’ve been up to my eyebrows in work myself and you seem to have vocalized my feelings. One thought about taxes that’s been working for me has been using a receipt scanner. It sounds annoying ,but it’s kept me from burying myself in receipts during the year. Then I just pass along the pdf file to my accountant. Thanks again for the article- best of luck!

kayla
March 29, 2010 at 2:58 pm
This post is like a breath of fresh air. I had been feeling the same way and this weekend finally took three whole days off work, put my phone on silent, and actually spent time with my husband on his days off (gasp!). Glad to hear I’m not the only one in this crazy boat. :)
Rachel
March 29, 2010 at 3:01 pm
I’ve enjoyed reading your little tidbits on this howdy do it column. I am just starting out and feel a bit overwhelmed by the process, but it’s nice to know people like you exist out there…it’s a good combo you have going- good design + thoughtful honesty :)
cathie
March 29, 2010 at 3:35 pm
i’ve felt so overwhelmed too… i took a breather on sunday with my husband — i think we both needed to step back a little bit & get a little perspective. it was good for us :]
claire brewster
March 29, 2010 at 3:52 pm
It’s so easy to get overwhelmed by emails, the phone, keeping up with blogs etc. This time of year I always get itchy feet to do stuff outside and to get rid of things, which I’m taking action on this year rather than thinking about it for another year! Its easy to get so tied up in work that you forget why you are doing it and why it makes you happy.
Yari
March 29, 2010 at 4:34 pm
I’ve been a little lazy about starting my spring cleaning. I finally got my taxes done the other day. Surprisingly enough, once I sat down to get everything together it took a lot less time. One of my biggest problems is probably itchy feet, like Claire said, it’s nice outside and I want to be there instead of indoors. But with sun and nice weather I find has also come a lot of inspiration and creativity, so I’ve been working on a lot of new projects. Just have to learn to take them one by one and make room to rest as well. Great article!
Andrew
March 29, 2010 at 5:00 pm
Thanks for the perspective. I’ve been up to my eyebrows in work myself and you seem to have vocalized my feelings. One thought about taxes that’s been working for me has been using a receipt scanner. It sounds annoying ,but it’s kept me from burying myself in receipts during the year. Then I just pass along the pdf file to my accountant. Thanks again for the article- best of luck!
Emily
March 29, 2010 at 10:23 pm
I SO needed to hear this today. I need to not let work own me. It’s just one small part of who I am while I focus on what I want to do! This is really helpful as I put together my action plan to get myself to where I want to be!
addie
March 30, 2010 at 9:35 am
I let work stress me out so bad this week that now I’m sick, sick, sick (and yes I realize it’s only Tuesday). I guess you either take the time off yourself or your body will make you. :) This post was a good reminder… it’s just work.
alexandra evjen
March 30, 2010 at 12:43 pm
every office needs these…

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