BlueWave Media Inc.

In Between

Posted on 23. Jan, 2009 by Kimberly in Blog, business

There has been a resilient thought in my mind as I plow through a heavy workload today, always trying to keep a balance between work, family and some much needed down time. What are we supposed to do “in between?” The time in between projects; the time in between tasks; the time in between sleep and work – these are all very important times for any business owner.

For me, the time in between waking up and starting work each morning is a great time to read, find out what’s going on in the world, in the community, in business. Yes, I am on a computer doing this research, but it doesn’t feel like work. I guess I am used to my mouse being a natural appendage after all of these years. This is a great time when the phone doesn’t ring – I haven’t opened up Apple Mail yet and all is well with the world so far. After the mail is

opened that can change depending on client emergency needs, or if a potential client I have been wooing and finally decided to allow me to design their site and they were wondering if it could be online and public by the end of that business day. I think not.

The time in between tasks is important indeed. I know of many days I did not get up from my office chair because I didn’t take a break and by 5 pm, I was not definitely sure that my legs were still attached and working. So now, I just get up; I walk around the office, get

more coffee, play with my magnetic dart board hoping my aim had improved over the last 24 hours. Whatever I do, I just do something else, not work. I have found this to greatly improve my concentration and hence my productivity.

There are no award for the “Archie Bunker office chair” that has your gluteus maximus molded into its cushion. Trust me.

One of my favourite times is the time in between projects. The elation of completing something great, the client is happy, they have paid, you can buy groceries, reading a favourite design magazine for the ever-needed inspiration, research, learning and networking (seeing daylight again). I am dreaming up the next implemetation of something I learned, or reading a book to expand my horizon. In between really large projects, I get away – go somewhere, even for a day trip. I guess it is like rewarding myself for surviving the long hours and troubleshooting, holding the last client’s hand as they forged ahead into something new and just getting it done. This is like dangling a box of smarties before my weary hungry eyes. Okay yes, I will do almost anything for smarties. Gee, I hope my clien’s skip over this admission.

Friday night hockey nights are a rage in my household – one of the times in between the work week and Monday morning that we all really enjoy. I try to make sure Friday night is family night; we go and watch the London Knights game at the John Labatt Centre here in town. We have pizza, and have been known to indulge in a  beer to wash it down. T-shirts and jeans. It’s the weekend. Finally. If you are there as well, come over to section 106 and say hi, I will be there.

The most important message, if there is anything to glean, is to make sure you do not miss the time “in between.” Often, as creatives, or geeks, we are always rushing, shoving, pushing moving – just doing stuff. We need the time in between to be able to really do a bang-up jump during the “on” times. We need the support of our friends and family to keep us grounded. And lastly, we need the time in between to remember who we are, without the coded language and social media talk. Just to be us again. Fully, unadulterated us.

What do you do in your time “in between?”

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Tags: balance, business, down time, John Labatt Centre, London Knights, webdesign, work