Here’s the latest episode of In the Balance, the series of work-life balance videos that I’ve been creating for Standing Out. In Episode 6, I share a variety of tips on how to be a better freelancing parent, spouse or partner (or, for that matter, friend/son/daughter, etc.). There’s one tip just for parents, one tip just for spouses/partners, and two tips for everyone. Feel free to share your own tips in the comments!
An easy sit/stand desk option
Standing desks are hot right now (with various sources telling us that sitting is the new smoking). If you’d like to try one, the most customizable option is a motorized sit-stand desk. Karen Tkaczyk uses one, and she demonstrated it in this blog post. Another option is a VariDesk that sits on top of a standard desk.
I recently moved to a new co-working office and the desks have a really easy sit-stand option, where the desk surface is permanently set at standing height and you use a tall chair or stool, moving yourself (rather than the desk surface) when you want to change positions. Here’s my desk:
At first I was a bit skeptical about the stool, but it’s actually working out really well. It’s just uncomfortable enough that I get up for a few minutes every hour and go get some tea or run a quick errand; it’s not hellishly uncomfortable (and it forces me to sit up straight), but it’s also not the kind of thing you snuggle into for a four-hour stretch.
I think that my new desk is an Ikea Linnmon/Finnvard, which, at US $109, is certainly an affordable option. Just make sure to get a nice hard stool to go with it!
Beyond the Basics of Freelancing: starts Wednesday
My final online course of 2015, Beyond the Basics of Freelancing, starts this Wednesday (November 11), and I have four spots still available. This is a four-week course for established translators who want to make more money, enjoy their work more, pursue new specializations, or market to higher-quality agencies and direct clients.
Everyone in the class receives individualized feedback on four weekly homework assignments; we also do a one-hour question and answer conference call every week, and everyone receives an hour of individual consulting time with me. If you want to get a solid plan in place for 2016, now is a great time to get to work on it: registration is US $350 ($50 discount for ATA members), and you can read the full course description or register here.
ATA56 wrapup video
It will take me a few days to recover from the ATA conference and catch up on backlogged e-mail, but in the meantime, here’s the wrapup video from our videographer Derek Platts.
The conference was a great success on all fronts: we had 1,622 attendees from 52 countries (we had expected about 1,500 attendees, so those numbers are excellent), and we got lots of positive feedback on the sessions, the special events, and the venue. Mark your calendar now for ATA57, November 2-5, 2016 in lovely San Francisco!
In the Balance: applying your non-work interests to your work life
I’ll be in Miami at the ATA conference for the rest of the week, so in the meantime, here’s the fifth episode of In the Balance, the work-life balance video series that I host for the Standing Out Facebook group. This episode focuses on taking the lessons you learn from your non-work interests and applying them to your work life. Because my non-work interests are very important to me, I’ve found over the years that my “hobbies” aren’t just a way to have fun or occupy my free time; they actually teach me a lot about being a translator and running my own business. Enjoy! And then add your own “crossover lessons” in the comments!