How to Stay Sane While Multitasking—And Coping With MJSS

Ever feel like pulling your hair out like that gal in the photo? I can totally relate!

As freelancers, we suffer from MJSS “Multi-Job Stress Syndrome” – that’s right, our number one job is to multitask. We don’t have the option of clocking in at 9 a.m. and leaving our work in an office as we shut the light off, letting it sit on our desk as we close the door behind us and go home at 5 p.m. I’m not saying those who work 9-5 have an easy life – their lives are stressful and they have to go home to families, laundry, dishes, and the chaos this world brings as well.

Rewind!

Wait. I have to correct myself. There are freelancers who do keep 9-5 hours but from what I’ve experienced and witnessed, most of us are right the opposite. And, besides, most freelancers’ offices are on-site, in their homes or at best, in a guest cottage that’s on their property. ß Lucky them!

What I’m saying is that we literally live our jobs 24/7: We always have e-mail, we always have assignments, we always have ideas sitting in files, and we’re always juggling different projects and activities. Sometimes we can feel like we’re losing our sanity as it piles up and seems overwhelming—like the dirty dishes and laundry that’s always building and calling, that we hate to pull ourselves away from our work to tend to. But it never goes away. It only increases and if we don’t wade through it each day, continually, it becomes too much to fathom sorting through.

That’s what I’m talking about. Freelance work is a never-ending task. As long as we’re freelancers, we’re always going to be pulled a million different directions and, honestly, it can wear us down, affect our immune systems and, obviously, test our sanity until we’re a little more than frazzled and feel like pulling our hair out some days.

Jobs of a Freelancer

If you aren’t familiar with what freelancers face day in and day out, here’s a run-down:

• All Clerical (answering the phone, creating and maintaining a filing system, all paperwork, etc.)
• Accounting
• Marketing
• Web tech/learning technical areas (if we opt to save $$$ by building/maintaining websites/blogs ourselves, instead of outsourcing)
• Querying
• Researching
• Answering emails
• Designing/printing business cards
• Designing/printing brochures or fliers
• Setting up at festivals or events
• Organizing
• Scheduling
• And much more….

Reality of a Freelancer

Unless you can find it in your budget to hire a Virtual Assistant or in-house Assistant, you’re the proud owner of all of above jobs. Crazy, isn’t it. Oh, and I forgot to mention that on top of all those duties, you get to write (or design) or whatever it is you’re doing as a freelancer. Fun, huh?

Can you see how madness can ensue and chaos can overtake your very sanity?

Now that we’ve diagnosed our illness, we’ll discuss — and learn to recognize — the symptoms of MJSS and how to maintain our sanity and overall health as we trudge through the madness freelancing brings to our lives. I’ll be sharing natural, Zen ways to find peace amidst the freelance chaos!

Did you enjoy this article? Feel free to visit the other articles Michele has written for The Writer’s Round-About–or contact her to write for you.

What do you think? Are you losing your sanity while trying to multitask? Do you breeze right through multitasking without even losing your breath? Is it easy for you/hard for you? Did I leave anything out? Do you have any chaotic memories to share? Do tell!

Photo Credit: Leeni

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