Am I A Big Liar?

United States
November 24, 2012 12:24am CST
I keep taking on too much work and then I cannot keep up with it. I am a freelance writer and I tell my clients that I will have an order done by a certain time. Then it seems that all these interruptions that happen. Friends will stop by, my son will need more attention for some reason or his nurse will stop by unexpectedly. By midnight or so I am so very tired I just cannot keep my eyes open to work anymore. It is stressing me out but I have to work so we can eat and keep the electricity on! But some nights when the day runs out and I am tired and I realize I cannot meet my goal I feel like such a liar... should I feel bad or just take on the attitude of trying to do all I can in a day and that's it?
7 responses
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
24 Nov 12
You can only do so much. Do not push yourself beyond your limits coz it's taking toll on your health. Just think of this....what would be the use of tiring yourself with all the work if you'd only get sick because of less time to rest. The amount you earn from your work might just be put to waste by buying medicines instead.Do not overdo more than what you can really handle . Stay healthy!
1 person likes this
• United States
24 Nov 12
You have very good advice. I think I will go back to my more relaxed self where I used to just work hard to get all I could done in a day and go to bed at a decent time. I been pushing too hard for sure!
• United States
25 Nov 12
Well that's a lot of online job possibilities. It sounds like you did well at it but had no life! I am the caregiver for my adult son who was injured in an automobile accident so I cannot put in so many straight hours. I have to piece together my work throughout the day. All I do is content writing and some teaching via Skype. I am so very thankful to have found something I could do online so I can take care of my son though!
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
24 Nov 12
I know exactly how you feel coz I do work so hard myself when I have a job. I give my 101% and sometimes, A sacrifice the time I have for my kids. When I still had my online job, I would work 12-18 hours a day for 7 days. It was like I have been a slave of my computer. I got tons to do everyday coz from the first online job I had, it was as a Chat Support , I was stuck on my chair wanting to earn more than I was expected. I was supposed to share it with another agent as the job requires 24/7 post, but told my boss that I'll have one account all by myself and that I will just train a new agent for another account. It wasn't greed, but more of excited to be working again after being out of work for 3 years that time. And then that job was followed by numerous tasks. My boss felt very confident with my work that he assigned me to become his HR Manager, but the task didn't stop there. I was also assigned as Project Manager and as his Secretary. He didn't feel getting another person a efficient as I was, so he says. After that company, another online job for me that started me out as a Social Media Manager. Then I became a web content writer, customer service representative then as a system administrator. All these I work for 6 days and for more than 8 hours a day. Still I was enjoying my job coz it was something new to me. I took of Dentistry in College but never had the chance to pursue that career. Then I worked at my brother in law's pharmacy as a manager/cashier for ten years. So practically my background was in the field of Medicine.
1 person likes this
• United States
24 Nov 12
I wouldn't consider that to be lying...just lying to yourself! You might consider keeping records of your schedule and coming up with more realistic expectations for yourself. If someone asks you to do something and it doesn't match with what you know you can handle, learn how to say no or negotiate for more time. You aren't Superwoman!
1 person likes this
• United States
24 Nov 12
I was SuperWoman -- then I misplaced my suit! lol! Sometimes I feel like I need to be - but know I fall way too short for sure. Hopefully I can adjust and start doing better but I get so frustrated with myself for trying to do more work than what is reasonable for a day around here for sure.Thanks!
• United States
24 Nov 12
Well, maybe you are just Amazing Woman! ;) It sounds like you are doing quite a bit. I know there is always more to be done...and I'm sure that even if you accomplish all your tasks, you will find something else! All the best!
1 person likes this
• United States
24 Nov 12
I'm not that amazing - really! But you are absolutely right - even if I get everything done there is still more to do. I think I will relax a little bit!
• India
24 Nov 12
Hi friend, sad to hear about your stage, you are trying your maximum to reach your goals, but your responsibilities don't allow you for this, you are not a liar. You are not in need to feel bad, you are not wasting your time with unwanted activities, you are concentrating with your responsibilities, so organize your time for your work and balance other activities, it will help you
1 person likes this
• United States
24 Nov 12
Very good advice, my friend! That is the difficult part. I never know what a day is going to look like when I commit to a project. I am a full time caregiver for my adult son who was injured in an automobile accident. I have nurses that come at all times, doctors who come and tons of things a day of caregiving may bring. That's the whole trouble! I do not do much except take care of him and work on the computer - except I try to get a run in everyday. I think that is why I have such a difficult time organizing my day!
• United States
24 Nov 12
You have a serious problem with organization. Have you been told that before? First, you accept more work than you can handle, then you beat yourself up because you cannot accomplish it. You disappoint yourself and you alienate your clients because they give you the job because you agree to complete it on time. You are not being fair to yourself nor to your client. You should do a time study and determine how much time you have each day to devote to your writing and the minimum time that you must devote to the writing in order to pay the bills. The time study can show you how much time you are wasting doing things that are not important or it may show you that you seriously underestimated the amount of time you have available to devote to each of your required tasks. The care of your son comes first before visitors and earning money. When you discover that you have only four hours a day for writing, then you can schedule that amount of time for your clients. Pick the client that pays the most and meet that deadline. I fear you will lose the respect of the client if you continue to say you will meet a deadline, then not make it. If it were only rarely that it happened the client should understand.
• United States
24 Nov 12
I know! I am going to drop down to just a couple of my clients that I feel I can keep up with. I can supplement during the slow times with some of the online writing sites. I can just do them no pressure whenever there is time.
24 Nov 12
You're not a liar by any stretch of the imagination. You're just taking on too much! And anyone that knows about your situation regarding your son knows that. You don't have to explain yourself to anyone. You know more than any of us how hard it is and you need to be easier on yourself! How about taking on a little less? And do you not have other family members to help look after your son?
• United States
24 Nov 12
Haha! No other family members can help...that's a long story! I think I will drop down to my two main clients so that I can manage better.
• Philippines
24 Nov 12
reading your post i think your not a bad person, but on the professional side that can be called as a liar. being a writer needs a lot of your time, and concentration and from the start you have your son especially so you should have thought about it before accepting offers. as a professional you should estimate the time of when you will finish it and an allowance time for every work you accept. im not trying to be the bad guy but im just telling the reality, co'z you have this job and your customers only judge you by how good and fast you finish the job they gave you, so yeah maybe on the eyes of you customers you lying or giving false expectation.
1 person likes this
• United States
24 Nov 12
You are absolutely right. I have to get myself together! The trouble is I am a full time caregiver and organizing my day and my time is very difficult. I probably need to drop one of my clients so I can manage the others a little better.
• Philippines
26 Nov 12
yeah.. you need to manage your clients and always think of your priority. you know your a good mom, but you're not super mom so take it slow. :)
@auwielady (116)
• Philippines
24 Nov 12
There are lots of unexpected circumstances in a day's times It happens to me as well. Maybe next time you will have to allot more adjusted schedule or deadline for your write ups so you wouldn't have a hard time beating it. It's really hard to be a parent and a provider at the same time. Just keep the faith an the strength up. It's not your fault, don't be hard enough and blame yourself. You can always be better next time. Just learn and live. :)
1 person likes this
• United States
24 Nov 12
Thank you! I keep telling myself that I can only do what I can do in a day and then go to bed! My son and I have had it sort of rough but he is an adult. But he is handicapped because he was in a wreck and has a head injury so I never know what kind of day he will have and who will stop by to see him. That's why I have so many interruptions. I just have to keep working I suppose! I have a bad habit - I like to eat! lol!