Working from home

So, apart from a few last loose ends to tie up, I have finished my studies, had a little cry about it, and taken my first steps into the scary adult world. I have taken the step from being a part-time student/part-time translator, into being a full-time translator, working from home.

I've been really lucky so far in the sense that I've had quite enough to do, so no complaints on that account, and let's hope it lasts. What has been the major problem, as I knew it would be, has been getting up in the morning, getting started, and sticking to it. Last summer, when I had a job to go to, I had no trouble getting up early, getting myself ready and heading to work so that I'd arrive at 8am, even though I had a flexible schedule and most other people wouldn't arrive until 9am, or even later. I just enjoyed finishing at 4pm instead of 5, so I came in early, no problem. Now, however, getting out of bed has become a major struggle, and once I get out of bed, instead of having breakfast, getting dressed, putting my face on and starting work, I hang out in my pyjamas, get stuck on Facebook and various blogs, and don't even remember to make breakfast for the first hour or so.

And then there's of course the issue of productivity during the rest of the day, although I have found that if I manage to get started fairly early, I am also better at handling distractions that come up later in the day. I am, however, hoping to get myself into some sort of normal working rhythm, with days from 8-4 or 9-5, and evenings and weekends off. We'll see how that goes.

But now I wanted to share something with you that a friend shared on FB, and which is very accurate indeed. The full comic can be found here.

(Although, on second thought an alarm clock that sounds like that could solve my main issue...)

(In my case the lingerie models wouldn't be too much of a temptation, but you get the idea)

That last one is especially accurate, as I just finished today's work at around midnight. This is what I'm trying to avoid. Better luck tomorrow!

Ps: If anyone has any good ideas on how to increase productivity when working from home, please share!

Drowning in work

Last summer I wrote a post about NaNoWriMo, and that I planned to join this year. Now November is here, but I'm not spending all my spare time writing a novel. I wish I could be, but I have to be realistic - not only have I got my thesis to write, I've also gone from having 6 hours of classes last period to 17 this period. That's 6 courses, and 4 of them require tons of work. The deadline I gave myself when I started on my thesis was 13.12, so not long to go. I also really need to find and do some work, because cash is really tight at the moment. Really not a great combo.

But there is light at the end of the tunnel: this crazy schedule will only be on for 1½ months, then it's time for the Christmas holidays, and come spring, I shouldn't have as many courses. I still quite enjoy working on my thesis, even though the "official" fun bit (i.e. the trip to Scotland) is over, and it's starting to get a bit more difficult.

Also, one of those courses that require a lot of work is a course in literary translation, where we'll be translating the upcoming novel "Anglopolis" by Danielle Trussoni. This means I'll be part of a group that are translating an actual novel (no made up assignments) that will be published, and my name will be listed as one of the translators! I have to say, that's pretty cool!

The novel in question. Battery added for size reference.

It's dark, and cold, and at times pretty wet outside, and there are occasions where I feel like I'm drowning in work, and that my head will explode, but I have to keep telling myself that I can do this. Not long to go, I promise.

It's a real shame I can't join NaNoWriMo this year, but I think it's ok to leave that particular challenge for next year.

The life of a translator

A while back I found this blog which contains comic strips about the everyday life of a translator. I'd like to share some of the funniest ones with you. They're all funny because they're true! Enjoy.