It used to be I would have to get up in the morning and immediately sit down at my desk to begin work. If I went out or did anything else first, it was as if the whole day would slip away on me and literally nothing would get accomplished. This may have something to do with my upbringing… My dad, a five o’clock riser, always said there was no point starting anything after noon as the day was half over.
Much of the freedom I enjoyed working for myself was therefore negated. Sure, I could work for several hours then meet a friend for lunch, say, but that still meant the rest of my work day was effectively worthless. I would do a little of this or that, but feel essentially ineffectual.
Similarly, if I was working on a literary translation, I would have to dedicate the entire day to it. It required such focus and concentration, “getting into it,” that I never wanted to sully my thoughts by working on anything else.
Then I got RSI and was forced to change my entire method and approach to work. Gone were the days of sitting down at the computer in the morning and not getting up from it until evening. After over a year, I’m still not at full capacity, and even if I was I will never again work that way. Frequent breaks are the only way the tendons in my arms and hands will heal, and later prevent re-injury. I have had to learn to take it easy in the morning if they are swollen, perhaps not sitting down at the computer to get deep into work until midmorning. I often start my day with Tai Chi as I know I will come home with pain-free arms and an abundance of energy that will allow me to be productive for the rest of the day.
When I do start translating, I know that to accomplish all I need to, I will have to switch from trademarks, to the novel, to updating my website, on to something else or perhaps back to the beginning again (all interrupted by computer breaks: trips to the living room to listen to the news, out on the balcony to water the plants or catch a moment of sun, a snack and a stretch). I’ve discovered that my brain isn’t nearly as rigid, as unable to change modes, as I thought it was. Allowing myself this flexible schedule means I can take advantage of the freedom this career affords me, and I’m immensely appreciative.
Plus, it’s encouraging to know that an old dog *can* learn new tricks.
