tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87374341535895624652024-02-20T09:11:47.518-08:00Clare and the BearA blog about Cats, Crafts and Chronic Illness.Clare and the bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00467408333829130832noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8737434153589562465.post-33186708262082448782019-09-16T04:36:00.000-07:002019-09-16T16:05:39.298-07:00Learning to 'Relax' and say 'NO' as a Freelancer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello and welcome,<br />
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I was planning on my next post to be a creative one, but so far these past few months have been incredibly hectic and August was the busiest month so far this year for me. I was already starting to feel the burn of overworking and keeping a busy lifestyle; I was catching all the bugs that were going around including a bout of flu and losing my voice but to top it all off I woke up one day with a massive painful stye on my eye. A stye is a swelling or lump on the eyelid which can be caused by bacteria also stress and sleep deprivation. I've had styes before always when my body is run down and I feel super stressed. Which is bang on how I was feeling and my body must be trying to tell me to rest and slow down. So I thought I would talk about how easy it is for a freelancer to become overwhelmed, over worked, run down and exhausted. As well as balancing being a freelancer and suffering with a chronic illness.<br />
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Busy Bee</h2>
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August had turned out to be an extremely busy month for me both personally and professionally. There's no one reason to why this month has been crazy busy, we all get one of those weeks/months where it is relentlessly busy, and this month is mine. There has been numerous amounts of birthdays, weddings, baby showers to fit in around busy schedules, tight deadlines, and additional hours covering holidays etc. This month has been none stop.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj46QjPH7mRQkd9P3QiBufQ8N_P7lte4WtHXK4j8PNWJhxd7j7famUITk7hVV8fUlGORzwNoNT2hdxHnG0F0BJnNQhf1rz7vhsakHgNpr-k4dCDQn8f05G0VsNM2dmehmlB7OJ4QRSTww/s1600/IMG_4584.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="643" data-original-width="639" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj46QjPH7mRQkd9P3QiBufQ8N_P7lte4WtHXK4j8PNWJhxd7j7famUITk7hVV8fUlGORzwNoNT2hdxHnG0F0BJnNQhf1rz7vhsakHgNpr-k4dCDQn8f05G0VsNM2dmehmlB7OJ4QRSTww/s1600/IMG_4584.PNG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image by <a href="http://www.veronicadearly.com/" target="_blank">Veronica Dearly</a></td></tr>
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As a Freelancer work can come in sways, some months can be quite comfortable with a steady amount of work and time to 'have a life'. Other months work can be dried up with too much personal time and not enough money to go out and 'enjoy life'. Then theres months where everything builds up, and theres too much work that you're struggling to fit in and theres no time for a life at all. As work can have its peaks and troughs when it does gets busy you kind of feel you have to go with it and keep accepting work as the next week/month there might not be any work at all. That fear leads you to say 'yes' to work when you really shouldn't as you are already overworked. So saying 'no' becomes really hard as a Freelancer.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image by <a href="http://www.veronicadearly.com/" target="_blank">Veronica Dearly</a></td></tr>
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Saying NO is hard for anyone I guess. You feel bad to let someone down. That by saying no might make you look bad; that you might look rude and disinterested and they may not ask or what to work with you again in future. You also can feel like if you say no you might miss out on an amazing opportunity that you will regret forever. Also by saying no, you're saying no to money, which is hard but unfortunately money rules how we live, so the offer of money is difficult to decline also.<br />
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Its ok to say no</h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzCgKRp9WaY-ILZTFmKWrw0j1E5aY1SOjTccshONdAnoV9l-O5l4qK59d3i_tbVrcyT_bl-vuD8UX4oEy6nCsZ9CgrwzZ6v-h5ZbNpl2tqJJI7KAcjYiUbI7Jc4JkWxIt8_0o7nxWTLw/s1600/IMG_4582.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzCgKRp9WaY-ILZTFmKWrw0j1E5aY1SOjTccshONdAnoV9l-O5l4qK59d3i_tbVrcyT_bl-vuD8UX4oEy6nCsZ9CgrwzZ6v-h5ZbNpl2tqJJI7KAcjYiUbI7Jc4JkWxIt8_0o7nxWTLw/s1600/IMG_4582.PNG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image by <a href="http://www.stacieswift.com/" target="_blank">Stacie Swift</a> </td></tr>
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I found this image by Stacie Swift on the <a href="http://www.freelancingfemales.com/" target="_blank">Freelancing Females</a> <a href="http://www.instagram.com/freelancingfemales" target="_blank">Instagram</a> account, (which is an amazing account to follow if you're a freelancer or creative). After seeing this image I immediately screen shot it as inspiration. I struggle to say no so seeing this mind map was a little nugget of encouragement. Sometimes you have to say no, maybe because you're overworked, maybe because you are away on holiday, maybe because you don't feel like its a project you can get on board with, maybe its a too big a project or even too small a project for you, maybe you actually aren't skilled for that particular project, maybe they aren't offering enough money for the work. Whatever the maybe you are entitled to say no and decline work as technically we are our own bosses so can pick and choose when we work and who we work with. The reactions from saying no can vary from client to client, some will understand and try organise a time better for you or get back to you in future with another project, some won't reply back at all, some will take it personally and some wont take no for an answer. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBoWStkEbuCwDP8fgp4a6vXnS_sFBRgsuM8yulY5VifGxke1RTGinrTa-XIg_Pum-ho4FI8gTnmPgDg9g426_kC3TK6ppj7Izj1LceN7DCkMEUp_obpiN2BapQ0ZuFx-LtYm624JE8rM/s1600/IMG_4581.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="643" data-original-width="639" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBoWStkEbuCwDP8fgp4a6vXnS_sFBRgsuM8yulY5VifGxke1RTGinrTa-XIg_Pum-ho4FI8gTnmPgDg9g426_kC3TK6ppj7Izj1LceN7DCkMEUp_obpiN2BapQ0ZuFx-LtYm624JE8rM/s1600/IMG_4581.PNG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image by <a href="https://morganharpernichols.com/" target="_blank">Morgan Harper Nichols</a></td></tr>
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Know your limits</h2>
As my current situation shows I am now feeling completely run down and exhausted trying to juggle numerous work projects as well as balance it out with having a life, things get to the point where you have to say no. As clearly my body to trying to tell me to slow down. Living with a chronic illness like endometriosis you kind of need to learn to know your limits, to understand your body and what you can and can't do. Although I am aware of my condition and the impact it has had on my both my personal and professional life, it is hard realising the extent and limitations its causes. At times its hard to readjust your thinking as you used to be able to do things and you forget that maybe you can't do those things now. Where before you would automatically do something, i.e. lift and move my sewing machine - now if I attempt too I physically struggle, my pelvis is weakened as my body hasn't fully healed from surgery so something as simple as moving my machine into position can have a serious consequence. So learning to understand your body is critical as you don't want to put your healing into regression. Rest and down time is so important for chronic illness sufferers as we really need to let our bodies relax.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRl1pQ6l5PIKl6GNhn7zKJFeEoD9OvDyt2O4GNsERj1JnTGP-2SByobt6ESbaoNtqCL2ZzttfNEbN-ZYNAGYlkNjyChbtevxRW5xHTbymOvJJmzjFuzlFHxq8SzC9MftTiGzj5dZjEkAI/s1600/IMG_4580.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="637" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRl1pQ6l5PIKl6GNhn7zKJFeEoD9OvDyt2O4GNsERj1JnTGP-2SByobt6ESbaoNtqCL2ZzttfNEbN-ZYNAGYlkNjyChbtevxRW5xHTbymOvJJmzjFuzlFHxq8SzC9MftTiGzj5dZjEkAI/s1600/IMG_4580.PNG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image by <a href="https://nikkimiles.design/" target="_blank">Nikki Miles</a></td></tr>
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Don't feel guilty, You can't do everything</h2>
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Since my surgery and return to work I have tried to be gentler on myself, to not over do it and know my limitations (no heavy lifting, or continuous bending, no commuting long distances etc) though obviously I haven't been doing quite as well these past few months. Learning to accept that you can't do everything is very difficult and can make you feel incompetent. But you need to put yourself and your health first. Overworking yourself into a rut is no good for anyone so take that weekend off to relax and then you can tackle Monday with a fresher more positive self. Try and find that balance of work/rest is key. Learning to take that rest time and not feel guilty about it is hard at first but pivotal for your overall wellbeing. Sometimes just surviving the day is an achievement in itself. Try not to feel guilty for turning work down if you actually can't do it. Putting added pressure on yourself isn't going to make the situation better, ask yourself "would I expect this much off a colleague?" and "would you put that much pressure onto someone else?" The answer is probably no, and if someone else was in a similar circumstance to me I would say "to try not to be so harsh on yourself, work isn't everything. Take it easy and look after yourself".<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image by <a href="https://nikkimiles.design/" target="_blank">Nikki Miles</a><br />
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So September is here, and my stye has finally healed and I'm feeling much more human now. Work is still busy but in a gentler flow of consistency. Thankfully I have a lovely holiday planned for the end of the month for a well deserved break and rest bite after a busy summer schedule. I'm glad August has gone as it felt relentless but I have learnt that no matter how busy life gets I must take time to rest or my body will crash again.<br />
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An important tip for any freelancer is to try and plan work and life so you can organise your time. Obviously don't over plan your personal life, but I find it extremely helpful to go through your schedule/planner and note down any occasions that are coming up at the start of each month so I can be more prepared. You can then use that to plan days off, nights out, dates and trips etc. and its something to look forward too if you do have a busy ole month ahead.<br />
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I hope this ramble is help to anyone out there who is either a freelancer or chronic illness sufferer or maybe both, and that people can relate to how that we can all get run down, put too much pressure on ourselves and say yes to people/things when we really don't want too. Lets all take a moment to remember to be kinder and gentler to ourselves. Wishing everyone a wonder week.</div>
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Clare X<br />
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Clare and the bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00467408333829130832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8737434153589562465.post-48613222168848772392019-07-25T06:06:00.001-07:002019-07-25T06:06:43.780-07:00Cats, Crafts, and Chronic Illness<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hello and welcome!</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After a long break from the Blogging world I have decided to start my blog back up again. I feel now is a great time to share my experiences, document my achievements- high and low and hopefully be a mental wellbeing diary for myself if nothing else.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>So a little about me</b> - my name is Clare and many people call me Clarebear - from that lead to "Clare and the Bear" which has been my branding for my artwork and fashion for many years now. I'm 32 and live in the Midlands and work Freelance in Fashion design and Manufacture. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The main incentive behind starting this blog back up is due to the fact I have had a stressful few years suffering with a Chronic illness - struggling everyday with chronic pain, trying desperately to be diagnosed and be treated, as well as trying to live a so called normal life, has been difficult to say the least! 2018 was a very trying year for me and I swore that I would make 2019 better - and so far so good, my health is improving and I finally feel life is getting back on track. Hence the reason to reboot my blog, to give me the chance to reflect and discuss my experiences, share with fellow sufferers how it has affected my life personally and professionally, and to also show more about my work within fashion; sharing crafty tips and personal projects. There maybe one or two posts related to my cats also :-) who are the absolute loves of my life. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZaGptiUWdssgvMlqH7IR5AiqjIdWt_RrJrpLUBXWDyOrRDEwgLcjKelsVfVUsk5gZFWwUWB5Ye3sYzRZZcKTl8Pwy86wkhQhZJ7w5i1paGivmDeMd7F7XYvZgxJsnfpKrXE98OzFQn0/s1600/IMG_3295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZaGptiUWdssgvMlqH7IR5AiqjIdWt_RrJrpLUBXWDyOrRDEwgLcjKelsVfVUsk5gZFWwUWB5Ye3sYzRZZcKTl8Pwy86wkhQhZJ7w5i1paGivmDeMd7F7XYvZgxJsnfpKrXE98OzFQn0/s320/IMG_3295.JPG" width="256" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2019 is bringing a whole lot of smiles</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>The backstory</b>: In 2017 I was finally diagnosed with a condition called Endometriosis. I had been suffering with chronic pain for years prior to being diagnosed. I was constantly in and out the Doctors surgery and Hospitals, having tests and examinations on me with no clear result - even though I persisted I had Endometriosis - no-one believed me. Endometriosis (or Endo) is predominantly a female condition, and is where menstrual like blood grows outside of the uterus (womb) attaches itself to organs, fusing them together, creating adhesions and cysts, it can affect your reproductive system and fertility but can also grow anywhere within the body. I will go into more detail about my personal Endo experience within a separate blog on a later date.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Living with a condition which people don't understand or can't relate too is hard, as most of the time you physically look OK so people don't understand how you are in pain, or why. People think its just bad period pains and you're being mellow dramatic. My endo doesn't just cause pain it causes fatigue, which both obviously impact on my ability to work. Thankfully being freelance has benefited from this as I can pick and choose when I work, but it has still made a huge impact on me and my career, as I've had to decline work opportunities due to feeling too physically weak to fulfil them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After my second surgery in December 2018, my health has improved which has lead me to accept new work opportunities - which I'm exciting to share more of. And also given me a piece of my life back - that I had potentially thought I had lost. I feel I have a new zest for life (I don't want to go do anything crazy like paragliding or anything silly like that) but I want to go out and do things, I want to get dressed up and go out, whereas before I was too tired, in too much pain to do anything and lived in cosy clothes (aka pjs lol). So here I am, again, ready to tackle the world. And here is my wee blog, my journal of Cats, Crafts and Chronic Illness. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My main topics will include </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Creativity + Crafts </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Health + Wellbeing</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vegan + Animals</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fashion +Lifestyle</span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9j13m9AYPKHW-d54_wlXNXy3D5KbVmysHv16I5gaOGN4tLhQKNak0ATahY9vApW7n-b-3Ymfp5R-Ad9R4igOApOL_fEmvrueyGX9PJXHzhNe8p5bsHH2if3wCQMR-UHNZbbd3HFGs0c/s1600/IMG_7654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9j13m9AYPKHW-d54_wlXNXy3D5KbVmysHv16I5gaOGN4tLhQKNak0ATahY9vApW7n-b-3Ymfp5R-Ad9R4igOApOL_fEmvrueyGX9PJXHzhNe8p5bsHH2if3wCQMR-UHNZbbd3HFGs0c/s320/IMG_7654.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Crafts + Cats</span></td></tr>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Clare x</span>Clare and the bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00467408333829130832noreply@blogger.com0