Self-Employed Cabin Fever
polycounter lvl 18
Hey guys, as some of you know, Tulkamir and I have been working on our own for a while now. I'm enjoying not having a job, but wouldn't you know it, being shut in my apartment on my computer all the time is making me seriously, seriously, seriously fucking crazy. it's lonely, man.
the truth is, i'm a social animal, and I thrive when i'm around people.
the question is -- Freelance artists -- how do you not go crazy? I'm sure it isn't so bad if you've got a family, but i'm all by my lonesome here.
I need some ideas for stuff to do to fill the social void. Anyone else out there work freelance and has been in my shoes? I need some ideas for meeting people and starting some new social networks that aren't work related.
so far i'm planning on..
Yoga..
Night classes, maybe?
oh, and adult friend finder (no)
I need some ideas.
the truth is, i'm a social animal, and I thrive when i'm around people.
the question is -- Freelance artists -- how do you not go crazy? I'm sure it isn't so bad if you've got a family, but i'm all by my lonesome here.
I need some ideas for stuff to do to fill the social void. Anyone else out there work freelance and has been in my shoes? I need some ideas for meeting people and starting some new social networks that aren't work related.
so far i'm planning on..
Yoga..
Night classes, maybe?
oh, and adult friend finder (no)
I need some ideas.
Replies
I've got nothin as far as ideas for ya though.
nevermind..:
sports teams/soccer etc
meetup.com
gym
going for runs/bike rides
working in a place with other people (there are lots of shared work space arrangements)
boxing gym membership
meh
photography classes would be cool imo or sculpture... keep your mind off work but still art related enough to maintain well lubricated creative gears a turnin'
you're in the right frame of mind... try out some things that don't have long term commitments in case you find it just isn't your style... best bet is to just start doing something and take time to walk around the facilities and look at bulletin boards... you'll probably find gobs of stuff to do that will peak your interest
you could always just find your power animal and start a special club.... slllliiidddde :P
Check the internets for League near you. Pick up games happen all the time.
or
Go help out at your local Shelter. Do some good in the world.
haha
guys, these are great ideas. Thanks much. Without a doubt, i'm going to look into all (okay, almost all) of them.
keep them coming! i'm in sponge mode!
It gives you a good reason to go out and wander around. Maybe take a class and meet some people to wander around with? Can also be combined with bike rides to fulfill your exercise quota.
- Grab some sunglasses head to a public place and sketch people.
- Go bowling (can tie into the first easily).
- Get a pet, take it to the park. Cats on a leash are a hoot...
- Have kids, or just act like one.
- Build a fort with either wood or cardboard.
- Join some drama classes, life drawing groups or movie/book discussion groups.
- Hit the local museums and tourist spots.
Most of my other suggestions would involve walling yourself off in extreme solitude... I'm definitely not a social animal. In fact, if forest fire watch towers had high speed I'd so be in there.
-Online Gaming(though there's a lot of douchebags), I belong to an 800+ member gaming clan with 15 or so different divisions(games). We have our own Ventrillo server and recruit based on personality, not skill and asshole-free since we kick/ban people like that. It's nice to talk and joke with people that have similar interests from all over the world without even having to go anywhere.
-Also second getting involved in some sort of group sports, planning on doing that myself when I move across the country.
maybe next time instead of blowing me off, you can just blow me!
haha. poo you!
Really, it helps the mind and body sweet out all of that stress.
I am lucky enough to have my fiance around so she keeps me from getting lonely.
While at my PC I also have a few other freelancers on IM to chat with, it's almost like being around other people.
+1 to get a girlfriend.
+1 to just get outside once and a while to be around lots of people.
+1 to life drawing classes.
I'm not big on sports but if that's your thing go get involved with something. Definitely get outside and go for walks while the weather is good.
Working at home can lead to some pretty unhealthy work hours for the simple reason that you are always near your computer and for every minute you aren't working it's a minute you're not earning money, just be sure to schedule some time off to do other things or you'll go crazy.
I know what you mean. I'm not exactly freelance... but I am at home all day on my computer working or surfing. I usually just offset it by IM'ing with friends during the week, in games or on msn, and then on weekends going out and doing stuff. Still gets pretty bad. If you live in a more urban area taking a walk or wandering is good. I guess that ties into the photography thing.
As for meeting people, I know we have a few industry mixers in Vancouver for people in games, VFX and animation. See if where you are has some of these and you can meet people that way. Or you could go to open figure drawing sessions at universities or schools or w/e.
I'm also gonna consider some of the ideas mentioned in this thread.
Hahaha I have to agree with the ultimate frisbee as well...my ass.
I'd rather go to a driving range and hit some balls.
LOL workin on it.
Microneezia -- no man! i was, i was! actually, i was in penticton until just the other day. lets do grab a beer or two.
thanks a bunch guys, this is giving me tons of ideas.
Actually I'm content to hide in my apartment with occasional binge drinking in snobby Yaletown bars. But that's just me. I had a GF for my year of solitude as well so that helped. Eventually I took a full time job to save my health from stress and take a vacation.
Also grow a sweet beard while you can.
I managed to get it all done in the end.
And the next step is finding friends who share the same hours as you do... I am sure you're turning into a Vampire.
Gotta prioritize! So get out there player!:thumbup:
but yeah get out as much as you can, and make sure you work effeciently so you can afford those hors sociallisng
BAM!
What I like to do, is after doing enough work for a day to the point I feel satisfied with what I produced, I go out for a couple of drinks with some friends in a low-key cafeteria in my neighborhood. The only problem with that is that's it's already halfway through the summer and I still haven't got a tan or anything.
I also promised myself I'd start boxing again once the weather cools down a bit, probably in september.
Make you Room/office friendly and fun to be in. Make yourself a schedule, so You can stop at a certain hour everyday and be able to disconnect and spend time with your love one.
Its easy to overwork yourself and end up isolating yourself, Plan it right don't work 7 days a week, if you have to work weekend, only work early in the morning so you can enjoy the rest of the day.
And take advantage of freelancing, I move the fuck out of the city and bought a country house. Huge land, trees, Fucking peace. You dont have to drive to the fucking city everyday, so Use Freelance wisely.
I dont see how you are bored, Maybe you dont have enough work. If you dont, then maybe you should work on more art and more PR. then you will have less downtime.
you probably have friends right ? like people you went to school with, etc, try to stay in touch with them, visit them, invite them over, if not, try to contact them, maybe through facebook, etc...
concerts are awesome, I'm sure there are a ton of local bands and stuff, this is a quick and efficient way to get some people around you and since you're at the same concert, you already share one common interest, same thing with exhibitions, etc
when I started (and some people on PC I'm close with can confirm that) I was totally broken, not on the $$$ side, but morally, and doing all this helped me a LOT, now I don't mind putting long hours because I know I can take a day off anytime, go to the beach with my girl, visit my friends, etc, it'll make you more efficient in your job, and someone better to hang out with, because people don't like to hang out with desperate emo losers (not that I think you're one, but you get the idea, I'm sure)
watch from 0.40 onwards
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