Routine helps Janis Freegard balance work and creative pursuits
Award-winning writer Janis Freegard uses one side of her brain at her Monday-Thursday job as a strategic development and planning manager, and the other on Fridays for her creative writing. “While I do try to bring some creativity to work and some logic to my writing, it usually works the other way around.”
Janis juggles her high-responsibility job with writing a novel, and is also studying for a Masters in Public Management. Though it's a busy life, she says she wouldn’t have it any other way.
- Janis Freegard recently launched a book featuring some of her own poetry
Janis enjoys spending four days managing a small group of staff that works on a wide range of projects. She gets a great deal of satisfaction from making a contribution to society in her paid work and is grateful for a very supportive and flexible work environment.
She first dabbled in part-time work after being awarded a Creative New Zealand Grant in 2003. The grant gave her enough funding that she could cut back to four days of work a week. She loved it so much and was so productive that she sought to make this work-life balance a change for the long haul.
“I’m so lucky to have the best of both worlds. In fact, sometimes I feel like I am being pulled in two directions and I want to do both of them!”
Her writing isn't something she'd want to pursue full-time right now, as she writes in bursts. Instead, she hopes to be able to continue her present work-life arrangement for a number of years at least. “While it means that I am more conscious on my financial decisions, I haven’t made any drastic changes to my lifestyle.”
However, Fridays are certainly a change of pace. Janis writes in the morning before taking a walk, or stopping by a café. “I like to do something different – like spend time writing in the library – before coming home to write again.”
Janis' writing continues into the weekend. “Having a routine really helps me transition from work to writing.” Another great help is her regular meetings with fellow writers, and she enjoys the enforced deadlines of sharing work with friends, as well as their feedback and advice.
What can Janis tell those who might be considering change in their work-life balance?
She suggests people take up a new hobby or passion slowly and then build up, trying to carve a space for the new pursuit in their personal lives first. “I think it’s important not to suddenly ditch your day job and think you will easily make a career of something else.”
