Comments on: Waiting Room Productivity: How to Maximize Your Time As a Freelancer

By: jeff

jeff — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:36:57 +0000

When i was younger, my dad had an apartment near my doctors office. I went in one day the the waiting room was packed. So I asked the receptionist what the wait was. Getting an answer was like pulling teeth, but she finally told me. I walked to my dad’s, waited there and came back right on time. I don’t know why getting an answer was so hard. She obviously knew.

By: Laura

Laura — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 02:22:32 +0000

It looks like we all have the book and notebook technique. I actually call the book in my purse “patience.” It’s never a good thing when I lose it or forget it… unless I have pen and paper.

Another way I take notes is with my MP3 recorder. I’ve planned entire articles and written entire chapters that way. It’s not good for the waiting room, but it’s perfect for pretending there’s no such thing as traffic.

By: Jenny Cromie

Jenny Cromie — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:27:15 +0000

Thanks for that nice feedback Charles. And thank you to everyone for stopping by. I’m glad to hear that I’m not the only one who hauls around books, magazines, and notebooks everywhere I go.

Harry, I love the idea of the “man bag.” I don’t necessarily keep a bag packed like that, but I think I’ll start doing that. And I can certainly relate to your thoughts. My collection of reading materials has saved me more than once from extreme irritation (even though it didn’t work immediately the other day).

I’m with you Scar. I also have flashes of inspiration like you’re talking about and carry a notebook with me wherever I go. On occasion, I also carry a digital recorder with me and record my thoughts if I’m traveling in the car. That helps capture my thoughts as well.

By: Scar

Scar — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 12:35:13 +0000

I make a point of arriving at every destination fifteen minutes early, which means I almost inevitably have to wait at least half an hour for the other person to arrive. I am a notebook junkie, and spend the time either jotting down all those weird thoughts that pop into my head which I could just as easily ignore, but which often prove to be the flashes of inspiration I’ve been waiting for.

I also use it as time to read. Being a research assistant as well as everything else, my reading list takes over the majority of my desk. So I take it with me and read in snatched moments. I usually get through a book a day, or sometimes it takes two. But it always amazes me how much time people waste by not using the five/ten/thirty minutes they spend hanging around every day.

By: Harry

Harry — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 18:48:42 +0000

Jenny, it was a great post. Like you, I hate having others waste my time. The best remedy for me is to be like a good Boy Scout and “Be Prepared.”

I have what my wife calls my “man bag.” I call it my Independent Writer’s Everyday Carry Bag (EDC). In it I have my ever present Levenger Stanley journal with all my latest notes, an agenda with appointments scratched in, an assortment of writing instruments, a multi-tool, a small flashlight, a couple of USB drives and any last minute items I think I might need. My smart phone has a collection of business books that I’m working my way through. In all, this keeps me from raging if I get stuck in a waiting room without other options.

A few deep breaths, a retreat to my happy place, then a rummage through the bag gets me back on track until my turn in the queue.

Thank you for sharing your methods as I’m sure that we all need the occasional reminder that stuff happens. Our burden is how we handle it and what we do with the unexpected opportunity.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 21:46:19 +0000

I hate when I pay for a sitter to go to the doctor/hairdresser/get writing done and people waste my time. It’s like “I only have so much time to write/see a doctor/get my hair done” and I’m PAYING a sitter on top of it.

Glad you made good use of time though — very diligent.

By: Charles Gupton

Charles Gupton — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 11:42:37 +0000

Jenny,
I always enjoy reading your posts. I appreciate your positive, lemons to lemonade, approach to life.

I follow many of the same patterns as you. I NEVER go anywhere without several books/magazines and a notebook/journal to capture brainstorm ideas. Even long traffic lights are less frustrating if I can jot down a note to follow up on later.

Thanks for the positive turn on a trying situation.

Charles Gupton
On Twitter @ http://twitter.com/CharlesGupton
Blog: http://charlesgupton.wordpress.com