Copywriting and Time(waste) Management

Are freelance copywriters the sort of social defectives that can’t function in groups? I wonder.  Most of the time, I thrive in the freelance copywriter’s social vacuum. Okay, maybe not thrive. Let’s say I function reasonably well. And the thought of returning to a full-time job at an advertising or MarComm agency really doesn’t have much appeal–though I have made that particular transition at least twice.

However, when the sense of isolation hits, it hits hard. I check my inbox obsessively. I write to people for no reason, just to get them to reply.  You know the conversations you would have at the water cooler, e.g., last night’s episode of Mad Men? I have those via email with my sister 700 miles away. And I begin hanging out in talkbacks too much, starting flamewars on vital topics like, “Is that cable news host (rhymes with Meeth Schmolbermann) mentally ill or just a total ass? Discuss.”

There are treatments that show promise, however.  I try to turn a time waster into something five percent more productive…diversion therapy, if you will. Instead of bothering e-mailing someone who has real work to do, I do a bunch of email cold calls to web designers and MarComm agencies in the region. Instead of waging flame wars on inane topics, I try to cruise other copywriting blogs and make intelligent comments (or at least try to crib future topics for my own blog.)

Finally, the oldest trick in the OCD handbook: lists. Nothing says “productive” like a big old list of activities neatly crossed off.  If you like a tight, concise list, only put REAL activities on it. However, if you crave a completely exxagerated sense of achievement, try Retroactive List Management (or RLM.)  Whatever you “accomplish” during the day…rinsing your lunch dishes, remembering to put down the toilet seat, etc…immediately run back to your desk, write on the list, and then cross it off.

Just some helpful tips to ponder. As always, consult with a mental health professional before attempting these therapies. Do not attempt if you are pregnant, may become pregnant, or you are just fat.