The answer is that when I work full time, I don’t do creative work. Call me lazy, low energy, or bad at hustling, but my body and brain needs the shut down times or else I rapidly burn out.
Great piece. I've tried all sorts. The problem is, creative work is a more than full-time job. Even though I've been an artist all my life, I feel like I'm only now REALLY doing it. I choose time over money, and I don't have children.
One other thing I would say, though, is that as a non-American looking in, these things seem particularly heightened in the U.S.A. for very logical reasons: the paying-for-healthcare thing, and the lack of accessible unemployment support. The way that Americans have to work so relentlessly all the time at multiple jobs is not universal.
I enjoyed your article and as an artist share your thoughts. I taught college which helped me afford to have a studio and create. Our culture must rethink the work and personal time imbalance that has enslaved us to the almighty dollar. As you say, working for more instead of taking your child to the park. Really? There are ways we can live within our means and make more time for "leisure" or other creative pursuits. Our mental and physical health depends on it.
I sort of addressed this in a flippant footnote, partially because I wanted to stay personal and not really drag my wife's finances into the essay, but I get health insurance through my wife's employer. However in the past whenever I freelanced versus having a staff position, I usually got some discounted Medicaid insurance through the state health exchange. This should be available unless you live in one of the ten states that never expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.
As a full-time worker struggling to find time or energy for creative pursuits, I am very curious to see how your choice plays out, and I really do hope it's a positive outcome. You've certainly got me to re-evaluate how many tasks I pay to outsource out of convenience so that I can work and make more money to pay for more outsourcing.
Great piece. I've tried all sorts. The problem is, creative work is a more than full-time job. Even though I've been an artist all my life, I feel like I'm only now REALLY doing it. I choose time over money, and I don't have children.
One other thing I would say, though, is that as a non-American looking in, these things seem particularly heightened in the U.S.A. for very logical reasons: the paying-for-healthcare thing, and the lack of accessible unemployment support. The way that Americans have to work so relentlessly all the time at multiple jobs is not universal.
I enjoyed your article and as an artist share your thoughts. I taught college which helped me afford to have a studio and create. Our culture must rethink the work and personal time imbalance that has enslaved us to the almighty dollar. As you say, working for more instead of taking your child to the park. Really? There are ways we can live within our means and make more time for "leisure" or other creative pursuits. Our mental and physical health depends on it.
Thank you for your thought-provoking column. Do you mind if I ask what you guys do about healthcare? That’s a conundrum for me…
I sort of addressed this in a flippant footnote, partially because I wanted to stay personal and not really drag my wife's finances into the essay, but I get health insurance through my wife's employer. However in the past whenever I freelanced versus having a staff position, I usually got some discounted Medicaid insurance through the state health exchange. This should be available unless you live in one of the ten states that never expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.
As a full-time worker struggling to find time or energy for creative pursuits, I am very curious to see how your choice plays out, and I really do hope it's a positive outcome. You've certainly got me to re-evaluate how many tasks I pay to outsource out of convenience so that I can work and make more money to pay for more outsourcing.