Poll: If I had no work to do tomorrow, I would feel:
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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Jul 24, 2018

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "If I had no work to do tomorrow, I would feel:".

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Angus Stewart
Angus Stewart  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:07
Member (2011)
French to English
+ ...
Content Jul 24, 2018

I know from past experience that mid-July through August tends to be my quietest period of the year so I would feel content. I would be able to relax and spend time doing other things such as reading or going for a walk in the park.

Debora d'Amato (X)
Thaiane Assumpção
 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 17:07
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Other Jul 24, 2018

I’ll be philosophical about it, after 40 years working full-time in translation I know that tomorrow is another day. Over the years I have built a solid client base but I only have a steady workflow very occasionally. Translation projects have a strange tendency to come in groups: days with no work at all are followed by days when projects keep coming one after the other. You either are extremely busy or, well... All the ups and downs are part of the journey.

Kirsten Lukas
José Henrique Lamensdorf
Carina Lucindo
Christopher Schröder
Thaiane Assumpção
Kaisa I
Giovana Zaltron
 
Ada Mirasol Navarro
Ada Mirasol Navarro  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 18:07
Member (2017)
English to Spanish
+ ...
Worry a bit Jul 24, 2018

Having been a full-time freelancer for only a year and a bit, and relying only on a small number of clients, I still worry about where the next job is coming from.

So far I haven't gone through a full month without a single job, but in quiet times like summer I tend to worry and wonder if they'll ever come back.


Elisabeth Purkis
Alheri Simon McRae
María Barbosa
 
neilmac
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 18:07
Spanish to English
+ ...
Indifferent Jul 24, 2018

My daughter got out of hospital yesterday and is recovering from a successful operation, but with limited mobility, so I have plenty to do looking after her for the next few weeks to keep me entertained. But any work I have to do at the same time is also welcome.
I actually have a couple of non-urgent texts to revise, but I'm keeping them until I've looked at the newspapers and done some housework...

[Edited at 2018-07-24 09:28 GMT]


 
Muriel Vasconcellos
Muriel Vasconcellos  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 10:07
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
Content Jul 24, 2018

I'm happy either way: with work, or without. I have my life organized so that there's plenty to do if I don't have work. But when it gets very busy, I am relieved when I get a break.

Yetta Jensen Bogarde
Giovana Zaltron
ipv
 
ipv
ipv
Local time: 18:07
Member (2015)
English to Croatian
+ ...
Neilmac Jul 24, 2018

I hope your daughter recovers soon!

Laura Bissio CT
 
José Henrique Lamensdorf
José Henrique Lamensdorf  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 14:07
English to Portuguese
+ ...
In memoriam
... normal. That's the way it is Jul 24, 2018

Teresa Borges wrote:

I’ll be philosophical about it, after 40 years working full-time in translation I know that tomorrow is another day. Over the years I have built a solid client base but I only have a steady workflow very occasionally. Translation projects have a strange tendency to come in groups: days with no work at all are followed by days when projects keep coming one after the other. You either are extremely busy or, well... All the ups and downs are part of the journey.


I guess most of my clients don't know each other. They are scattered on a rectangle South of Rejkyavik to Buenos Aires, and East of Melbourne to Istambul. Of course, some are exceptions, as they have been referred to me by other clients.

Nevertheless, they seem to have found a way to get in cahoots, and plan to attack me all at once. So if there is no assignment for tomorrow, it means that something is cooking.


Christopher Schröder
Thaiane Assumpção
Amir Arzani
Kaisa I
Joe Ly Sien
María Barbosa
Francesca Grandinetti
 
Debora d'Amato (X)
Debora d'Amato (X)  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 18:07
English to Italian
+ ...
Indifferent Jul 24, 2018

I have got still a few clients and not much work so I can't say I would feel relieved.
Honestly, I would just feel indifferent waiting for a new task.


 
Alexandra Speirs
Alexandra Speirs  Identity Verified
Local time: 18:07
Italian to English
+ ...
Quite pleased Jul 24, 2018

My daughter's baby is already 4 days overdue and I'm supposed to leave for Lausanne, where she lives, as soon as she goes into hospital.
Of course, all my customers have woken up from their long winter sleep and are demanding jobs ..... I can turn down the agencies, but not the direct customers.


 
Ricki Farn
Ricki Farn
Germany
Local time: 18:07
English to German
I go through stages Jul 24, 2018

I feel slightly panicky for a few hours - but that is a general fear of having nothing to do, and it is completely unjustified, as I always have something that needs to be done, paperwork, house repairs, something. I know that "fear of having nothing to do" is a psychological leftover from my childhood, when my only task was to generally exist until entering adulthood, like some kind of houseplant.

After that initial stage, I feel hugely relieved and tackle some non-translation task
... See more
I feel slightly panicky for a few hours - but that is a general fear of having nothing to do, and it is completely unjustified, as I always have something that needs to be done, paperwork, house repairs, something. I know that "fear of having nothing to do" is a psychological leftover from my childhood, when my only task was to generally exist until entering adulthood, like some kind of houseplant.

After that initial stage, I feel hugely relieved and tackle some non-translation tasks.

And then I feel slightly disappointed when the next translation job rolls in, because I was just so happy doing taxes / planting 'mums / nailing things to other things.
Collapse


 
Sheila Wilson
Sheila Wilson  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 17:07
Member (2007)
English
+ ...
Tomorrow? Very relieved, but astonished Jul 24, 2018

Unfortunately, it isn't going to happen. I'm having one of my most stressful weeks ever .

 
Mario Freitas
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 14:07
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Indifferent for one day, a bit worried for three days. Jul 25, 2018

One day without any job is OK. It happens regularly. It's as common as having a busy weekend, which I also consider normal. I would be worried if I didn't have any jobs for three days in a row.

 


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Poll: If I had no work to do tomorrow, I would feel:






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