The Editors' Weekly
Official blog of Canada's national editorial association
The Editors' Weekly
Navigation
  • About the Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Articles en français
  • editors.ca
  • reviseurs.ca
You are here: Home › Katharine O'Moore-Klopf › Editorial Self-Care: Managing Life Changes
← No Perfection Unless You’re a Sunset
Digital Enhancement for Numbers (Go Figures!) →

Editorial Self-Care: Managing Life Changes

April 2, 2019 | Filed under: Katharine O'Moore-Klopf and tagged with: career, change, editing, health, help, Katharine O'Moore-Klopf, life changes, lifestyle, self-care, self-talk, stress
Businesswoman sitting at desk working while sick

cottidie © 123RF.com

As editors, we tend to comfort ourselves by thinking that we have everything under control, because what is editing? It’s controlling the words. But control is an illusion. Style guides change. Our lives change. Life changes greatly affect the quality of our editing and our lives.

What life changes might you expect?

  • Your financial situation changes.
  • You lose or find a life partner.
  • You become a parent, or your child grows up and moves out.
  • You become a caregiver to a partner or family member.
  • You move house, maybe even across the world.
  • You lose a major client or get laid off.
  • You sustain a temporary or permanent physical or mental disability.
  • You must learn a new skill.
  • Your endurance level changes because you’re ill or aging.
  • You take on too much work and too many personal tasks.

How can you make things easier on yourself?

Acknowledge that you are experiencing changes. Name them. Talk with family, friends and colleagues about them. I have been self-employed for 24 years now, but I found it necessary to relearn recently how very much I am not alone. I vented in a private online discussion group and realized how very like my colleagues I am. They gave me love and reassured me and shared their own stories. That experience boosted my endurance level so much.

Do some self-talk. You are not required to know everything, and it’s okay if you need to take a break when you’re overwhelmed. Give yourself permission to be imperfect. If your life situation has changed, acknowledge it and figure out ways to deal with it. As one colleague said to me, “For a long time it was mostly your nuclear family that needed your attention during the day. Now there is your granddaughter, your daughter-in-law, and your [elderly] mother-in-law’s growing needs. Also, you’re changing as you grow older, as we all do. You may find that you need to make adjustments you didn’t need to make before. Please give yourself permission to do so.”

Take care of your body and mind. Don’t ignore worrisome physical conditions. Make the time to get health care. Work with a therapist. Eat foods that will keep you healthier, and drink lots of fluids, but don’t forget to occasionally reward yourself with a small treat. Take frequent breaks from editing and move around. Find ways to play and make yourself smile. Go visit a friend. Take a nap. Go outdoors for a little sunlight, even when you’re facing a deadline. Listen to music that uplifts you. Stop trying to multitask. Get a good night’s sleep.

Get help. Maybe a colleague can edit a pesky reference list for you. Ask a housemate to take care of some tasks for you. Call or visit someone who will be straightforward when you need to hear a hard truth. Get some hugs or a foot massage. Ask a neighbour to move some heavy furniture so that your office feels more spacious. Get an extension on a project deadline if you need to, and don’t make yourself feel guilty about it. Ask colleagues how they handled a tricky situation similar to the one you’re facing. Ask for quiet in your workspace.

You can do this.

___

How do you ensure that you’re taking care of yourself? Share your stories in the comments below.

___

Previous post by Katharine O’Moore Klopf: How to Become a Medical Editor.

The Editors’ Weekly is the official blog of Editors Canada. Contact us.

Did you like this article? Share it with your friends!

Tweet

Written by Katharine O'Moore-Klopf

As a self-employed medical editor, Katharine edits journal manuscripts for non-native English speakers. See her Copyeditors’ Knowledge Base for editing resources.

Visit my Website Follow me on Twitter
← No Perfection Unless You’re a Sunset
Digital Enhancement for Numbers (Go Figures!) →

10 Responses to "Editorial Self-Care: Managing Life Changes"

  1. Gael Spivak says:
    April 2, 2019 at 6:26 am

    What a great piece. Thanks, Kathy, for contributing to Editors Canada. You are always so generous.

  2. Frances Peck says:
    April 2, 2019 at 11:36 am

    Thank you for reminding us to ask for help and other support from our colleagues, family and friends. Those of us who are freelance, especially, might be inclined to soldier on by ourselves because we’re used to being self-sufficient. I still struggle with asking for help when I need it (just ask my husband), but I agree with you that it can make all the difference.

  3. Sarah says:
    April 2, 2019 at 1:39 pm

    Such an important piece – thanks for sharing Katherine!

  4. Chris Galvin Nguyen says:
    April 2, 2019 at 5:53 pm

    Thanks for this, Katharine. Your timing couldn’t be better.

  5. Christy Goldfinch says:
    April 2, 2019 at 6:47 pm

    Perfect timing. Thank you!

  6. Paula Fitzgerald says:
    April 3, 2019 at 3:44 am

    So helpful and reassuring. Am smiling, thank you!

  7. Lila Schwartz says:
    April 3, 2019 at 10:24 pm

    I’m smiling too, Kathy–all the way from Oakland, California (but originally from Toronto). Thanks for the wise, kind words!

  8. Katharine O'Moore-Klopf says:
    April 7, 2019 at 8:47 pm

    I’m so glad that so many of you have found my post helpful. May we all remember to take care of ourselves.

  9. Donna Dunlop says:
    April 9, 2019 at 1:04 pm

    Thank you for this reassuring post. Most helpful to read when you are feeling somewhat isolated. And I think I will go for that foot massage!

  10. Lee d'Anjou says:
    April 9, 2019 at 2:08 pm

    Wise thoughts, well said.

    thank you , Katharine

Comments are closed.

What we’re talking about

Aaron Dalton author-editor relationship authors book editors book publishing business practices communication copy editing editing editing tools editor editor's role editor advice editorial skills editors editors at work Editors Canada conference français freelance editing freelance editors freelancing French grammar interview James Harbeck language linguistics Linguistics Frankly Marianne Grier marketing networking plain language professional development proofreading publishing Rosemary Shipton révision style translation usage Wasted Words Wilf Popoff word choice writers writing

Email subscriptions

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 1,041 other subscribers

Most recent posts

  • “Brag docs”: An Aide-mémoire
  • Resumé Writing vs. Resumé Editing: What Do Resumé Writers Do?
  • Happy Holidays 2022
  • Freelance Tips from an Editor with ADHD, Part 1
  • Combining Careers, Part 1: Vocational Discernment

Archives by month

By author

Follow Us Online

Facebook  Twitter  Flickr  RSS Feed

www.editors.ca

The Editors' Weekly is the blog of Editors Canada.

Report an error or a typo

Email us at blog [at] editors.ca

© 2023 The Editors' Weekly

Powered by One Designs