It's been a while since I've handed out unsolicited advice to newbie reporters aka what I wish I knew about reporting my first year out. So here's some more. Feel free to turn a deaf ear.
This a great profession. We have a lot flexibility. You're choosing to be buried under work or not. That being said, there are times when you've got to take a moment to breathe. If that means turning down a job bec you're already buried under transcripts or you want a vacation, I am hereby giving you permission to say no to that job. If that's too harsh for you, you don't want to say "no" to an agency, just tell them you're already booked. Even if they're your regular agency, if they're a good agency, they will respect your request for a day off.
This job can quickly become 24/7. The first year out you're learning so many new things and you want to work and you're ready to work. But this job is stressful and physically demanding. There are tons of reporters out there who have repetitive stress injuries. I write those words not to scare you but to make you realize that is a fact of our profession.
The way to avoid repetitive stress injuries is to take care of you. Get a hobby. Whether it's yoga, working out, photography, reading, traveling. You've got to have something outside the profession. If you're on the keyboard and writer 24/7, that's a lot of stress on you.
If you have a family, you've got to make them a priority as well. If you're always in your office working on a transcript, your significant othery family other might start to resent your job. Yes, your family is not going to understand the stress of your job. They're not going to understand the deadlines. They're not going to understand the crappy day with the technical mishaps or the attorney who doesn't pay or the witness who would not shut up. That's what we're here for. We do understand and sympathize. We do want to hear your horror stories. I'm not saying don't tell your family about your stress. But things linger long after our family is done hearing about them. If you just can't let it go. If you're obsessing over something that's trivial, bring it to the right forum. Our profession can be ver isolating. And it's not good to keep it all bottled up.
Anyway, I want new reporters to enjoy the profession. To be reporters for a long time. To be healthy. And one way to do that so you don't burn out is to have outside interest. It will make you a more interesting person and a better reporter in the long run. The work will always be there. Take a moment to enjoy what you've achieved and the fruits of your Labor.
Stepping off my soapbox. Happy Labor Day.
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