Personal – Jenn Chen

Relearning how to work

When I first started out working for myself, I had issues with working. I was in a studio apartment in Chicago. My desk was one foot from my bed. My counter and stool was across from my fridge. Naps and snacks were so tempting and it didn’t help that my natural inclination was to be a night owl.

Giving yourself some grace

I’ve been grappling with the idea of “grace” lately. And not the religious or spiritual kind. As you might know, I moved to a new place three weeks ago. Since moving here, I’ve already gone on two trips. But to me, it feels like I’ve been here forever and why haven’t I already organized everything and put decor on the walls? If it was any other person, I’d tell them to take their time but since it’s me, I feel like I’m lacking that same patience and grace.

2020 Goals: Centered

Every year, I pick a word or phrase to focus on. It’s better than setting resolutions in my opinion. This year, I’m choosing “centered.” For me, this means that I want to make sure that I’m opting in to do work and hobbies that are central to who I am. I want to reinvest in myself and my worth. This goes for both physical and mental health.

2019 Recap

Well, this year certainly didn’t go as planned. At the end of every year, I take a look back on what happened and examine how well I accomplished the goals I set out to do at the beginning of the year.

My SCA Expo Plans & Game Night

It’s SCA time again! Lots of parties, new products to check out, and things to learn. Here are my plans for one of the biggest specialty coffee gatherings of the year.

2019 Goals

I don’t really subscribe to the idea of “a new year, a new me,” but I do like to use the change of year to refocus some of my goals. I’ve been trying the idea of a theme or word every year to focus on and it’s worked out pretty well. Last year, the “year of me” helped me turn down some opportunities that, while interesting, would’ve taken up more time than I was able to give.

2018 Recap

It’s time for another recap post! Looking back, it felt like I had all of the intentions and excitement to take on the year and the year kicked me in the butt. However, I accomplished more than I expected, plus crossed quite a few things off my list! I had several 2018 goals in mind.

2018 Goals: The Year of Me

It sounds a little selfish when I write it out like that, but it’s the truth. If I can’t be my best self, then I’m not able to give much to my client.

So here are my goals, mixed in no particular business or personal order.

2017 Year in Review

It’s been an interesting year. I’ve found myself feeling simultaneously down in creative juice and also so pummeled with information that I’m too frozen to execute anything to completion. It’s been difficult to grant myself grace and self-care.

What I’ve learned from 5 years of self-employment

I recently celebrated my five-year freelance-iversary. This is a pretty remarkable milestone for me and I honestly wouldn’t have thought it’s where I’d end up. I had written this up at the one-year mark and pretty much all of it still applies. There are a few more lessons I’d like to add to it, though.

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