Freelance writing is not an easy task – sure there are days where I feel like I was made to do this, but (like just about any profession) I have my days where the stress makes me feel like I might explode at any moment.
The “when it rains, it pours” sentiment is very true for writing, so sometimes when the work is just flooding in, it’s difficult to find time to balance everything else in life. In fact, I have to watch myself carefully to make sure my pup doesn’t get an undeservingly sharp attitude that is indirectly pointed at clients across a virtual and professional chasm. Between confusing revisions, difficult research, digging for new assignments, finding the inspiration to write and still being able to be there for my family, some days really put on the pressure.
It’s becoming one of those days that calls for a mix of something strong. Here are a few of my favorite drinks mixed up with a few appropriate Beatles lyrics to best set the mood:
Smirnoff: Citrus Fizz
“You know I work all day
To get you money to buy you things”
1.5 oz Smirnoff Citrus Vodka
3 oz lemonade
1 splash club soda
1 lemon wedge
Mix it: Make sure your ingredients are well-chilled or fill the glass with ice. For a long day, I sometimes double the vodka, but usually this is just a springy drink to sip on after dinner.
Peach Bellini
“There is a place
Where I can go
When I feel low
When I feel blue”
6 oz Champaign or sparkling wine
1 oz peach schnapps
1 oz peach juice or nectar
1 tsp lemon juice
Mix it: Make sure all ingredients are completely chilled before stirring together. For a sweeter drink with a lower alcohol level, double or triple the peach juice. This is probably my favorite relaxation drink and is especially perfect for warm summer evenings.
The Screwdriver
“It’s been a hard day’s night
And I’ve been working like a dog”
1.5 oz top-notch vodka (Grey Goose and Absolut are my favorites)
4 oz pulp-free premium orange juice
Mix it: Fill your cup with ice, pour on the vodka and then add the orange juice. A bit of orange juice sure takes the edge off of the vodka, but to really relax I drink a pretty strong one. Occasionally I like to make this recipe with flavored vodka, like peach, citrus or whipped cream.
Freelance Writers: Becoming the Moderate Drinker
This article probably makes me sound like a heavy drinker. I’m honestly not. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes the standard for one drink includes one of the following amounts:
- 1.5 oz of 80-proof vodka, gin, rum or whisky with 40% alcohol/volume
- 5 oz of wine with 12% alcohol/volume
- 12 oz beer or mixed vodka with 5% alcohol/content
The CDC encourages moderation in drinking to avoid serious health risks that can occur with too much alcohol consumption in one sitting (binge drinking) or over time (heavy consumption).
Binge drinking is defined by the CDC as:
Drinking so much within about 2 hours that blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels reach 0.08g/dL. Over the long term, binge drinking can damage the liver and other organs.
- Women drinking more than 4 drinks in one sitting
- Men drinking more than 5 drinks in one sitting
Heavy drinking is defined by the CDC as:
Consuming more than the single-day or the weekly amounts listed [below]. About 1 in 4 people who drink above these levels [listed below] already has alcohol dependence or alcohol abuse problems.
- More than 8 drinks a week as a woman
- More than 15 drinks per week as a man
Moderate levels that are most recommended by the CDC are defined as staying beneath both of the above mentioned levels at any given time. So, for the recipes above, a women should drink at most:
- 2-4 Citrus Fizzes (depending on whether or not you double the vodka)
- 2-3 Peach Bellinis (peach schnapps contain 15% alcohol/volume)
- 2-4 Screwdrivers (depending on how strong you make it)
The CDC also warns: drinking alcohol too quickly can also cause risks for alcohol use disorder or health concerns, so these drink amounts should take more than 2 hours to finish. Don’t drink on an empty stomach and drink plenty of water in between.
Moderate drinking has been found to be associated with positive health affects, but alcohol abuse can be very damaging physically and mentally. If you are in any way struggling with your alcohol use don’t deny it, seek help.
Alethea M is a freelance writer available on WriterAccess, a marketplace where clients and expert writers connect for assignments.
