If I count up my work hours in a day, it's over 16 hours. Breaking it down by full-time and part-time, it's roughly 11 hours full-time and 5 hours part-time. By "part-time," I don't mean going outside to work, freelancing, or being a SOHO—rather, after I clock out from my day job, I seriously manage my "second life."
I'm a lifestyle reporter at TVBS. Before this, I worked as an online news editor. If I really count my news experience, it's about three years, just in different fields. This has given me more opportunities to share my "career transition journey" and explore different "workplace perspectives."
Life as a TV reporter is extremely busy—covering stories daily, scheduling interviews, brainstorming topics, hunting for exclusives. Even on days off, I need to stay on call in case big news breaks. Senior reporters on my team have to squeeze in emergency broadcasts and live links, so they have even less free time.
Although I haven't been assigned to those tasks yet, the long hours and disproportionate pay (a problem young people face today) can genuinely tire me out sometimes. But after work, I don't spend time the way most people do—binge-watching shows, gaming, or socializing. When I get home, I scroll through my phone and waste a bit of time, then I open my laptop and start living my other life.
Most of the time, I invest my energy in managing my fan page, writing articles and updating my blog. Sometimes I do research by reading relevant books. Other times, different brands reach out asking me to write product reviews or product trial posts for extra income. With two years of managing my fan page now, collaborations have become much more diverse. For me, this is validation—proof that I have the ability to "create my own value."
Last month, I gave a talk in Hualien, and one attendee asked me, "Don't you ever feel really tired?" I thought about it and answered, "As long as you treat these things as leisure and entertainment, you won't feel tired." For me, managing my fan page and blog is an alternative outlet for expression.
Although I'm a TV reporter, growing up in the internet era has made me a heavy internet user. Combined with my personality, I'm more comfortable expressing myself through writing than through TV presenting. Another benefit is that writing lets me record my life's details and my feelings in the moment. An even bigger benefit is that I can anonymously rewrite things I dislike—people, situations, things—and share them openly. (Laughs.)
Everyone's outlet for expression is different, depending on the attitude you take toward it—just like how we handle everything in life. Some people don't like being forced to do "work-like" things after clocking out. But for me, I see the benefits. Even if it takes time and mental energy, every second I feel myself growing. That's a form of expression and liberation.
I define myself as a work addict because once something is planned—whether by me or others—I never miss deadlines and stay on track. I even do more when I can. In my multi-career life, I've learned to understand my own personality and abilities, arrange my own pace and progress, rather than demanding that everything be done perfectly. But once I decide to do something, I follow through.
So when students ask me if I'm tired, I've never really thought about it. Being a TV reporter is my dream, and I'm living it right now. Managing my fan page after work, having a second identity, is my leisure and interest—even creating additional income opportunities. As long as you find something you love and keep working at it, you can reach that point where you're "treating your work as an outlet for expression."
