People often think freelancers take endless holidays, but in reality taking time off one of the hardest parts of being self-employed. With summer upon us, check out our top tips for taking time out.
Freelancing can be great. You get to be your own boss, work with loads of interesting clients and, if you’re lucky, earn more that you would in a regular job.
But as all freelancers know, working for yourself can be tough. Freelancers work long hours, to tight deadlines, and often don’t know where the next job is coming from. Stresses like this mean taking time off is all the more important, but the demands of freelance life often mean holidays get forgotten.
Check out our six tips for making the most of your time off as a freelancer.
1. Plan
The most important thing you can do as a freelancer taking a holiday is plan. A month or so before you head off, write out a detailed schedule of what you need to do and when — you don’t want to be caught out by a forgotten deadline! If possible, plan to head away when you’re quieter to make it easier for you.
2. Build up your work beforehand
Going on holiday can mean a week or two of lost work for a freelancer, which can lead to a financial hit. One way to help your cash flowing is to take on extra work in the weeks and months before you go away. This can seem stressful, but it will give you more spending money and you’ll definitely feel like you’ve earned your holiday.
3. Communicate with clients
As ever in business, communication is key. As soon as you’ve booked a holiday, make sure you let your clients know. And don’t just inform them that you are going away, either. Let them know how you will be managing your work for them before, during, and after your break. It’s key that you let them know what they can expect from you and, more importantly, that you won’t leave them hanging.
4. Plan for when you’re back
In the weeks before you leave, start planning what you’ll be doing when you come back. You might have missed out on a couple of weeks’ worth of work (and pay), so lining up as many jobs as possible for your return before you leave will mean you can relax a little easier knowing you will be coming back to some work.
5. Get someone to cover
If you have ongoing commitments that you won’t be able to do while you’re off exploring, why not see if any of your freelancer friends can help you out? Getting a reliable fellow freelancer that you trust to cover for you while you’re away can keep your clients happy and give you peace of mind. Just make sure you reciprocate!
6. Relax and make the most of it
Finally, don’t forget to relax! Chances are if you’re a freelancer then you’ll have been working long nights and weekends so remind yourself that you deserve your break. And if you do need to check your emails, don’t beat yourself up about it. It’s your holiday, after all.
Posted by The Secret Businessman