VACATIONING
AWAY FROM YOUR FREELANCE BUSINESS
by Rachel Goldstein
owner of Allfreelancework.com
- 1000s of freelance jobs
If you
are a full-time freelancer then you probably have problems finding time
to relax and get away from it all. However, getting away every now and
then is essential for the long-term success of your business. Does taking
a vacation sound impossible to you? Leaving home and your business doesn't
have to be a disaster. Follow these steps and you can make your dream
vacation happen.
1. BLOCK
OFF CALENDAR - As soon as you decide to take a vacation, mark it
off on your calendar. Additionally, make your vacation seem more "real"
by booking your trip. This vacation can be your goal to work towards;
you can look over at your calendar to cheer yourself up every time things
get out of hand.
2. SAVE
UP MONEY - Depending on how long you are planning to leave town,
this vacation is going to cost you. As a freelancer, every day that
you are gone is a day's pay that is lost. This is okay though, you can
plan for this. If you have plenty of jobs to choose from, only take
jobs that have a high pay rate. Or you can try taking on more work for
a few weeks to pay for your vacation. Either way, use your time wisely
when saving for your time off.
3. PREPARE
CLIENTS FOR DEPARTURE - Prepare your clients early, and make sure
that they mark the departure date in their calendars. Make sure not
to give more than a month's notice or your clients might stop sending
your work early on. A month is the most notice you should give. It is
also a good idea to send reminder emails to your clients before you
leave and after you return.
4. LINE
UP WORK - It is important to line up a few gigs for your return,
or you might have an extended vacation. You will need invoices coming
in to pay for your vacation, so plan ahead. Ask current clients if they
will have any new projects coming in the week you get back. And schedule
some of your current projects to be resumed on your return.
5. SCHEDULE
WISELY - The week before your vacation will be very hectic. Try
to manage your time wisely the month before your vacation so that all
of your work doesn't need to be completed the day before departure.
6. WHAT
TO TAKE WITH YOU - If you can't schedule a complete vacation, what
should you take with you? Well, if you need to take some work with you
then you will need to set some boundaries. Only work a few hours in
the early morning or late evening. You should still vacation with your
family in a normal fashion during the day. The entire purpose of your
vacation was to relax and this is what you should do.
Almost
all freelancers need a laptop if they are working on a vacation. (If
you are traveling to another country, don't forget your special adapters).
Also, bring your cell phone for emergency contacts only. However, I
recommend giving the hotel's phone number instead so you aren't intruded
upon your entire vacation.
Try to
do most of the legwork for your projects before you leave on vacation.
Set "Office Hours" for yourself, and let your family know that this
is time when they need to do their own thing.
7. MINI-GETAWAYS
- If you are still finding it hard to image being able to escape for
a full-vacation, consider taking a 3-day weekend. A 3-day vacation can
rejuvenate you and prepare you for another few weeks of grueling work.
Plan a fun vacation with NO interruptions. This can be refreshing, especially
for a freelancer who isn't used to relaxing.
If you
plan ahead, vacationing really isn't such as impossibility. Not only
is it relaxing, but it really will increase your productivity when you
get home. Happy Vacationing!
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