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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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